Ancient history

Let's take a look at the background, flow, and end of the Crimean War

From the reign of Nicholas I to the deterioration of relations with Japan The Crimean War that occurred on October 16, 1853, which appeared in [Russian history] The background of is quite complicated, so this time I will summarize it in the form of a supplement.

In addition, how did the war go, albeit briefly? How did it end? I will also look at it.

What was the background at the time of the Crimean War?

Italy's Galileo-Galilei in 17th century Europe And Newton in the United Kingdom Rapid development of natural science by people such as [ Scientific Revolution ] Has happened.

* It seems that the development of natural science was due to the establishment of new ways of thinking by philosophers such as "Induction" (Francis Bacon, UK) and "Deduction" (Rene Descartes, France). P>

These ideas eventually overturned the Christian worldview and caused numerous technological revolutions Industrial Revolution . Will lead to.

The idea of ​​emphasizing rational knowledge through such a revolution [ Enlightenment Thought ] Will spread, and the Enlightenment will eventually lead to tyranny, feudalism, and denial of the church. Not only the authoritative political system and church that were the object of the Enlightenment thought, but also the individual, "Let's get freedom from the oppression by the absolute monarch" [ liberalism ] Has also spread.

* Though the idea of ​​freely valuing has existed since ancient Greek and Roman times, it was in the 17th and 18th centuries that it actually became apparent as a rule of human life, political management, and economic activity. P>

In France, where the idea of ​​liberalism was widespread and national finances were being squeezed by repeated international conflicts, the French Revolution tried to overthrow the kingship. Will occur.

Napoleon that contained the turmoil of this French Revolution However, when they finally lost their power, European countries went in the direction of suppressing liberalism and nationalism in reaction to the past.

In addition to this direction, the Vienna system is based on the basic principle of "European cooperation". A system called will be laid down.

In this way, after the appearance of Napoleon, France also revived the royal government in the direction of suppressing liberalism, but liberalism continued to smolder in many groups including the middle class, and finally denied the royal government again in 1830 July Revolution Is awakened.

Furthermore, the July Monarchy was built as a result of the July Revolution. Is February Revolution When overthrown, the influence of liberalism spread to other European countries.

From Asahi Shimbun Publishing, a world history where the flow is connected because it is by area

Changes in power relations

As a pre-liberal situation, the Ottoman Empire created the largest version around the 17th century. And the power relations of European countries where the Industrial Revolution took place from the latter half of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century changed as follows.

Around the 17th century Ottoman Empire> Europe

Around the 19th century Ottoman Empire

The weakened Ottoman Empire was the target of Russia's southward policy.

Due to the wave of liberalism and nationalism under this circumstance, Russia began to support the independence of the Christian sphere, which worshiped Orthodox Christians within the Ottoman Empire, as a guardian of the Orthodox Church.

For example, Greece under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) was initiated, at which time Russia and Britain and France both supported the independence of Greece.

On the other hand, Egypt participated as the Ottoman side. At that time, it was under the control of the Ottoman Empire, but demands Syria.

"It's strange that we cooperated (with the Ottoman Empire) in the Greek War of Independence, but there was no reward"

As a result, the "Egypt-Turkey War" broke out between the Ottoman Empire and Egypt.

Russia, which wants to carry out its southward policy, plunges its head here as well (supporting the Ottoman Empire at this time) in 1833 Dardanels Strait . And Bosphorus Acquire exclusive navigation rights.

Of course, we also support Orthodox Christians who were under the control of the Ottoman Empire outside of Greece. It surely cut off the influence of the Ottoman Empire while adhering to the enemy and allies.

Eastern problem mainly due to territorial and ethnic problems on the eastern side (as seen from Western Europe) It is called, and eventually it comes to refer to various problems in the international politics of the Balkan Peninsula.

* This Eastern problem also contributed to World War I.

Under such circumstances, when Egypt and the Ottoman Empire fought again and the London Conference was held, the previous treaty was abandoned due to opposition from participating countries including Britain and France, which had begun to feel a sense of crisis about Russia's influence. ..

