An unlikely historical accident - The rise of a new nation

[aegis03florin]

[FONT=&quot]An unlikely historical accident - The rise of a new nation[/FONT]


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Excerpt from “When the end begin. The rise of new nations at the end of the XIX century” by Prof. Nicolas Chirac, Université de Paris.

Translation from the French original version:

“Sometimes in history, accidents happened. Some of historians could see the rise of new nations in the middle of the XIX century in Europe as one of those historical accidents or as a normal and inevitable evolution, by others. Some of those nations were completely news (as the Kingdom of Northern Italy), other were old sleeping ones (like Greece or Serbia) and they appearance or they re-appearance on the history stage was more or less deterministic and inevitable.
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There is a case when a new nation and surprising a very successful one in the modern age, was simply the result of an accident of the history. This nations was born grace to an incredibly succession of special conditions that hardly could be reproduced, at the intersection of three great empires, each one trying to capitalize over the others.
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In those harsh conditions, an ancient people has given birth to a young nation. This is a perfect example of study case studied by all history students and only the re-birth of Israel and rise of Prussia are more heavily studied.”
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[aegis03florin]

The eastern question

[FONT=&quot]The eastern question and the first modern war
[/FONT]

“The Crimean war was fought for the sake of Europe rather than for the Eastern question; it was fought against Russia, not in favour of Turkey or Austria....” The Trouble Makers by Alan John Percivale Taylor, British historian

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Source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War
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In the year of grace 1854, the war raged in the Eastern Europe. The war that will be remember as the first modern war, have just started.

In the previous year, the mighty empire of Russia under the Czar Nicolai I had defied the great powers by occupying military the Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) who were de facto Russian protectorates but under nominal suzerainty of the High Porte. More than that, Prince Menshikov, the Russian ambassador to Sublime Porte, demanded a Russian protectorate over all 12 million Orthodox Christians in the Empire, with control the Orthodox Church's hierarchy. Encouraged by Britain and France, the sultan Abdülmecid reject the ultimatum and declared war. A large Turkish army crossed the Danube but, after some victories, was defeated. The Russians stormed into Bulgaria and Dobruja.

Both Britain and France desired to keep the sick men of Europe alive for their interest and do not let the Russia become too powerful and keep the European Balance of Power. Also, Napoleon III, the Emperor of France dreamed to bring France back to the former glory. He feels that he’s the providential men called to create a new order in Europe but also as the protector of the Catholic faith in Palestine.

The dispute over the holy places in Palestine and the battle of Sinop, offered the cassus belli for the British and French to join the war on the side of the Ottomans. When Russia ignore the ultimatum to evacuate Wallachia and Moldavia, the two great powers declared war. Kingdom of Sardinia has joined the coalition, hopping that the alliance of France will help her in Italy.

So began the war of Crimea.

 

[aegis03florin]

Other dogs jump in the fight

In 1854, Austria had all reasons to thanks his old ally, the Empire of Russia, for helping her to put down the ‘48-‘49 revolutions. In the same time, Austria had all reasons to fear the mighty eastern bear as her supremacy in Balkans were undermined by the pan-Slavism and the Russian expansionism. The Constantinople and the straits, as well as the Orthodox territories of the Ottoman Empire were known objectives of the Czars. The Holly alliance was dead and Austria choose to stay out of war. For the moment….

In May, 1854 - Austria decide to enter in war against Russia and attack the Russian Army in the Danubian Principalities. The Russian army was cut from supplies by the nearly 200 000 Austrians and, by the end of the summer, was forced to surrender. The two principalities were occupied by Austria.
By the end of the spring, the Epirus revolt was finally defeated by the Ottomans with British and French support in artillery and with contribution of loyal Albanian bands.

In September 1854, the Crimean campaign have started with the landing of the allied expeditionary force on the sandy beaches of Calamita Bay on the south west coast of the Crimean Peninsula. Ferocious fights were done between the allies and the Russians at Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.

Despite the misunderstood of the initial orders and losing more than a third of the effective, the charge of the light brigade at Balaclava will be remember as one of the latest successful cavalry charge against superior enemy with artillery, infantry and cavalry. This was the perfect example of courage and heroism that animated the army who built the hugely colonial empire for Britain.

Charge of the Light Brigade (source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War)
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In February 1855, the Cossacks led by Michael Czajkowski, have revolted in Ukraine, and Chernigov and Kiev gubernies were lost to the rebels.

