The
Romanian War of Independence is the name used in Romanian historiography to refer to the
Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), following which Romania, fighting on the Russian side, gained independence from the
Ottoman Empire. On ,
Romania and the
Russian Empire signed a treaty at
Bucharest under which Russian troops were allowed to pass through Romanian territory, with the condition that Russia respected the integrity of Romania. The mobilization began, and about 120,000 soldiers were massed in the south of the country to defend against an eventual attack of the Ottoman forces from south of the
Danube. On , Russia
declared war on the Ottoman Empire and its troops entered Romania through the newly built
Eiffel Bridge.