#Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

[travelingbulgara]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[travelsinser]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[historyholidays]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[communisttravel]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[banskotravel]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[travelagentr]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[skitravels]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[travelbalkan]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[holidayhints]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[bookingcruises]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[sofiatrips]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[surftravel]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[surftravelsbg]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[flightandhotel]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[skitravelling]

Former attachment to Austria-Hungary

Though it had withdrawn from its former attachment to Austria-Hungary, it had not become a protag of Russia. The visit of the Czar in June 1914 was considered an unprecedented honor and emphasized the predominant place of Rumania in the Balkans. The visit was regarded in Germany as an attempt to win Rumania to the side of the Triple Entente. But Rumania coveted the land of no other Balkan state and was a factor in favor of peace. It devoted itself to a policy of domestic reform which bade fair to result in great improvement in the condition of the masses. Bulgaria had seen every one of its ambitions ruined, and was burning for revenge against its enemies. The elections which were held December 7, 1913, resulted in the defeat of the government which was blamed for the disasters that had befallen the country. But the new Sobranje was overwhelmingly Russophobe, and Bulgaria definitely aligned itself with Austria-Hungary.

Bulgarian government

Though a group of French banks were prepared to grant the Bulgarian government a loan of $100,000,000 on more favorable terms, the loan was made from German bankers, who received in return valuable railway and mining concessions. By means of the money thus obtained strenuous efforts were made to rehabilitate the army. By the Treaty of Bucharest, Greece had secured not only Saloniki, but the only other valuable Egean port, Kavala. Bulgarian hatred was intensified by the appearance of thousands of Bulgars driven from Greek Macedonia into Bulgaria, and this resulted in similar reprisals upon Greek residents in Bulgaria. But it was against Serbia that Bulgarians felt the greatest bitterness. Serbia had broken her ante-bellum pact with Bulgaria and by the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest had obtained almost the whole of Macedonia, and was engaged in “ nationalizing ” its Bulgarian inhabitants, who fled by thousands to the mother country.

No one of the combatants had fared so badly in the Balkan wars as Turkey. She had lost seven-eighths of her European possessions, which were now reduced practically to a backyard for Constantinople. Her Asiatic dominions were in a wretched condition. The thousands of exiled officials and discontented soldiers who had returned from Macedonia gave cause for great concern.

[missysmadhouse]

Beauty to Die For: Tale of 'The Blood Countess'

Countess Elizabeth Bathory; Photo: Encyclopedia Brittanica

Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory's story reads like a dark fairytale. Supposedly, she would do anything to maintain her youth and beauty. Countess Bathory allegedly had a gruesome beauty regiment -- bathing in the blood of young virgins. Born into power and privilege with both beauty and brains, the Countess would die a convicted killer, who allegedly tortured and murdered 650 young women from 1586 to 1609.

The Countess was born on August 7, 1560 to Gyorgy and Anna Bathory. The origins of the Bathory family were traced back to 900 AD and included members who were dukes and kings.

The Bathory name, which means 'good hero,' has a very interesting story attached to it that reads more like a happily-ever-after fairytale. The name is supposed to have originated from a warrior named Vitus who saved the people of Ecsed, Hungary from a dragon. Vitus is supposed to have single-handedly killed the dragon, earning Ecsed, a castle and the name Bathory.

The Bathorys would acquire land not only in Hungary but also Transylvania and parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. The family held power that rivaled the Hungarian Crown. However, they did not have a great relationship with Hungarian royalty and were often switching loyalties from the Hapsburgs to the Hungarian royalty. (The Habsburgs were in a dispute with the Hungarian Crown over a part of Hungary that was in Habsburg land. The dispute between the two eventually became over rulership of the entire country).

Countess Bathory is said to have had an uncle who taught her about Satanism and an aunt who taught her about sadomasochism.

Lady Bathory was engaged by the time she was 12-years-old to Ferenc Nadasdy, whose father had been a Hungarian palentine (prime minister). She was 14-years-old and Nadasdy was 19-years-old when they got married.

Lady Bathory retained her family name because the Bathorys were considered higher up on the social scale than the Nadasdys. This practice, needless to say, was unheard of at the time and not accepted by all the nobility. Many referred to Lady Bathory as "Lady Nadasdy."

Count Ferenc Nadasy; Photo: Wikipedia

Nadasdy's parents were both deceased and Nadasdy was away at school, leaving young Lady Bathory alone.

Supposedly, the Countess became pregnant by Ladislav Bende, who was either a servant or a member of lower nobility. Nadasdy reportedly had Bende castrated and killed. Lady Bathory gave birth to a girl, Anastasia, who was raised in Transylvania. Many years later, in 1609, there was a document filed in which the Countess claimed that Bende raped her.

The wedding went ahead as planned for the sake of social obligation. She settled into her husband's family's Hungarian estates at Sarvar and Csetje. With her soldier husband always away, Lady Bathory ran the estates. Rumors about her infidelity persisted after marriage. The Countess had four children with Nadasdy. However, there were rumors that the Countess had lovers.

