Violence against Serbs during the late Ottoman era
| Violence against Serbs during the late Ottoman era | |
|---|---|
Map of the borders of the Principality of Serbia and the Ottoman Empire in 1878. | |
| Location | Rumelia, Ottoman Empire (now Balkans) |
| Date | 1878–1905 |
| Target | Serbs |
Attack type | Massacres, looting, arson, ethnic cleansing, expulsion |
| Victims | Western estimate: 60,000 Serbs migrated from Kosovo between 1876-1912 |
| Perpetrators | Circassian irregulars, Albanian armed bands, Ottoman Army, Turkish gendarmes |
| Motive | Anti-Serb sentiment Revenge for expulsions of Albanians from the area of Niš in 1877-1878 |
The Principality of Serbia received autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century, but a Serb population remained to the south, outside of the borders of the principality. With the Serbian–Ottoman Wars (1876–1878) and the Congress of Berlin, the Serbian borders were expanded. During this time, numerous instances of violent acts were perpetrated towards local Serb populations.