Serbia restates its declaration of war against the Ottoman Empire

Background. The Serbian-Ottoman Wars consisted of two consequent conflicts between the Principality of Serbia and the Ottoman Empire. The first phase ended with a peace signed on 28 February 1877, followed by a brief period of formal peace. During this interval, the broader Russo-Turkish War involved a coalition led by Russia, including Serbia and Montenegro. The period preceding the wars had seen uprisings against Ottoman rule, including a revolt of Serbs in Herzegovina beginning in July 1875 that spread to the Vilayet of Bosnia, and an uprising of the Christian population in Bulgaria in spring 1876.

Restatement of War. Following the expiration of the truce, Serbia declared war on the Ottoman Empire on 13 December 1877. This date marks the beginning of the second phase of the Serbian-Ottoman Wars. The declaration was part of the wider conflict involving the Russian Empire, which had previously threatened to intervene if the Ottomans did not sign a truce. The renewed war allowed Serbian forces to regroup and engage in offensive operations.

Military Context. During the second conflict, Serbian troops benefited from experience gained in the 1876-1877 war, despite having fewer Russian officers. The regrouping of Serbian forces was supported by Imperial Russia, which was engaged in its own Russo-Turkish War. This support enabled the Royal Serbian Army to capture most of the South Morava basin by early 1878, reaching as far as Preševo and Vitina.