16 October 1853 Russia and Turkey had declared war.As she entered the national historiography as the Crimea, and in the west is known as the Eastern War.
outbreak of hostilities
Already in the beginning of November the Russian squadron in Sinop Bay successfully destroyed a significant part of the Turkish Naval Forces.It was broken fifteen Turkish ships, as well as eroded coastal artillery batteries.Whether East war a bilateral conflict between Russia and Turkey, the winner would be obvious.However, the Ottoman Porte had formidable allies - France and England.Last, if you talk straight, had their own views on Turkish territory, as the country is increasingly becoming a dependent semi-colony of the great states of Western Europe.The reactions from the Allies did not have to wait long.In December this year, the Franco-British squadron was off the coast of the Crimea and eastern war entered its active phase.As part of the allied forces was almost ninety ships carrying the advanced technology of the time.England, followed by France were the first European countries emerging from the industrial revolution, which can not be said of the detainees in the feudal era of the Russian Empire.To prevent allied ships to land troops in Sevastopol, in the bay of the city in September 1854, seven ships were sunk, the remains of which were not allowed to come close to the shore.It began a long siege of the city, which became the main event of war.The city was taken at the cost of significant casualties on both sides but the twelfth month of the siege in September 1855.
second phase of hostilities
However, after the fall of Sevastopol East war has not been completed.A further object of the Anglo-French contingent was the city of Nikolaev, at the time the former main base of the Black Sea Fleet, his refuge and the concentration of shipbuilding factories, warehouses and artillery throughout the housekeeping part.Letting Nikolayev would mean virtually complete loss of Russia an opportunity to confront opponents of the sea and, most of all, the loss of all access to the Black Sea coast.Already in the first half of September 1855 around the city began hasty construction of defensive fortifications.In place of the emperor arrived, Alexander II (by the way, came to the throne just before, even during the conduct of the war).Nikolaev joined the siege.Trying to take this outpost it was undertaken by the British and French squadron in October 1855.It was razed to the ground a fortress Kinburn, Ochakov taken and the Dnieper-Bug estuary.However, the advance of the enemy was stopped near Voloska spit powerful volleys of artillery.East Crimean war moved into a phase of stagnation.
signing of the peace and its results
After lengthy negotiations in Paris was signed the peace treaty.In spite of the successful defense of Nikolayev, Eastern War of 1853-1856 was miserably lost.Under the terms of the peace agreements and Russia and Turkey were not allowed to have in a sea of navy and forbidden to establish naval bases on the coast.The Black Sea was declared a neutral and open to the merchant ships of all States, which was, of course, beneficial to the Western European trading companies have found to discover new markets.Crimean War demonstrated the inadequacy of the empire militarily and economically.It has clearly the urgent need for large-scale reforms in the country.A direct consequence of this defeat was the abolition of serfdom, and other socio-economic reforms of the 1860s.