The Countess' nefarious activities began about the year 1586. Nadasdy supposedly built a torture chamber for her. Countess Bathory believed that she could retain her beauty through ingesting the blood of young girls. She began victimizing her servants, then peasants and later daughters of the nobility.

Bathory allegedly tortured her victims before they died. She stabbed, bit, pricked them with needles and burned them with hot irons. She also had some victims beaten and starved. The Countess is most known for bathing in blood, a detail of her crimes which wasn't mentioned until a book about her case was written in 1729. This practice was never mentioned by witnesses at the trial.

Lady Bathory lived during a harsh time when physical abuse of servants and peasants were commonplace. Torture and executions of convicted criminals was part of every day life. During her childhood, the Countess witnessed gruesome torture and executions. Lady Bathory's husband also enjoyed torturing servants and enemies, especially the Turks, dancing with their corpses and playing with their heads. He also.included advice on disciplining servants in his letters to his wife. When home with the Countess, the two participated in torturing disobedient servants.

One particular story describes Lady Bathory participating in the torture of a servant girl forced to stand outside naked and covered with honey. The girl eventually passed out after attracting many flies and bees. Pieces of wax paper were lit between her toes to wake her.

Photo: A History of Serial Killers

The Countess' activities first became suspicious in 1602 when a clergyman in Sarvar, Istvan Magyari, noticed an excessive amount of servants on Bathory's estate dying. When questioned about it, the Countess claimed that the servants died from cholera.

Rumors had begun circulating about "secret chambers," where the Countess allegedly tortured servants. The number of dead servants coupled with the rumors aroused enough suspicion in Magyari for him to go to the authorities. Magyari's suspicions were ignored. If pursued, the girls' families would have to eventually bring their complaints to the perpetrator herself.

The secret chambers were only accessible by servants who the Countess trusted the most. These servants aided Lady Bathory in torturing servant girls with beatings, biting and burning them with hot irons.

Anna Darvolya, known as Darvulia, was a servant of the Nadasdy family for many years and the Countess' assistant, advisor and alleged mentor to the other servants in the sadistic art of torture.

Three women and one man completed the Countess' group of confidents and partners in crime. All of them confessed to playing a part in Countess Bathory's nefarious scheme: Ilona Jo, the Countess' children’s former wet nurse; Jo's friend Dorottya Szentes; Katalin Beneczky and Janos Ujvary, aka, Ficzko (‘Kid’). Other accomplices included some noble ladies: Lady Anna Welyker, Lady Judith Pogan and Lady Szell among others assisted Bathory in finding new servant girls. Even Bathory's youngest daughter, Katalin, is said to have participated in at least one of her mother's torture sessions.

When the Countess opened a finishing school for young daughters of the nobility in 1610, it was the beginning of the end. The daughters of the nobles began to die. Their families brought their concerns to the King of Hungary, Matthias II. Gyorgy Thurzo, palantine (prime minister) of Hungary, was sent to investigate Bathory.

King Matthias II; Photo: Wikipedia

Gyorgy Thurzo; Wikipedia

Thurzo and his team conducted extensive interviews with the Countess' staff from March to July 1610. Fifty-two witnesses and servants were questioned and most gave horrific accounts of girls being beaten, starved and left outside to die.

What's interesting is that most of these accounts were of hearing noises from the secret chambers but that no one actually saw anything. Doctors who visited to treat the Countess' servants didn't see any injuries but supposedly only saw the girls' faces.

According to most accounts, Thurzo arrived at the Countess' castle in time to catch her in the middle of a torture session. He found a girl, Anna, who had been beaten and sustained severe injuries.

Anna gave the authorities two different accounts. At first, she said that the Countess beat her but that Beneczky had "torn her flesh." Anna would later claim that the Countess inflicted all of her injuries including damaging her right hand and arm. In exchange for her testimony, Thurzo granted Anna 15 lbs. of wheat, a small farm plus a monetary reward (50 guilders).

The Countess' accomplices were all tried. Illona Jo and Dorottya Szentes were tortured by having their fingers torn out. Both women's bodies were burned afterward. Katalin Beneczky was incarcerated in prison and Janos Ujvary, aka, Ficzko (‘Kid’) was beheaded. The infamous Darvulia, the inner circle's teacher and mentor, died before being brought to trial.

Thurzo also accused a local woman, Erzsi Majorova, rumored to be a witch, of using magic to help the Countess murder King Matthias. Marjova was burned.

The noblewomen were never tried for their involvement in procuring victims for the Countess. The Countess' daughter, Katalin, was also never tried.

While the Countess' servants admitted to the part they played in the crimes, the Countess claimed that the crimes were all her servants' doing. She said that she allowed the servants to engage in these torture sessions because she feared them. Lady Bathory also told Thurzo at one point that one of the girls in her finishing school had killed the others.

