The Crimean War (1853-1856) A Turning Point in European Affairs.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856)A Turning Point in European AffairsA Turning Point in European Affairs

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856)

By the onset of the Crimean War, the By the onset of the Crimean War, the Russian empire had expanded in three Russian empire had expanded in three directions: east into Manchuria (China), directions: east into Manchuria (China), south into the Caucasus and central Asia south into the Caucasus and central Asia (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) and (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) and southwest towards the Mediterranean.southwest towards the Mediterranean.

This expansion, especially towards the This expansion, especially towards the Mediterranean, threatened to upset the Mediterranean, threatened to upset the balance of power in Europe.balance of power in Europe.


For centuries, one central goal of For centuries, one central goal of Russian foreign policy was to obtain Russian foreign policy was to obtain a warm water port in the south--a warm water port in the south--namely, at the Bosporus Straits and namely, at the Bosporus Straits and the Strait of the Dardanelles, the the Strait of the Dardanelles, the small waterways connecting the small waterways connecting the Black Sea to the Aegean and Black Sea to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.Mediterranean Seas.

But since the 15But since the 15thth century, this century, this territory was in Ottoman hands.territory was in Ottoman hands.


In 1853, Russia sought increased power In 1853, Russia sought increased power in the Black Sea region and the Balkans in the Black Sea region and the Balkans by provoking the decaying Ottoman by provoking the decaying Ottoman Empire. Empire.

Russian prestige had been damaged by Russian prestige had been damaged by the Ottoman sultan when the sultan the Ottoman sultan when the sultan assigned the care of certain holy places assigned the care of certain holy places in Palestine to French Roman Catholics in Palestine to French Roman Catholics (and not Russian Orthodox clerics).(and not Russian Orthodox clerics).

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Control of access to religious sites in Control of access to religious sites in

the Holy Land had been a cause of the Holy Land had been a cause of tension between Catholic France and tension between Catholic France and Orthodox Russia for a number of years Orthodox Russia for a number of years and in 1853, the conflict came to a and in 1853, the conflict came to a head with rioting in Bethlehem, which head with rioting in Bethlehem, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. was then part of the Ottoman Empire.

A number of Orthodox monks were A number of Orthodox monks were killed during fighting with French killed during fighting with French monks. Russian Tsar Nicholas I blamed monks. Russian Tsar Nicholas I blamed the Turks for these deaths.the Turks for these deaths.


But more important to But more important to Russia than the Russia than the protection of holy land protection of holy land sites was the fate of sites was the fate of the weak Ottoman the weak Ottoman Empire (what was Empire (what was known as the “Eastern known as the “Eastern Question”).Question”).

Russia wanted to Russia wanted to absorb as much absorb as much Ottoman territory as Ottoman territory as possible.possible.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Looking for a way to provoke the Looking for a way to provoke the

Ottomans, and hoping to breakup their Ottomans, and hoping to breakup their empire, Russia demanded that the empire, Russia demanded that the Ottomans recognize Russia's right to Ottomans recognize Russia's right to protect Eastern Orthodox believers in protect Eastern Orthodox believers in Moldavia and Wallachia (today’s Moldavia and Wallachia (today’s Romania). Romania).


When the Ottomans When the Ottomans refused, Russia sent refused, Russia sent troops into Ottoman troops into Ottoman territory.territory.

The Ottomans then The Ottomans then declared war on declared war on Russia.Russia.

Sultan Abdulmecid.Sultan Abdulmecid.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) The Russian fleet then engaged the The Russian fleet then engaged the

Ottoman fleet at the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of SinopeBattle of Sinope (where (where the Russians blasted the the Russians blasted the Ottoman’s wooden ships “to bits”).Ottoman’s wooden ships “to bits”).


The Russians, who could hold their The Russians, who could hold their own against the weak Ottoman and own against the weak Ottoman and Qing (Chinese) empires, were going Qing (Chinese) empires, were going to be no match for the industrial to be no match for the industrial powers of western Europe.powers of western Europe.

