Following the Russo-Ottoman War (1877-1878) and the resolutions established at the Berlin Congress, the Vilayet of Kosovo experienced a significant reduction in its territory. Specifically, the districts of Nish, Kurshumli, Leskoc, and Nish were ceded to other powers. This resulted in the displacement of approximately 165,000 residents.
Official Ottoman records from 1877 revealed a demographic composition within these lost areas. Roughly 70,000 of the residents, representing 41.01 percent, identified as Albanian Muslims adhering to the Islamic faith. This underscores the substantial Muslim population affected by the territorial changes.
Furthermore, the Sanjak of Pirot, containing around 12,000 Muslim Albanian inhabitants, was formally integrated into Serbia. Simultaneously, the Vilayet of Kosovo expanded to include the Sanjak of Vranje, which held approximately 25,000 Albanian residents. These ongoing territorial losses suffered by the ottoman army throughout the 19th century directly contributed to a gradual diminishing of its overall territory.
The situation highlighted the vulnerability of the ottoman empire and the shifting political landscape of the Balkans, particularly concerning the residents within these regions.
Topics: #nish #ottoman #residents
