Russia vs. the Alliance: Rare Historic Photos from the Crimean War (1853-1856)

The Crimean War was a military conflict that took place from October 1853 to February 1856. It involved the Russian Empire fighting against an alliance of powerful nations: the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. This war was not a sudden event but was part of a long-standing rivalry among these European powers.

The main reason for the conflict was the competition for control and influence over the territories belonging to the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was becoming weaker, and other European countries saw a chance to gain power and land in the region. Russia wanted more access to the Mediterranean Sea, which meant expanding its influence near Ottoman lands. Britain and France wanted to prevent Russia from becoming too powerful and upsetting the balance of power in Europe. The dispute over who had rights to protect Christian holy sites in the Ottoman lands, particularly in Palestine, served as a spark that ignited the war.

While smaller battles happened in other places like the Caucasus mountains, the Baltic Sea, and even the Pacific and White Seas, most of the fighting occurred on the Crimean peninsula. This peninsula is a piece of land sticking out into the Black Sea. A key target was the Russian naval base at Sevastopol. The fighting around Sevastopol involved a long period called a siege, where the allied forces surrounded the city and tried to capture it. This siege lasted for many months and saw intense fighting.

#1 English and French soldiers sharing a drink in the trenches before Sebastopol during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#2 A vivandière, a female soldier selling provisions and spirits, with the Allied forces during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#3 Colonel Shadforth and the 57th Regiment during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#4 Mortar teams resting during the siege of Sebastopol in the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#5 Balaklava harbor crowded with sailing ships; the British headquarters during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#6 Officers on the staff of Lt. General Sir G. Brown during the Crimean campaign, 1850s.

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#7 Officers of the 89th Regiment at Cathcart’s Hill in Crimea, 1850s.

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#8 General Pierre Bosquet witnessing the British charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, remarking “C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre,” 1856.

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#9 8th Hussars soldiers preparing a meal during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#10 The interior of a redan, Russian fortifications at Sebastopol, after its fall to British and French troops, 1850s.

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#11 War photographer Roger Fenton in a Zouave soldier’s uniform, 1850s.

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#12 British soldiers during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#13 Captain Brown, Colonel Lowe, and Captain George in their Crimean War camp, 1850s.

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#14 The Allied commanders-in-chief, Lord Raglan, Omar Pasha, and General Pelisier, meeting during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#15 Florence Nightingale, the first woman to receive the Order of Merit for her Crimean War efforts, 1850s.

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#16 Roger Fenton’s mobile darkroom during the Crimean War; his assistant, Marcus Sparling, is seated. 1850s.

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#17 Sir William Howard Russell, war correspondent of “The Times,” 1850s.

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#18 Lieutenant Colonel Halliwell at an army camp in Russia during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#19 Captain Brown of the 4th Light Dragoons and his servant in winter dress in Russia, 1850s.

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#20 The British 4th Light Dragoons encamped in Crimea, 1850s.

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#21 Members of the 4th Light Dragoons at camp in Crimea, 1850s.

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#22 A soldier and two women posing next to cannons during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#23 A British cannon being loaded onto a ship at Sevastopol, 1855.

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#24 Mortar batteries in front of Picquet House, Light Division, during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#27 The South Bay and Cape Paul, Sevastopol, Crimea, 1850s.

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#28 Captains Ponsonby, Pearson, and Markham of Sir George Brown’s staff during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#29 Officers of the 4th Light Dragoons relaxing by a building during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#30 British mortar batteries positioned in front of Picquet House during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#31 Kadikoi, from the Camp of Horse Artillery, 1856.

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#32 Lieutenant General Sir Harry Jones, 1856.

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#33 A French cantinière in Zouave Regiment dress during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#34 A British Light Infantry sergeant during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#35 Lieutenant General Sir Richard England, 1855.

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#36 Major General Charles Ashe Windham.

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#37 Ottoman Field Marshal Omar Pasha during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#38 Colonel Doherty, officers, and men of the 13th Light Dragoons, 1855.

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#39 A group of Croats during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#40 French Marshal Aimable-Jean-Jacques Pélissier during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#41 English private soldiers and officers of the 3rd East Kent Regiment piling arms during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#42 Nubian servants and horses during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#43 Lieutenant General Sir Burgoyne and his aide during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#44 The Russian Church and town of Balaclava during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#45 The Malakoff and trench approaches during the Crimean War, September 1855.

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#46 Two French Army Zouaves during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#47 British Captain Charles Holder during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#48 Caissons with British military tents in the background during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#49 Roger Fenton’s photographic darkroom on wheels used in the Crimean War; his assistant, Marcus Sparling, is pictured, 1850s.

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#50 The town of Balaclava during the Crimean War, 1850s.

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#51 Tartar laborers during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#52 A group of Croat laborers during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#53 A general view of Balaklava, with a hospital on the right, during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#54 Roger Fenton’s self-portrait in a Zouave uniform, 1855.

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#55 British Captain Frederick Bathurst during the Crimean War, 1855.

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#56 A group of Croat laborers during the Crimean War, 1855.

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