Page "Military of Bulgaria" Paragraph 5

The Serbo-Bulgarian War was the first armed conflict after Bulgaria's liberation.

It was a result of the unification with Eastern Rumelia, which happened on 6 September 1885.

The unification was not completely recognized, however, and one of the countries which refused to recognize the act was the Kingdom of Serbia.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire had been expanding its influence in the Balkans and was particularly opposed.

Serbia also feared this would diminish its dominance in the region.

In addition, Serbia's ruler Milan Obrenović IV was annoyed that Serbian opposition leaders like Nikola Pašić, who had escaped persecution after the Timok Rebellion, had found asylum in Bulgaria.

Lured by Austria-Hungary's promises for territorial gains from Bulgaria ( in return for concessions in the Western Balkans ), Milan IV declared war on Bulgaria on 14 November 1885.