These ethnic problems occur in various parts of Europe other than the Ottoman Empire. It was 1848-1849 that erupted in particular. Revolution of 1848 Called Concert of Europe The collapse was accelerating.

Religious issues

First of all, about the management right of the sanctuary Jerusalem at that time. Only the part related to what kind of transition was followed is easy.

Transition of Jerusalem management rights
  • 1517 Mamluk dynasty destroyed The Ottoman Empire ruled Jerusalem to destroy the Mamluk dynasty and bring Jerusalem under control
  • France gains control in 1535 When France and the Ottoman Empire form an alliance against the Habsburg monarchy, France recognizes extraterritoriality in Jerusalem
  • 1789-1799 French Revolution Absolutism collapses in France and becomes a republic
  • 1798 Administration confused Greek Orthodox Christians on Napoleon's expedition to Egypt, and Russia, which was supporting the Ottoman Empire, intervened to transfer control.
  • 1815 Napoleon's defeat Europe shifts to the Vienna system. France revives the Bourbon dynasty due to the Restoration
  • 1852 Napoleon III becomes emperor in France Two revolutions occur due to the restoration of the royal government in France, but with outdated rule, Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon-Bonaparte, seized power.
  • 〃 Transferred control of Jerusalem to the Catholic Church Napoleon III pressures the Ottoman Empire to increase the popularity of Catholicism in France → Gains control

Because of this background, Russia and France are in complete conflict.

Relations between the Ottoman Empire and Russia had deteriorated considerably, and France, which was a developed country, became the decisive factor for the Ottoman Empire.

In addition, France seems to have had other elements that were in conflict with Russia, such as being the largest creditor of the Ottoman Empire.

British diplomacy failure

Britain at this time was not completely hostile to Russia, and both factions that were sympathetic to Russia and had a sense of crisis about Russia's expansion stance, partly because it was a coalition government at that time. It existed.

It seems that the forces concerned about Russia's expansion stance thought that the navigation to India, which was under the influence of Britain, could be hindered by the destabilization of the Mediterranean Sea and the southward movement toward Central Asia.

* The article below briefly describes the expansion into Central Asia.

Therefore, even if I was in the position of a great power that could mediate, I couldn't move and couldn't put it out in a small fire.

The start of the Crimean War (1853-1856)

Despite the above backgrounds, negotiations continued, but in the end they could not compromise and ended in failure.

In July 1853 Russia marched on Moldavia and Wallachia (now Moldova, part of Romania), which had autonomy in the Ottoman Empire. Both are marches for the purpose of "liberation" because the majority believed in the Orthodox sect, and the army is proceeding without a declaration of war.

The Ottoman Empire repeatedly urged withdrawal recommendations, but Russia did not, so in October of the same year the Ottoman Empire launched an attack and started the war.

In addition, since this region such as Moldavia and Wallachia is right next to Austria and Austria has a Slavic ethnic group in the country, the relationship between Austria and Russia, which were friendly countries before the Crimean War, has deteriorated.

Greek volunteers and Britain and France participate in the war

In the Balkan Peninsula, there were several independent forces other than Greece that had been under the control of the Ottoman Empire.

While Russia and the Ottoman Empire face each other directly, such forces revolt with assistance from Russia. Greek volunteers went north to participate in this rebellion. The Ottoman Empire will be pinched and shot.

Detailed World History Book (Yamakawa Shuppansha) revised

By the time Russia marched in July 1853, Britain was more cautious about Russia, so it decided to support the Ottoman Empire.

Therefore, the situation of this Ottoman Empire was very bad for Britain and France. Britain and France demand that Greece withdraw from Greek volunteers, but Greece, which has just achieved independence, has a weak government and cannot stop volunteers.

Therefore, France blocked the transport ship carrying the weapons of Greek volunteers, and Britain blocked the port city of Athens to prevent it from attacking the Ottoman Empire.