In March 1854, Great Britain and In March 1854, Great Britain and France, enemies for more than a France, enemies for more than a century, together declared war on century, together declared war on RussiaRussia..


The British and French entered the The British and French entered the war because they feared that the war because they feared that the weakness of the Ottoman Empireweakness of the Ottoman Empire (the (the “sick man of Europe”) “sick man of Europe”) was inviting was inviting Russian adventurismRussian adventurism in the Balkans in the Balkans and that Russia might capture and that Russia might capture Istanbul and gain access to the Istanbul and gain access to the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.

This would challenge British naval This would challenge British naval controlcontrol in the eastern Mediterranean in the eastern Mediterranean and perhaps British control of India.and perhaps British control of India.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) France wanted France wanted

military/diplomatic glory and military/diplomatic glory and wanted to break up the wanted to break up the conservative Austro-Russian conservative Austro-Russian alliance that had held France alliance that had held France in check since 1815.in check since 1815.

Since France was in political Since France was in political turmoil (again) Napoleon III turmoil (again) Napoleon III hoped an activist foreign hoped an activist foreign policy would shore up policy would shore up domestic support for his domestic support for his regime (“wag the dog regime (“wag the dog theory”).theory”).


In September 1854, allied forces (British, In September 1854, allied forces (British, French, and Ottoman) mounted a campaign French, and Ottoman) mounted a campaign against the headquarters of Russia’s Black against the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet at Sevastopol (in the Crimea).Sea fleet at Sevastopol (in the Crimea).

Unable to mobilize, equip, and effectively Unable to mobilize, equip, and effectively transport troops to defeat European forces transport troops to defeat European forces who were led by mediocre commanders, who were led by mediocre commanders, Russian armies suffered devastating and Russian armies suffered devastating and humiliating defeats on their own land.humiliating defeats on their own land.


Fighting was at times ruthless and Fighting was at times ruthless and savage; both sides suffered high savage; both sides suffered high casualties.casualties.

The Crimean War was notable for the The Crimean War was notable for the incredible incompetence of all incredible incompetence of all participants, especially the Russians.participants, especially the Russians.

In some engagements, both sides quickly In some engagements, both sides quickly ran out of ammunition and soldiers ran out of ammunition and soldiers resorted to throwing rocks at each other. resorted to throwing rocks at each other.


Not only did generals show their Not only did generals show their military incompetence, governments military incompetence, governments showed theirs as they failed to provide showed theirs as they failed to provide their soldiers with even minimal their soldiers with even minimal supplies, sanitation, or medical care.supplies, sanitation, or medical care.

Hospitals had no beds, no dishes, no Hospitals had no beds, no dishes, no clean bandages, and no fresh water.clean bandages, and no fresh water.

Tennyson immortalized one case of Tennyson immortalized one case of battlefield stupidity with his battlefield stupidity with his Charge of Charge of the Light Brigade the Light Brigade (from the Battle of (from the Battle of Balaclava)Balaclava)..


Most of the Most of the three-three-quarters of a million quarters of a million casualtiescasualties did not die did not die in battle, but in battle, but perished due to perished due to disease in filthy field disease in filthy field hospitalshospitals, something , something that inspired that inspired Florence NightingaleFlorence Nightingale (1820-1910) to (1820-1910) to revolutionize the revolutionize the nursing profession.nursing profession.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Mrs. Nightingale, at her Mrs. Nightingale, at her

own expense, escaped own expense, escaped the confines of middle-the confines of middle-class domesticity and class domesticity and organized the first organized the first battlefield nursing battlefield nursing service.service.

Nightingale shamed the Nightingale shamed the British government into British government into improving the sanitary improving the sanitary conditions for the troops.conditions for the troops.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Partially as a result of the medical Partially as a result of the medical

ineptitude experienced in Crimea (and ineptitude experienced in Crimea (and other places), a Swiss humanitarian other places), a Swiss humanitarian founded the International Red Cross in founded the International Red Cross in 1864 (she received the first Nobel Peace 1864 (she received the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901). In honor of her country, Prize in 1901). In honor of her country, the flag was a reversal of the Swiss flag.the flag was a reversal of the Swiss flag.