After long hesitations, the Kingdom of Greece finally attack the Ottoman Empire, hoping to conquer Thessaly and/or Epirus. The Russians sent a military mission to help the Greek army.

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Greek army trained by Russian officers (source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War)
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But the good timing was lost, the Epirus revolt was long time gone and now, the Greek army was forced to face the victorious and battle hardened Turkish army who soon utterly crush the invaders. To block further Greek moves, the British and French occupied the main Greek port at Piraeus from July 1855 to February 1857.

In the spring of 1855, Austrian armies cross into Russia properly, occupying Bessarabia and pushing into Yedisan region, with the intention of cutting off the Russian forces in Crimea. Sebastopol is conquered by the allies and the Russians are in full derive in Crimea.

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[aegis03florin]

The Congress of Paris

After all these defeats and facing social revolts, the tsar Alexandre II ask for peace talks, but the allied powers push for a total defeat. The remaining Russian army in Crimea is trapped between Anglo-French-Ottoman armies in south and Austrian army in North and is captured. Suede was preparing to intervene on the side of the British, and Prussia was in expectancy. The tsar Alexandre sue for peace again and the Great powers finally agree.
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The words on the diplomats lips were: “Russia must be punished”. “The Russian power in Europe should be crippled”. “Russians shall never reach the Danube again”. France, Britain, Ottomans, Austrians and Sardinians were totally agree at those points.

The human and materials loses on the victorious side were big and the public opinion had to be appeal by a harsh peace. On the Russian side, the war was a catastrophe. The Empire was on the verge of collapse both financially and socially.
In February – Mars 1856 – the congress of Paris impose crushing conditions to Russia:

• Russia will renounce to protectorates of Wallachia and Moldavia who will be returned to the Ottoman Empire and becomes provinces of with a special status, but the facto becomes independents.
• Austria will completely evacuate the provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia by the end of the year.
• Russia will return to Ottoman Empire the provinces of Bessarabia, token from Moldavia in 1812.*
• Russia will cede to Ottoman Empire as war reparations, some territories between rivers Dniester and Bug, including the important city-port of Odessa: mainly the oblasts of Balta, Rabnita, Dubasari, Tiraspol and Odessa**. Those lands will be included in principality of Moldavia for an easier administration but the Odessa port will be administrated directly by the Turks.
• As compensatory measure, Austria will receive the counties of Dorohoi and newly acquired Hotin from Moldavia.
• The Romanian Principalities will be put under the protection of Great Powers. A strong unionist feeling was present in those countries but the great powers reject this perspective. Still, free elections will be organized in those countries.
• The Danube will become free to navigation and commerce.
• The Black Sea will be free of having military navies or arsenals from both Russia and Ottoman Empire. Still, the Turks are allowed to have a fleet in Marmara Sea, so this measure was mainly against Russia, weakening further her position.
• Russia will return Kars to Ottoman Empire.
• The conquered territory in Crimea was restored to Russia but the defenses of Sebastopol were dismantled.
• France and Britain will receive some islands in Ionic sea as compensation from Ottoman Empire.
• Greece will pay a big war indemnity for attacking the Ottoman Empire.

* IOTL was returned only a small part in the south called Budjak
** As mention, in those oblats lived an important Romanian minority
(source of picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War)

 

[aegis03florin]

Treaty of Paris - territorial concessions

Treaty of Paris

The border changes and territorial concessions decided at the Congress of Paris in 1856. Delimited by an yellow line it's Budjak territory proposed by Russian to be ceded to Ottomans. The great powers rejected it as unsatisfactory.

 

[aegis03florin]

Feedback please!

Hi Guys,

I need some constructive feedback. How do you find the clauses of the Treaty of Paris?

Could these work ?

Thanks!

 

[lukedalton]

Hi Guys,

I need some constructive feedback. How do you find the clauses of the Treaty of Paris?

Could these work ?

Thanks!

In making Russia enraged and desiring a round two when ready? Oh sure

 

[aegis03florin]

In making Russia enraged and desiring a round two when ready? Oh sure

Oh yah, Russia surely will want a rematch!

 

[Alon]

So, this is leading to a larger Romania? Interesting...

(By the way, nitpick: University of Paris, not Université de Sorbonne. I guess the TL could have the university choosing a name based on international cachet, but why would it?)

 

[aegis03florin]

So, this is leading to a larger Romania? Interesting...

