Crimean War

The Crimean War lasted from 28 March 1854 until 1856. It was fought between Russia and an alliance of the United Kingdom, France, and the Ottoman Empire, joined somewhat tardily by Piedmont-Sardinia.

Major events of the war

• Some action also took place on the Russian Pacific coast, Asia Minor, the Baltic and White Seas
• The roots of the war's causes lay in the existing rivalry between the British and the Russians in other areas such as Afghanistan (The Great Game). Conflicts over control of holy places in Jerusalem led to aggressive actions in the Balkans, and around the Dardanelles.
• Major battles
• Destruction of the Ottoman fleet at Sinop - 30 November 1853;
• The Battle of Alma - 20 September 1854
• Siege of Sebastopol (more correctly, "Sevastopol") - September 25, 1854 to 8 September 1855
• The Battle of Balaclava - 25 October 1854 (see also Charge of the Light Brigade);
• The Battle of Inkerman - 5 November 1854;
• Battle of Eupatoria, 17 February 1855
• Battle of Chernaya River (aka "Traktir Bridge") - 25 August 1855.
• Siege of Kars, June to 28 November 1855
• It was the first war where the electric telegraph started to have a significant effect, with the first 'live' war reporting to The Times by William Howard Russell, and British generals' reduced independence of action from London due to such rapid communications. Newspaper readership informed public opinion in Britain and France as never before.
• Florence Nightingale came into prominence during the Crimean War for her contributions in the field of nursing during the war.