Crimean War

Coloured serio-comic war map of 1877, by Frederick Rose. The map shows Russia as an octopus wounded from by its defeat in the Crimea, and Italy as a girl playing with a puppet pope.

War (1853-56) between Russia and the allied powers of England, France, Turkey, and Sardinia. The war arose from British and French mistrust of Russia's ambitions in the Balkans. It began with an allied Anglo-French expedition to the Crimea to attack the Russian Black Sea city of Sevastopol. The battles of the River Alma, Balaclava (including the charge of the Light Brigade), and Inkerman in 1854 led to a siege which, owing to military mismanagement, lasted for a year until September 1855. The war was ended by the Treaty of Paris in 1856. The scandal surrounding French and British losses through disease led to the organization of proper military nursing services by Florence Nightingale.

1853

1854 Britain and France declared war on Russia, invaded the Crimea, and laid siege to Sevastopol (September 1854-September 1855). Battles of Balaclava on 25 October (including the Charge of the Light Brigade), Inkerman on 5 November, and the Alma.

1855 Sardinia declared war on Russia.

1856 The Treaty of Paris in February ended the war.