The Origins of the Crimean War

359 Pages·2014·10.384 MB·English

by  David M. Goldfrank

THE ORIGINS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR
ORIGINS OF MODERN W ARS
General editor: Harry Hearder
Titles already published:
THE ORIGINS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY W ARS
T. C. W. Blanning
THE ORIGINS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR
David M. Goldfrank
THE ORIGINS OF THE IT ALIAN W ARS OF INDEPENDENCE
Frank J. Coppa
THE ORIGINS OF THE W ARS OF GERMAN UNIFICA TION
William Carr
THE ORIGINS OF THE RUSSO-jAPANESE WAR
fan Nish
THE ORIGINS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR (Second Edition)
James Joll
THE ORIGINS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE
P.M.H. Bell
THE ORIGINS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN ASIA
AND THE PACIFIC
Akira friye
THE ORIGINS OF THE KOREAN WAR
Peter Lowe
THE ORIGINS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
Anthony Short
THE ORIGINS OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI W ARS (Second Edition)
Ritchie Ovendale
THE ORIGINS OF
THE CRIMEAN WAR
David M. Goldfrank
First publisbed 1994 by Longman Group Limited
Published 2013 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OXI4 4RN
711 'lhird Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Rautledge is an imprint af the Tay/ar & Francis Group,
an infarma business
Copyright ßJ 1994, Taylor & Francis.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or repro
duced or utilised in any form or by any clectronic, mechanical, or
other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photo
copying and recording, or in any information storage or rctrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As
ncw research and cxpcricncc broadcn our undcrstanding, changes in
research methods, professional practices, or Inedical lreatnlent lllay
hecome ncccssary.
Practitioncrs and researchcrs must always rc1y on thcir own cxpcri
enee and knowledge in evalualing and using any information, lneth
ads, compounds, or experiments dcscribcd herein. In using such in
formation or methods they should be mindful of their own safety
and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a pro
fessional responsibility.
'1'0 thc fullest extent of the law, ncithcr the Publishcr nor the authors,
eontributors, or editors, ass urne any liability far any injury and/or
damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, ncgli
genee or otherwise, or from any lise or operation of any methods,
products, instructions, or idcas containcd in thc material herein.
ISBN 13: 978-0-582-49055-0 (pbk)
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is
available [rom thc British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Goldfrank, David M.
Thc origins of tbe Crimean War / David M. Goldfrank.
p. cm. - (Origins of modern wars)
lncludes bibliographical references and index.
1. Crimean War, 1853-1856--Causes. 2. Crimcan War, 1853-1856
-Diplomatie history. 3. Eurüpe-Politics and
governmcnt-1848-1871. I. Tide. Il. Series.
DK215.G57 1993
947'.073-dc20
Contents
List oJ tables X
List oJ maps Xl
Editor's Joreword XU
Acknowledgements XlV
Introduction 1
The Problem: I - a sick man in a sick world 1
The Problem: 11 - reasons why? 4
PART ONE: The Setting
1. Western Questions - The Horne Fronts 9
Europe's hegemony 9
Ways and means of production 10
Commerce and its ambitions 12
Finance and its limits 14
Governance: the western part of the West 15
Governance: the eastern part of the West 18
2. Western Questions - The Projection ofPower 27
Formalities 27
The terrestrial balance 29
The maritime imbalance 32
The double standard of imperialism 34
The European system 36
V
Contents
3. The Eastern Question 40
Foundations 40
The Great Power breakthrough against Turkey (1767-1821) 41
Russia's further ascent (1821-33) 44
England's leap forward (1833-41) 46
The wider context: the Anglo-Russian 'Great Game'
(to 1847) 48
