1853-1856
The European conflict over dividing the weak Ottoman Empire. It was the first modern war, where technological backwardness resulted in a shameful defeat of the Russian army.
“Officers and Men of the 13th Light Dragoons, British Army, Crimea” photo by Roger Fenton (1855)
Background
The Ottoman Empire had long been a temptation to its neighbours, who wished to divide it. In 1853, Nicholas I felt confident enough to try expand its borders south.
Events
In 1853, he launched an attack against Turkish Black Sea ports. The Russian Black Sea army destroyed Turkish fleet and occupied Moldavia and Wallachia.
That had dangerously shifted the balance of power. Great Britain and France backed up an alliance with the Turks against Russia and Austria was threatening to join in as well.
The joint Anglo-French army invaded Crimea and tried to besiege the naval base of Sevastopol. It took altogether 13 months and cost 118,000 men to finally conquer it in 1855.
Legacy
The Crimean War was the first “modern” war. The new technologies of railway, telegraph and steam ships were used. Also modern nursing practices by Florence Nightingale and a day-to-day photo coverage of war by Roger Fenton was introduced in newspapers.
Results
The technological backwardness of the Russian army came to light. The once glorious army who had won Napoleon had now become an army of a pre-industrialized era.
Russia Under Alexander II
Crimean War
1853-1856
The European conflict over dividing the weak Ottoman Empire. It was the first modern war, where technological backwardness resulted in a shameful defeat of the Russian army.
“Officers and Men of the 13th Light Dragoons, British Army, Crimea” photo by Roger Fenton (1855)
Background
The Ottoman Empire had long been a temptation to its neighbours, who wished to divide it. In 1853, Nicholas I felt confident enough to try expand its borders south.
Events
In 1853, he launched an attack against Turkish Black Sea ports. The Russian Black Sea army destroyed Turkish fleet and occupied Moldavia and Wallachia.
That had dangerously shifted the balance of power. Great Britain and France backed up an alliance with the Turks against Russia and Austria was threatening to join in as well.
The joint Anglo-French army invaded Crimea and tried to besiege the naval base of Sevastopol. It took altogether 13 months and cost 118,000 men to finally conquer it in 1855.
Legacy
The Crimean War was the first “modern” war. The new technologies of railway, telegraph and steam ships were used. Also modern nursing practices by Florence Nightingale and a day-to-day photo coverage of war by Roger Fenton was introduced in newspapers.
Results
The technological backwardness of the Russian army came to light. The once glorious army who had won Napoleon had now become an army of a pre-industrialized era.
Russia Under Alexander II