The Crimean War The Crimean War ( ) was fought between the Russian Empire on one side and an alliance of France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire and later Sardinia-Piedmont on the other. The majority of the conflict took place on the Crimean peninsula, with additional actions occurring in the Caucasus, Northern Balkans, the Baltic Sea region, and in the Russian Far East. The Crimean War ( ) was fought between the Russian Empire on one side and an alliance of France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire and later Sardinia-Piedmont on the other. The majority of the conflict took place on the Crimean peninsula, with additional actions occurring in the Caucasus, Northern Balkans, the Baltic Sea region, and in the Russian Far East. The war is generally seen as the first modern conflict introducing some major technical changes which affected the future course of warfare in the rest of the 19th century and in the 20th century. The war is generally seen as the first modern conflict introducing some major technical changes which affected the future course of warfare in the rest of the 19th century and in the 20th century.

The original cause of the Crimean War was the competition between the French Empire, proclaimed in 1852 by the nephew of Napoléon Bonaparte, crowning himself as Napoléon III, and the Russian Empire, over the protectorate of the “Holy Land” (Palestine with Jerusalem). The original cause of the Crimean War was the competition between the French Empire, proclaimed in 1852 by the nephew of Napoléon Bonaparte, crowning himself as Napoléon III, and the Russian Empire, over the protectorate of the “Holy Land” (Palestine with Jerusalem). After its consecutive victories over the declining Ottoman Empire in the 18th century, Russia had obtained the status of a Christian “protector power” over the Christian subjects of the Sultan on the Holy Land. After its consecutive victories over the declining Ottoman Empire in the 18th century, Russia had obtained the status of a Christian “protector power” over the Christian subjects of the Sultan on the Holy Land.

The newest treaty signed by the will and insistance of Napoléon III between France and the Ottomans, confirmed France and the Catholic Church as the supreme Christian organization in the Holy Land, and gave the French Empire supreme control over the various Christian holy places, and gave the keys of the “Church of the Nativity”, previously in the hands of the Greek Orthodox Church, to the Catholic Church. The newest treaty signed by the will and insistance of Napoléon III between France and the Ottomans, confirmed France and the Catholic Church as the supreme Christian organization in the Holy Land, and gave the French Empire supreme control over the various Christian holy places, and gave the keys of the “Church of the Nativity”, previously in the hands of the Greek Orthodox Church, to the Catholic Church.

Tsar Nicholas I naming the Ottoman Empire “the sick man of Europe” dispatched one of his talented diplomats, Prince Menshikov, on a special mission to the Sublime Porte (Bab-ı Ali) to threaten the weakening empire. Tsar Nicholas I naming the Ottoman Empire “the sick man of Europe” dispatched one of his talented diplomats, Prince Menshikov, on a special mission to the Sublime Porte (Bab-ı Ali) to threaten the weakening empire. By previous Russo-Ottoman treaties, the Sultan had already been committed "to protect the Christian religion and its Churches", but Menshikov attempted to negotiate a new treaty, under which the Russian Empire would be allowed to interfere whenever it judged the Sultan's protection inadequate. By previous Russo-Ottoman treaties, the Sultan had already been committed "to protect the Christian religion and its Churches", but Menshikov attempted to negotiate a new treaty, under which the Russian Empire would be allowed to interfere whenever it judged the Sultan's protection inadequate.

Menshikov also demanded the replacement of some high Ottoman bureaucrats in a clear violation of the Ottoman sovereignty rights. Menshikov also demanded the replacement of some high Ottoman bureaucrats in a clear violation of the Ottoman sovereignty rights. France and Britain, worried about the Russian expansionism in the Near East, clearly showed their supports to the Ottoman Empire by sending war fleets to Istanbul. France and Britain, worried about the Russian expansionism in the Near East, clearly showed their supports to the Ottoman Empire by sending war fleets to Istanbul.

With the French and British support, Abdülmecit refused Menshikov’s proposals and the Tsar marched his armies into Moldavia and Wallachia (Ottoman principalities in which Russia was acknowledged as a special protector of the Orthodox Church), using the Sultan's failure to resolve the issue of the Holy Places as a pretext. With the French and British support, Abdülmecit refused Menshikov’s proposals and the Tsar marched his armies into Moldavia and Wallachia (Ottoman principalities in which Russia was acknowledged as a special protector of the Orthodox Church), using the Sultan's failure to resolve the issue of the Holy Places as a pretext. Nicholas I believed that the Great Powers, especially Austria, would not resist to the annexation of the Ottoman Danubian provinces, especially given Russian involvement in helping to suppress the Revolution of 1848 in Hungary. Nicholas I believed that the Great Powers, especially Austria, would not resist to the annexation of the Ottoman Danubian provinces, especially given Russian involvement in helping to suppress the Revolution of 1848 in Hungary.