(By the way, nitpick: University of Paris, not Université de Sorbonne. I guess the TL could have the university choosing a name based on international cachet, but why would it?)

Thanks!
Actually, I've imagined that ITTL, Université de Sorbonne as an elite university (Something like "Grandes Ecoles"), specialized in history. It was one of the universities resulted after the split of University of Paris (a different split than IOTL).

If it's nonsense, I can change, of course.

PS: Russia will not let Romania keep all that land, for sure. have I said to much?

 

[Halagaz]

So, with a single stroke of a pen, Moldavia has become xboxhuge.

The new Treaty of Paris looks like it could work...however I also think a new conflict is inevitable sooner or later. The only thing that sounds weird is Russia having to return Kars.

 

[chr92]

Interested and subscribed.

 

[aegis03florin]

So, with a single stroke of a pen, Moldavia has become xboxhuge.

Yes and no.
Moldavia in 1854 was only 1/3 of her former dimensions as the Austrians took the northern Bucovina and the Russians took Bassarabia (1/2 of the country).
So, at the new treaty of Paris, Moldova received back the Bassarabia and a quite important territory on the left side of the Dniester but loose again 2 counties to Austria (Dorohoi and Hotin).

The new Treaty of Paris looks like it could work...however I also think a new conflict is inevitable sooner or later. The only thing that sounds weird is Russia having to return Kars.

IOTL treaty, Russia return Kars as it was conquered during the war, so I've kipped that clause. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

A new war is inevitable as it was in OTL (the Russian- Turkish war from 1877-1878). This time, the Russians will try even harder.

 

[aegis03florin]

Excerpt from “The fall of the modern empires - was it inevitable?” by sir Richard Wallace, first president of Scotland.

"The war of Crimea destroyed the post Napoleonic established order in Europe. A series of relatively short wars erupted on the old continent shaking the foundation of the empires and nations.

The first big consequence of this treaty, aside from improvements in military tactics and technologies as well as in medicine, was the great blow in the prestige of Russia as great power.

Still this defeat triggered important reforms in the empire, as improvements of the peasant’s lives and big investments in industry, infrastructure and agriculture. While focused on Extreme Orient for the moment, the Tzar was actually preparing for the second round.

Another consequence was the further isolation of Austria who loosed its only important ally for minor gains. Austria had not achieved neither the full control of the Danubian Principalities nor she acquired the benevolence of France and Britain.

Still, the biggest error in Austrian politics was not learning fast enough from the military experience acquired. And Austria has payed for that... Heavily!"
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[aegis03florin]

The Italian turmoil

In January 1858, an Italian, named Count Orsini and his group of followers, tried to blow up the Opera in Paris during the visit of Napoleon III. Hopefully, he was caught before lightning the explosive and was sentence to life prison. He motivated his acts as fighting for unification of Italy by getting read of the “incarnation of the spirit of reaction who was the Emperor of the French”.

After this assassination attempt, Napoleon III reconsider the Italian cause, deciding to back the kingdom of Sardinia in his struggle against Austria. After all, he was a Carbonari in his youngest. But not for free. He sign a secret treaty with Carvour, who stipulate that France will received Savoy and Nice for help.

In February 1859, Sardinia start to mobilize his army at the border and, after rejecting the Austrian ultimatum, the war broke. Sardinian army took the initiative and invade Lombardy. But the war got soon very messy as the Austrians gadder a big army and throw back the Sardinians.

In April the Austrian army lead by Count Ferenc Gyulay de Marosnémethi and Nádaska, crushed the Sardinians in two very bloody at Magenta and Palestro, before the French arrived on the battlefield. One notable casualty on the Sardinian camp was Giuseppe Garibaldi, a native from Nice and a very active supporter of Italian unity.

Still, the Austrian commander do not moved on now undefended capital, and lost the strategic initiative. He requested reinforcements as his army was very tiered and depleted after those battles. When he start moving again, it was too late. The French army has arrived and stopped the Austrians at the great battle of Saluggia, on the backs of the river Fiume Dora Baltea in 15 Mai.

In 6 june 1859, another battle, the biggest of the war, was fought at Pavia. Being better known as The Second battle of Pavia, it was a reverse of the First Battle of Pavia were the French were defeated by the Imperials and the king was captured. This time, the French took the revenge and crush the Austrians but with casualties so huge that Napoleon seems to have declared in private that he is now envious of the victory won by Pyrrhus against the Romans. The renaming Austrian army retreat behind their formidable "Quadrilateral" system of fortresses built in Italy.