In this way, the Ottoman Empire managed to push back what seemed to be attacked by Russia to its original state and bring it to a stalemate.

At this point, even though I supported both Britain and France, I didn't intend to go any further. .. ..

Public opinion changed completely due to the battle of Sinop, where even the port facilities by the Russian army were completely destroyed. When the media in each country reported that it was the "Sinop massacre," he suddenly leaned toward a hard-line argument. Britain and France will participate in the war together.

At the request of Britain and France, the Kingdom of Sardinia in Italy also participated in the latter half of the war. At that time, the movement to unify the Italian peninsula was active, and

  • Improving international status
  • I want to get closer to Britain and France to support the unification of Italy
  • I don't want the Mediterranean to be rough in the first place

It seems that there was such an intention.

To the end of the war

With the participation of Britain and France, it became clear that Russia was behind in terms of ship (building technology), weapons and ammunition (difference in flight distance), and means of transportation, while both Britain and France fought in France without knowing the site. Before, he made a serious mistake such as losing his fleet due to a storm, and the battle was prolonged.

The area where the battle was fierce was the battle over Russia's "Sevastopol Fortress" on the Crimean Peninsula.

It is the base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and after fighting for about a year, the British-French Land Allied Forces finally won and the Black Sea Fleet was incapacitated. The Allies have acquired command of the sea.

However, the Russian side did not fall for free, and dropped the "Callus Fortress" on the east side of the Black Sea to hurt the Allied forces and avoided only the complete defeat of the Crimean War.

At this time, there were more sick deaths than war dead, and both Britain and the Ottoman Empire were in a state of financial collapse due to high war costs. It has become.

Peace negotiations began in 1856 at the behest of Austria and Prussia due to the poor economy of both camps and the large number of deaths from war and illness.

Treaty of Paris (1856)

The Paris Treaty has been signed in various ages, so it is confusing, but the countries that signed this Paris Treaty are Russia, the Ottoman Empire, the United Kingdom, France, the Kingdom of Sardinia, who participated in the war, and Austria, which acted as an intermediary between the two camps. There are seven countries in Prussia.

Under this treaty, the Ottoman Empire ended with a real victory.

  • Territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire
  • Reconfirmation that warships other than the Ottoman Empire cannot pass through the Bosphorus and Dardanels Straits
  • Demilitarized Black Sea
  • Freedom of navigation on the Donau River (countries along the Donau River set up and supervise standing committees)

Items such as are included.

Balkan countries such as Moldavia and Wallachia, which fought for independence, only confirmed their autonomy as a buffer zone for Russia's southward policy, although the size of their territories changed (guaranteed by European countries other than the Ottoman Empire). That said, the situation hasn't changed from what it was before the Russian military administration was established ...).

What is the impact of concluding a treaty?

Concert of Europe that has been suspicious since 1848 It was this Paris Treaty that completely destroyed is.

Russia's Alexander I under the Concert of Europe Holy Alliance led by Christian justice and love for neighbors (Russia, Austria, Prussia) has also disappeared.

Austria is the most affected country other than Russia, which was cut off from entering the Balkan Peninsula due to the conclusion of the Paris Treaty. was.

In the Hungarian independence movement under its control, Russia was supporting Austria, but took a negative position in this case, which made the relationship considerably worse.

The impact is not limited to the relationship between the two countries. Austria, which could not expect support for the Hungarian independence movement due to worsening relations with Russia, has lowered its position in the German Confederation and is supporting the rise of Prussia.

* The Holy Roman Empire collapsed during the French Revolution, and the union of 35 German territories (including the Kingdom of Prussia) and four imperial cities, with Austria as the lord, was called the German Confederation.

At the same time, Austria, which had the power to lead the Vienna regime, gradually lost its influence in Europe.

With the complete termination of the Vienna system aimed at "European cooperation" through the Paris Treaty, each country began to pursue imperialism in pursuit of its own national interests.