PART TWO: The Sparks
4. Counter-revolution on the March (1848-50) 59
The contradictions of 1848 59
Great Power dilemmas and urges 61
Rescuing the Ottoman and Habsburg realms 62
Averting a war of German unification 66
The refugee crisis: dress rehearsal for 1853? 68
5. Holy Places, Profane Litigation (May 185~March 1852) 75
The tense aftermath of the refugee crisis 75
Rival challenges to the status quo 77
The aborted mixed commission 81
The ulema's deft compromise and the sultan's ambiguous
pledge 84
From sleight of hand to blatant fraud 87
6. The Return to Armed Diplomacy
(April-November 1852) 91
Serious complications 91
French naval persuasion 93
Mounting uncertainties 94
A new 'Greek Project'? 96
The law's delay 97
7. Nativity (December 1852) 101
Montenegro's provocation: the first shots 101
Napoleon 'III' enthroned 102
The new Ottoman ruling and the Tsar's blank cheque 104
Towards a fateful decision 106
Mobilization 109
VI
Contents
PART THREE: The Rupture
8. Preparations for Diplomatie Disaster
Ganuary-February 1853) 115
Turkey's strong move and London's strong hand 115
The Tsar's hare-brained schemes 116
Vienna's gamble: Count Leiningen's mission 120
French positioning and other matters 123
British admonitions, Russian blinders 125
9. Mission Impossible: 1- Menshikov vs the Charges
(March 1853) 131
Fatal instructions 131
Foolish intimidation 134
Napoleon's reaction - Rose's sweet victory 136
Menshikov's sound advice 140
10. Mission Impossible: 11 - Menshikov vs the Great
Ambassador (April-May 1853) 146
The 'Real Jockey' takes charge 146
The 'Pig' without a 'String' 148
The first ultimatum 151
The return of Reshid Pasha 154
The new team in action 156
The final exchange: Stratford's real victory 158
PART FOUR: The Twilight Zone
11. Giant Steps (May-June 1853) 167
The logic of the situation 167
Taking stock 169
Escalations: Russia 170
Escalations: Turkey 171
Escalations: Britain 172
Sitting pretty: Napoleon 174
12. Floating Projeets Gune-July 1853) 177
Imperatives for peace and war 177
London: the English 'Convention' 178
Paris: the Drouyn 'Note' 181
Vienna: the Bourqueney 'Expedient' 182
VB
Contents
St Petersburg and Constantinople: the second ultimatum 184
The embryo of the peace treaty 186
13. Sour Notes (July-August 1853) 190
The oceupation of the Prineipalities and Europe's
eonservatives 190
The Porte's reaction: the unforeseen 'Ultimatum' 192
The Cabinet's tentative solution: the Vienna projeet 194
Strategies in eonfliet 197
The Turks dig in 199
14. Cutting Loose (August-September 1853) 204
Turkey: masterful modifieations 204
Europe: anxious antieipations 206
Russia: resolute rejeetion 209
Britain: violent interpretations 211
Observations on the rise and fall of the Vienna Note 212
PART FIVE: The Passage to Arms
15. The Outbreak ofthe Ninth Russo-Turkish War
(September-Oetober 1853) 219
Olmütz: the Tsar feigns retreat 219
Constantinople: the Turks declare 222
London: the Cabinet resolves 226
The fighting begins 228
16. Getting Down to Business (October-December 1853) 234
Russia and Britain: planning the inevitable 234
Britain and Franee: roping in Austria 237
Russia and Turkey: the guns of Sinope 240
Stratford vindieated: Napoleon strikes again 242
The Turks in tow and the die east 243
17. Calculated Countdown (December 1853-April 1854) 250
Strategie planning 250
Blunt messages 252
Contingent neutrals 255
A tale of three emperors 258
From rupture to summons 261
Enabling allianees 263
Vlll
Contents
PART SIX: Conclusions and Consequences
18. The Origins of the Crimean War 271
Personal responsibilities: I - the emperors 271
Personal responsibilities: II - the Englishmen 274
Less personal forces 279
Ideas 281
Atavism and medievalism 283
19. The Strange Sequel 286
The illusions of war 286
The logic of peace ... or ... another war averted 290
Nationalism and imperialism triumphant 293
Repercussions and legacies 296
The irony of 'Sickness' 301
Bibliography 305
Maps 323
Index 330
IX