Crimean War

1853-56

Fought between Russia on the one hand and Turkey, Britain, France, and (later) Sardinia on the other. It broke out ostensibly through Russia's claim to the guardianship of the Holy Places and protection of the Greek Christians in the Turkish Empire. The underlying cause was the weakness of the Turkish Empire, which Britain had traditionally tried to support, and fears of Russian expansion into the Balkans and Mediterranean at Turkey's expense. The period immediately prior to the outbreak of war was one of diplomatic blunder and misunderstanding, with each side finding itself in an untenable situation. Turkey declared war on 4 October 1853; the following month its fleet was destroyed at Sinop by the Russians and a Franco-British fleet consequently sailed into the Black Sea with the aim of confining the Russians in Sevastopol. France and Britain formally declared war in March 1854.

The war was concentrated in the Black Sea and the Baltic. The allied forces were first mustered at Varna, but in 1854 were transported to Yevpatoria, after having suffered terribly through cholera. By the victory of the Alma in September 1854, when the brunt of the fighting fell on the British, a way for the allies was cleared to Sevastopol. In November the British Guards and troops beat back the assaulting Russians at Balaklava - where the Light Brigade made its epic charge through the North Valley - and at Inkermann, but in spite of their victories dared not attempt to take Sevastapol by storm. Accordingly the allies settled down to a winter siege. Tempests wrecked the transports bearing clothing, ammunition etc, so that the soldiers were totally unprepared to endure the snows and bitter cold and disease. Florence Nightingale who, at the base hospital at Scutari, did noble work as a nurse, bore vivid testimony to the acute sufferings and deprivations, which, on being reported back home in the newspapers, caused an outcry. This was the first time that newspaper correspondents had actually followed a campaign.

Early in 1855 the British commander, Raglan, and Tsar Nicholas died. In August the French and Sardinians defeated the Russians at the battle of Chernaya, and the French captured the Malakove redoubt, though the British were driven back from the Redan. In September the Russians surrendered Sevastopol and in March 1856 the Peace of Paris was signed: the Russians abandoned their claim to protect the Greek Christians and agreed not to build any more forts on the Euxine, but regained Sevastopol. The Great Powers assumed responsibility for seeing that the Porte fulfilled its guarantees to the Christians. Navigation on the Danube was thrown open.

This war had demonstrated to Britain the impossibility of rehabilitating Turkey, and the desperate need for reform in the army. Altogether Britain and France committed 405,000 men to the Crimea of whom 25,600 were killed and a further 38,000 died of disease, mainly cholera.

© JM Dent/Historybookshop.com

Recommended reading

The Crimean War, 1853-56 15% off
Baumbart, Winfried — £14.44 (normal price £16.99) —

Crimea
Royle, Trevor — £14.99 —

The Reason Why 15% off
Woodham-Smith, Cecil — £4.24 (normal price £4.99) —