The Crimean War
Nationalism was promoted at mid-century by the Crimean War, fought in 1853 -54. The war encouraged the nations of Europe to realign and become more suspicious of one another, leading them to ignore the concerns of other major powers and focus on their own national interests.
The Crimean War had many causes, and once it started, it revealed to all the major powers how weak the Ottoman Empire had grown. The war was sparked as Russia's armies attacked southward, threatening Ottoman lands. Fearing that the Ottomans would fall under Russian pressure, France and Britain sent troops to the area. Louis Napoleon believed that a successful war against Russia would solidify popular support for his regime and would check Russia's surge for power. Britain had long worried that the collapse of the Ottoman Empire would lead Russia to seek territorial gains in the Mediterranean, which would challenge Britain's naval supremacy in that region. Austria and Prussia remained neutral, since Austria had its own ambitions in the Balkans, and, for the moment, Prussia followed Austrian leadership. Much of the fighting took place on the Crimean Peninsula on the north shore of the Black Sea, and it resulted in a sound, humiliating defeat of Russia, but it also cast the Ottomans in the role of a lesser power that had to be protected by others.
The Crimean War was significant beyond the individual countries that fought in it partly because it marked a transition from traditional to modern warfare. The high casualty rate was largely due to varying levels of technology that were used by different sides at different times. Fore example, highly trained cavalry traditionally had been used to break through the front lines of the infantry while the infantry reloaded their guns. The cavalry did not carry guns because they were too heavy, a situation that made them vulnerable to new technologies of the percussion cap and the breech-loading rifle. Both inventions made firing rapid and more accurate, and had been adopted throughout Europe in the years preceding the Crimean War, and the result was a widespread slaughter of cavalry. Warfare methods had to change, since a line of marching soldiers could be decimated by the new technology.
The war changed the balance of power among European countries in many ways. First, it shattered the image of an invincible Russia that had influenced the Continent's international politics since the close of the Napoleonic wars. Just as importantly, the Concert of Europe was dismantled as a means of dealing with international relations among European powers. Following the successful repression of the 1848 revolutions, the powers feared uprisings less than they had earlier in the century, and they moved away from the bonds created by the Congress of Vienna. France, of course, was glad to be distanced from the agreements that had thwarted its ambitions (especially since its new leader was a Bonaparte), Prussia became increasingly impatient with Austria's domination of German politics, and Russia was motivated to overcome the humiliation of revealing its weakness in losing the Crimean War. The breakup of old patterns of international relations, then, set the stage for each country to shift emphasis to its own military power and diplomatic influence, which could be strengthened through nationalism, and it opened the opportunity for two nations - Italy and Germany - to at last become unified under their own governments.
The war changed the balance of power among European countries in many ways. First, it shattered the image of an invincible Russia that had influenced the Continent's international politics since the close of the Napoleonic wars. Just as importantly, the Concert of Europe was dismantled as a means of dealing with international relations among European powers. Following the successful repression of the 1848 revolutions, the powers feared uprisings less than they had earlier in the century, and they moved away from the bonds created by the Congress of Vienna. France, of course, was glad to be distanced from the agreements that had thwarted its ambitions (especially since its new leader was a Bonaparte), Prussia became increasingly impatient with Austria's domination of German politics, and Russia was motivated to overcome the humiliation of revealing its weakness in losing the Crimean War. The breakup of old patterns of international relations, then, set the stage for each country to shift emphasis to its own military power and diplomatic influence, which could be strengthened through nationalism, and it opened the opportunity for two nations - Italy and Germany - to at last become unified under their own governments.
The Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. British commander Lord Raglan had intended to send the Light Brigade to prevent the Russians from removing captured guns from overrun Turkish positions, a task for which the light cavalry were well-suited. However, there was miscommunication in the chain of command, and the Light Brigade was instead sent on a frontal assault against a different artillery battery, one well-prepared with excellent fields of defensive fire. The Light Brigade reached the battery under withering direct fire and scattered some of the gunners, but they were forced to retreat immediately, and the assault ended with very high British casualties and no decisive gains.
The events were the subject of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's narrative poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), published just six weeks after the event. Its lines emphasize the valor of the cavalry in bravely carrying out their orders, regardless of the nearly inevitable outcome. Blame has remained controversial for the miscommunication, as the order was vague and Louis Edward Nolan delivered the written orders with some verbal interpretation, then died in the first minute of the assault.
The events were the subject of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's narrative poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), published just six weeks after the event. Its lines emphasize the valor of the cavalry in bravely carrying out their orders, regardless of the nearly inevitable outcome. Blame has remained controversial for the miscommunication, as the order was vague and Louis Edward Nolan delivered the written orders with some verbal interpretation, then died in the first minute of the assault.
I
Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!” he said. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. II “Forward, the Light Brigade!” Was there a man dismayed? Not though the soldier knew Someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. III Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of hell Rode the six hundred. IV Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred. V Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. VI When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred! |