Nicholas I sent his powerful Black Sea war fleet against the Ottoman navy and destroyed a squadron of the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Sinop on 30 November Nicholas I sent his powerful Black Sea war fleet against the Ottoman navy and destroyed a squadron of the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Sinop on 30 November The destruction of the Ottoman fleet alarmed both London and Paris. The destruction of the Ottoman fleet alarmed both London and Paris. In 1853, after Russia ignored an Franco-British ultimatum to withdraw from the Danubian principalities, Britain and France declared war on the Russian Empire. In 1853, after Russia ignored an Franco-British ultimatum to withdraw from the Danubian principalities, Britain and France declared war on the Russian Empire.

Joint French, Ottoman and British expeditionary forces landed on the Crimean peninsula besieging the Russian fortified city of Sebastopol. Joint French, Ottoman and British expeditionary forces landed on the Crimean peninsula besieging the Russian fortified city of Sebastopol. Later the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, hoping to gain the French support in their future conflict in Northern Italy against the Austrian Empire, joined the conflict and sent also an expeditionary corps to Crimea. Later the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, hoping to gain the French support in their future conflict in Northern Italy against the Austrian Empire, joined the conflict and sent also an expeditionary corps to Crimea. Some minor naval and military action also took place on the Russian Pacific coast, the Caucasus, the Baltic and White Seas. Some minor naval and military action also took place on the Russian Pacific coast, the Caucasus, the Baltic and White Seas.

Peace negotiations began in 1856 under Nicholas I's successor, Alexander II after the fall of Sebastopol at the end of highly costful battles. Peace negotiations began in 1856 under Nicholas I's successor, Alexander II after the fall of Sebastopol at the end of highly costful battles. By the Peace Treaty of Paris, the Tsar and the Sultan agreed not to establish any naval or military arsenal on the littoral of the Black Sea, greatly diminishing the naval threat that Russia posed to the Ottoman Empire. By the Peace Treaty of Paris, the Tsar and the Sultan agreed not to establish any naval or military arsenal on the littoral of the Black Sea, greatly diminishing the naval threat that Russia posed to the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, all the Great Powers pledged to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire. Moreover, all the Great Powers pledged to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire.

Attention The Treaty of Paris stood until 1871, when the French Empire was crushed by the Prussian led German Confederation in the Franco-Prussian War of While Prussia and several other German states united to form the mighty German Empire, the Emperor of the French, Napoleon III, was deposed and the III. French Republic was proclaimed. The Treaty of Paris stood until 1871, when the French Empire was crushed by the Prussian led German Confederation in the Franco-Prussian War of While Prussia and several other German states united to form the mighty German Empire, the Emperor of the French, Napoleon III, was deposed and the III. French Republic was proclaimed. During his reign ( ), Napoleon III, willing to have the support of Britain, had opposed Russia over the “Eastern Question”, although Russian interference in the Ottoman Empire, however, did not directly threaten the French interests. During his reign ( ), Napoleon III, willing to have the support of Britain, had opposed Russia over the “Eastern Question”, although Russian interference in the Ottoman Empire, however, did not directly threaten the French interests.

So, the new French republic began to look for a rapprochement with Russia against its new hostile neighbour, the German Empire (II. Reich). So, the new French republic began to look for a rapprochement with Russia against its new hostile neighbour, the German Empire (II. Reich). Encouraged by the French attitude, and supported by the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Russia denounced the Black Sea clauses of the Paris Treaty of Encouraged by the French attitude, and supported by the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Russia denounced the Black Sea clauses of the Paris Treaty of As Britain alone could not enforce the clauses, Russia once again established a war fleet in the Black Sea. As Britain alone could not enforce the clauses, Russia once again established a war fleet in the Black Sea.

Having abandoned its alliance with Russia in the Crimean War, Austria was diplomatically isolated following the war. Having abandoned its alliance with Russia in the Crimean War, Austria was diplomatically isolated following the war. This isolation was one of the reasons of its defeat in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War and loss of influence in most of the German-speaking lands. Soon after, Austria would ally with Prussia as it became the new German Empire, creating the conditions that would lead to the First World War. This isolation was one of the reasons of its defeat in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War and loss of influence in most of the German-speaking lands. Soon after, Austria would ally with Prussia as it became the new German Empire, creating the conditions that would lead to the First World War.