Crimean War1853-1856

Eastern Question

• Ottoman Empire is sharp decline

• Russia sought control over straits between Black Sea & Mediterranean Sea (Constantinople/Istanbul)

• Russia expanding at rate of 55 miles per day (average)– Ex: Violated Poland by suppressing Polish Revolt &

essentially taking Poland

– Moving Eastward as well

• Austria & German States feared growing Russian power

• France & Britain wanted to preserve trade rights in Middle East

Causes of War

• Dispute between Russia & France over Roman Catholic (France) & Eastern Orthodox (Russia) privileges in holy places such as Palestine

• Ottomans grant France ‘rights’ in holy land

• Russia demand Russian ‘rights’

• Russia moved to occupy Danubian principalities (Ottoman territory) in 1853– modern day Romania

• Britain, on 9/23/1853, sent fleet to Constantinople (Istanbul)

• October 4, 1853 Turks declared war on Russia & launched an offensive against Russia in Danubian principalities

• Russian fleet destroyed Turk fleet in Black Sea

• Britain & France sent fleet into Black Sea to protect transports (support Turks) 1/3/1854

It’s On!!!!

• Britain declared war on Russia March 28, 1854

• AUSTRIA NOT HAPPY!!! Russian presence so near Austria NOT good

• To keep Austria out of the war, Russia pulled back/evacuated from Danube

• Austria then occupied the territory!!!

• September 1854 France, Britain, Turkey land in Crimea & began a year-long siege of Russia fortress of Sevastopol

• Many battles fought:

Most famous was October 25, 1854 at the Alma River

Commemorated in the

“Charge of the Light Brigade” by Lord Alfred Tennyson

• The Battle commemorated in Tennyson’s poem was one in which the British Light Brigade charged into murderous Russian fire (Oct 25, 1854)

• Miscommunication of orders:– 600 British horseman began a headlong charge into

a treeless valley– Goal was to capture Russian artillery– Valley was ringed on 3 sides by about 20 battalions

of Russian infantry & artillery

• About 278 Brits killed or wounded

A French Marshall said: “It is magnificent, but it is not war. It is madness”

Charge of the Light Brigadeby Alfred Tennyson

Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward,All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"Charge for the guns!" he said:

Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"Was there a man dismay'd?

Not tho' the soldier knew Someone had blunder'd:Theirs not to make reply,Theirs not to reason why,Theirs but to do and die:Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,Cannon to left of them,Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd;Storm'd at with shot and shell,Boldly they rode and well,Into the jaws of Death,Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,Flash'd as they turn'd in air,Sabring the gunners there,Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd:

Plunged in the battery-smokeRight thro' the line they broke;

Cossack and RussianReel'd from the sabre stroke

Shatter'd and sunder'd.Then they rode back, but not

Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,Cannon to left of them,Cannon behind them

Volley'd and thunder'd;Storm'd at with shot and shell,

While horse and hero fell,They that had fought so wellCame thro' the jaws of DeathBack from the mouth of Hell,

All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?O the wild charge they

made! All the world wondered.Honor the charge they

made,Honor the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred.

War Continues…

• January 26, 1855 Piedmont-Sardinia joined on the side of Britain/France/Turkey– Sent 10,000 troops

• Sept 11, 1855 French troops had success against a major Russian strongpoint– Russia responded by blowing up their own

forts, sinking ships, and evacuating Sevastopol

• War continued in the Caucasus & Baltic Sea

• Austria threatened to enter the war against Russia – fearing Russian expansion

• Russia responded by suing for peace

• Treaty of Paris, 1856– Guaranteed integrity of Ottoman Turkey– Russia had to surrender territory taken at moyth

of Danube River– Black Sea neutralized– Danube River opened to shipping from all

nations

Worst War Ever… (so far…)

• Poorly managed war!!!

• Disease accounted for most death

• About 250,000 men died per side!!!

• Austria lost support of Russia– Became dependent on Britain & France– Yet Britain & France did not support Austria

though… which led to Austria defeats in 1859 & 1866, which led to Italian & German Unification!

• Although…– Improvements in field hospitalization– Florence Nightingale!!!! Go girl!

• New Russian tsar, Nicholas I, realized Russia needs to overcome its backwardness