Nicholas I and the Crimean War, Turning point in nineteenth- century Europe In Russia: Восточная война - Vostochnaya Voina In Britain: "Russian War"

Crimean War By 1851, pressured by Napoleon I – France was given control over both RCC and Orthodox Sites by the Sultan. Russia wants to extend their hegemony over areas controlled by the Turks. Pretext is: Protect the holy sites Reality: Russia wants access to the Black Sea. The issue is the weakness of the Ottoman Empire

Crimean War Russia’s Hopes: Breakup of the Ottoman Empire will lead to greater Russian influence in the Balkans. France and Britain, historic enemies, will be united against Russian power. We are starting to see the “sides” of WWI Austria and Prussia will remain neutral Russian Czar hoped for them on his side.

Russian Expansion: Warm water port?

The Balkans

Russia as defender of Balkan peoples  Christian Orthodox  Serbs  Greeks  Roumanians  Bulgarians  Slavs (Slavdom)  Serbs  Bulgarians  Slovenes  Croats

Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire: “Sick Man of Europe”

Map of Crimean War,

Crimean War  March 28, 1854: Britain and France declared war on Russia  Crimean Peninsula  Sevastopol

Map of Crimean War,

Roger Fenton

Battle of Balaklava (October 1854) Charge of the Light Brigade Lord Alfred Tennyson ( ; poem 1880)

Florence Nightingale ( )

November 1854: Nightingale and nurses arrived at Scutari

Endgame  March 2, 1855: Nicholas I died  Alexander II vowed change  Armistice signed on 29 February 1856  Treaty of Paris 30 March 1856:  Black Sea became neutral territory, no warships  Ottoman independence and territorial integrity were to be “respected.”  Ottomans had to proclaim Muslims and non-Muslims equal before the law.  Moldavia and Wallachia back under nominal Ottoman rule  Russia lost territory it had been granted at the mouth of the Danube  Russia forced to abandon its claims to protect Christians in the Ottoman Empire in favour of France.

Consequences – Great Reforms in Russia (1860s) serfdom abolished in 1861 Army reformed – Isolation of Austria – War correspondents change warfare – Nursing professionalized – Britain and France on same side

Ottoman Empire: Reform Pressure forces the Sultan, probably too little too late, to begin reform in the 19 th Century. Can they become “European” but still maintain their Islamic identity – 1876 Liberal Economic policies Equality for Non-Muslims Easier for Muslims to do business with non- muslims

Ottoman Empire: Reform Post Crimean War – they push other reforms that mirror the West: Hatt-i-Sharif of Gulhane: - “Reform/Bureaucratize the Empire Rights of non-Muslims are more explicit. Military service for non-Muslims Printing Presses Eradication of the Millet System – a more “inclusive empire.”

Ottoman Empire: Reform However, this is an Empire. And that means enforcement of these reforms is easier said than done. Many local rulers dealt with the West regardless of the dictates from Istanbul. (Egypt in particular) Nationalism also, of course represented a challenge to the rule of Islamic Law We will see the Wars in the Balkans in the 1870’s as emblematic of their inability to maintain control.

Ottoman Empire: Reform When they, (Ottomans) eventually, consider a constitution, in the late 1870’s it is surely a matter of too little too late. As the government becomes more secularized it will be, like the USSR in the 1980’s...doing everything it can to modernize...and at the same time (unwittingly) ensuring that it will no longer exist. To save itself it will destroy itself.