A British soldier A British soldier in full uniform in full uniform and lightweight and lightweight tent. These tents tent. These tents were fine when were fine when the weather was the weather was good, but totally good, but totally inadequate for inadequate for Russian winters.Russian winters.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) The war came to an The war came to an

end in 1856 when end in 1856 when the Russian fortress the Russian fortress at Sevastopol fell.at Sevastopol fell.

Upon his father’s Upon his father’s death (1855), death (1855), Russia’s new tsar Russia’s new tsar Alexander II sued for Alexander II sued for peace when Austria peace when Austria threatened to enter threatened to enter the war against him. the war against him.


The main casualty of the war was The main casualty of the war was that the that the Concert of EuropeConcert of Europe, the idea , the idea that the great powers (France, that the great powers (France, Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia) Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia) could work together—was finally could work together—was finally shattered. Europe’s fragile unity had shattered. Europe’s fragile unity had been destroyedbeen destroyed..

As losers, the 1856 Peace of Paris As losers, the 1856 Peace of Paris took away the Russian naval bases took away the Russian naval bases on the Black Sea.on the Black Sea.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Most historians consider the Crimean War Most historians consider the Crimean War

one of the most senseless in history because one of the most senseless in history because its issues could have been settled by its issues could have been settled by diplomacy.diplomacy.

Yet this war was full of consequence for it Yet this war was full of consequence for it contained many firsts:contained many firsts:

First use of a railroad to transport First use of a railroad to transport men/suppliesmen/supplies

First to use steam powered ships and First to use steam powered ships and ironclads ironclads

First use of shell firing cannonsFirst use of shell firing cannons


First wide scale use of bolt-action First wide scale use of bolt-action riflesrifles

First wide scale use of Minie’ ball First wide scale use of Minie’ ball bulletsbullets


Development of the modern field Development of the modern field hospital.hospital.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) The relationship of the home front to The relationship of the home front to

the battlefront began to change for the battlefront began to change for the new technology of the the new technology of the telegraphtelegraph and and press coverage gave home press coverage gave home audiences the news quicker than ever audiences the news quicker than ever before.before.


This was the first war in Europe since This was the first war in Europe since the Napoleonic Era and the last major the Napoleonic Era and the last major conflict until World War I. conflict until World War I.

The stresses of war can show a nation The stresses of war can show a nation at its best or at its worst…in the case at its best or at its worst…in the case of Russia in the Crimea, of Russia in the Crimea, it showed the it showed the backwardness of her agrarian society backwardness of her agrarian society in comparison to the industrialized in comparison to the industrialized states of Western Europe.states of Western Europe.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Previously Russia and Austria had Previously Russia and Austria had

worked together; now they were bitter worked together; now they were bitter enemies (and would remain so in World enemies (and would remain so in World War I and II). War I and II).

Russia clearly needed social reform and Russia clearly needed social reform and needed it quickly: serfdom had to end.needed it quickly: serfdom had to end.

The Crimean War (1853-1856)The Crimean War (1853-1856) Tsar Alexander II launched a series of Tsar Alexander II launched a series of

“Great Reforms,” starting with the “Great Reforms,” starting with the emancipation of 50 million serfs in emancipation of 50 million serfs in 1861. 1861.


Emancipated but chained to Emancipated but chained to enormous debt and particular plots enormous debt and particular plots of land, the serfs still couldn’t form of land, the serfs still couldn’t form the pool of labor Russia needed to the pool of labor Russia needed to industrialize like Western Europe.industrialize like Western Europe.

Russia would continue to lag behind Russia would continue to lag behind the West for several more decades.the West for several more decades.

The Crimean War (1853-1856) A Turning Point in European Affairs.

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