Countess Bathory; Photo: Curious Historian

Some question the Countess' guilt as well as some of the popular beliefs and details about her.

The number of victims is usually reported as 650. The amount was provided by a servant, Susannah, who said that she took the figure from a ledger kept by an official, Jacob Szilvassey. While Szavilessy said that he did witness the Countess' torture sessions, he never mentioned the ledger. A ledger containing a record of the Countess' victims was ever found.

It's also pointed out that all of the servants who admitted their guilt did so during torture. Before that, they all blamed Darvulia. However, besides Szavilessy another official testified against the Countess as a witness to her crimes.

The Countess' court master Benedek Deseo described the murder of a maid, Illonka. Apparently, the Countess was dissatisfied with the girl's work performance. She decided that Illonka should be "punished" for her clumsiness. After stripping Illonka, Lady Bathory is described by Deseo as working herself into a furious frenzy, stabbing Illonka in the fingers and arms, whipped her, then burned her hands with a candle. The Countess didn't stop until Illonka was dead.

Lady Bathory is best known for bathing in the blood of her victims. This detail of the Countess' crimes was never mentioned during the trials. The blood bath was added in 1729 by Laszlo Turoczi, a Jesuit scholar. During the course of conducting research for a book on Lady Bathory, Turoczi came across a story told by local peasants about a countess who bathed in blood to preserve her beauty. This detail wasn't questioned until 1817, when the records of the Bathory trials were found. Not one account of the Countess' crimes included blood being collected for "baths."

Ilona Jo reported that the Countess did beat girls until they bled, so hard that the blood pooled on the floor and splattered the Countess' clothes. But when this happened, Lady Bathory would change clothes immediately. The servants would also wash away any blood on the floor - they did not collect it.

Ablution by FlexDreams on Deviant Art

Photo: Medium

Anorher interesting fact surrounding this case is that King Matthias stood to benefit greatly from Lady Bathory's conviction.

Bathory and Nadasdy lent the Hungarian Crown money for many years. Bathory had made many appeals for repayment much to King Matthias' dismay. If Bathory was convicted, the debt would be eliminated and the King could seize her holdings.

At the time, there was a conflict between Catholics and Protestants in that region. Rendering the Protestant Bathorys powerless would make it impossible for them to lead a revolt against the Catholic King.

Lady Bathory had agreed to provide money and troops to help her cousin, Gabor Bathory, Prince of Transylvania, unify Transylvania and Royal Hungary under his rule. She pledged her support in exchange for his support should she need it in regards to the allegations against her. Thurzo had been trying to negotiate a treaty with Gabor to avoid a potential war. Without the Countess' support, Gabor's plan couldn't come to fruition.

Thurzo refused to allow the Countess a trial. He believed that if she appeared before a court, Lady Bathory could quite possibly sway the decision in her favor. He considered confining the Countess to a convent. Due to the extremely gruesome nature of the crimes, he decided not to.

Lady Bathory is said to have threatened Thurzo with "dire consequences" if he did not allow her a trial. He refused, and said, “You Erzsebet are like a wild animal … you do not deserve to breathe the air on earth or see the light of the Lord. You shall disappear from this world and shall never reappear in it again.’

Thurzo persuaded the nobles connected to the Bathory case that bringing the Countess to trial would not only be disastrous to the Bathorys and Nadasdys but to all the nobility and the Crown itself. The nobles petitioned the King to deny the Countess a trial. The Bathory-Nadasdy family absolved the King of his debt.

In an attempt to refute the charges against her, the Countess made an unexpected appearance in court with the mother of a victim from her finishing school. The woman claimed her daughter died from natural causes. At one point, the Countess even went as far as to claim one of the girls in the finishing school killed the other girls.

The Countess composed a will in September of 1610 to keep from having her assets confiscated. Her surviving children, Anna, Katalin and Pal would inherit all of her possessions with the exception of the Countesses'wedding dress, which she wanted to keep until her death. The Countess also suspected that her sons-in-law were conspiring with with Thurzo to take over her estates. The will was drawn up partially to appease them.

Bathory gathered her jewels from Savar and went to Csejthe in October 1610.

Elizabeth’s sentence was solitary confinement behind a brick wall in a windowless room in Cjsethe Castle. The only opening was a small space to pass food, etc. Sometimes, Bathory's daughter, Katalin, visited. Her daughter would bring her candles, ink and parchment.

Besides occasional visits from her daughter, the Countess' only company was a guard. She passed her final days in that room, dying on August 14, 1614.

- Missy Dawn

References:

The History Collection: "The Real Countess Dracula: 12 Facts about the Life and Crimes of Elizabeth Bathory," by Natasha Sheldon

History Today, " Death of Countess Elizabeth Bathory: A vicious killer died on 21 August 1614," by Richard Cavendish, published in History Today, Volume 64, Issue 8, August 2014

History Channel.com: "This Day in History: December 26, 1610: Hungarian countess’ torturous escapades are exposed"