Balkan Wars: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 10, 2026

Facts

Date	October 8, 1912 - May 30, 1913 • June 29, 1913 - August 10, 1913
Location	Balkans • Kosovo • Skopje • Thessaloníki • Thrace
Participants	Bulgaria • Greece • Montenegro • Ottoman Empire • Romania • Serbia
Context	Balkan League • Young Turks

Photos

Antique map from 1902 showing the Balkan Peninsula labeled as Turkey in Europe, including regions such as Bulgaria, Eastern Rumelia, Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro. The map features detailed borders, cities, and topography, with insets highlighting the Dardanelles strait and the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in the upper left corner.

Fourteen Bulgarian soldiers in uniform pose for a formal group portrait during the First Balkan War, with most holding rifles and some wearing medals.

A long line of uniformed Bulgarian veteran volunteers stands at attention with rifles along a city street in Sofia, preparing to guard provision wagons during the Balkan Wars.

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Topics

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Timeline

Bulgarian siege gun at the Battle of Adrianople

Siege of Adrianople

November 3, 1912 - March 26, 1913

Second Balkan War

June 29, 1913 - August 10, 1913

Treaty of Bucharest

August 10, 1913

Key People

Kemal Atatürk

Kemal Atatürk

president of Turkey

Ferdinand

Ferdinand

king of Bulgaria

default image

Fevzi Çakmak

Turkish statesman

Putnik

Radomir Putnik

Serbian commander

Civil War era cannon overlooks Kennesaw Mountain National Battle. (military, artillery, American history)

Pick Your Battles Quiz

Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)

World Wars

D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.

A History of War

Caption: It May be Turned to Mourning for its Loss. Our picture shows a group of the wounded lately from the Dardanelles, Ottoman Empire (Turkey) at the festivities, ca. 1914-1918. (World War I)

Understanding the Ottoman Empire