Second battle of Pavia*

As the French start to lose faith, the British step in and advice Austria to came to peace talks otherwise they will be forced to intervene. Both camps agree.

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*Source of the picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Solferino

 

[aegis03florin]

Two Congress that shaped the Italy

In Mai-June 1859, at Milan, a peace treaty is signed between the belligerents. Austria will keep Lombardy and the Veneto region, but the Sardinian king, Victor Emanuel II, it’s allowed to unify all northern Italy under a federal constitution, if the plebiscites will pass. The king Victor Emanuel accepted the offer, knowing that he has no more money or army and it was the better deal who can get.

France also will annex, after plebiscites, her promised territories. The king Victor Emanuel launch an appeal to the citizens of those two counties to vote yes, for the sake of the Italian people. The plebiscites pass with a comfortable majority, even if voices object a French fraud.

No territorial loses by Austria itself and losing the two counties to France, was seen by Cavour as a betrayal from both Victor Emanuel and Napoleon of his agreement and he resign from the post of prime minister.

Plebiscites were organized in the duchies of Modena, Parma, Tuscany, Lucca, Massa and the majority choose to join the new Kingdom of Northern Italy. The capital of the new country will be moved later from Turin to Florence.

In the main times, revolutionary uprisings happened in Papal States, mainly in Romagna and Marche, but also in Umbria. Those were mostly “setup” revolts organized by Cavour in order to bring them under the unionist program.

All the great powers become concerned about the subject and, after long debates, agree that to let those provinces to choose they own destiny. And they choose unification with the newly formed kingdom. A French contingent moved to Latinum to ensure the order.

After the several incursions and uprisings, in the Kingdom of Two Scillies, both French and British intervened to re-establish the order. The great powers gathered again to decide the faith of the nations, this time in Rome.

In 21 December 1859, the Congress of Rome agree to ne new political map of Italy. The Kingdom of Two Scillies have his integrity guaranteed by all signatories’ powers, as well as the remaining Papal State, reduced now only to Latinum. Both were placed under the protection of the great powers and social reforms were promised. The signatories’ countries were France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Kingdom of Two Scillies and the Kingdom of Northern Italy.

During the congress, the Pope Pius IX pick a nasty pneumonia, who will haunt him till the end of his live 3 years later, in 1861.

Despite several following irredentist or unionist trials to have this be unified with the northern Italy, The Kingdom of Two Scillies rest independent and a moderately rich and prosper country, but mainly agrarian one (on difference with the northern equivalent who become more and mode industrialized). His population was more than 8 million, but mostly was illiterate.

After all those huge military loses, Napoleon start the reform of the army, this time, having the support of the majority of the parliament.

*****

Another topic of the congress of Rome was the Romanian situation... But this will be discuss later.

 

[aegis03florin]

Italy - 1858

The map of Italy in 1858, before the start of Italian war.

 

[aegis03florin]

Italy - 1859

The map of Italy after the two Congress of Milan and Rome.

 

[Halagaz]

Yes and no.
Moldavia in 1854 was only 1/3 of her former dimensions as the Austrians took the northern Bucovina and the Russians took Bassarabia (1/2 of the country).
So, at the new treaty of Paris, Moldova received back the Bassarabia and a quite important territory on the left side of the Dniester but loose again 2 counties to Austria (Dorohoi and Hotin).

True, but the addition of Transnistria makes it like 150% as large as it ever was before.

IOTL treaty, Russia return Kars as it was conquered during the war, so I've kipped that clause. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You're not wrong, just meant how Kars wasn't part of Russia before the war anyway.

 

[aegis03florin]

True, but the addition of Transnistria makes it like 150% as large as it ever was before.

Uh... yes, Moldavia increase it size, nearly tripling his territory from 1854. This was still viewed by Moldavians and Ottomans :
- reverted the looses from 1812 (Bassarabia)
- gaining war compensations (Trans-Dniester - not all the teritory between Dniester and Bug was ceded by Russia, just mentioned oblast - it can bee seen on the map)
Trans-Dniester was ceded directly to Ottomans but incorporated in Moldavia by convenience. Odessa will still be administrated directly by the Turks.

You're not wrong, just meant how Kars wasn't part of Russia before the war anyway.

from Wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kars#Russian_administration

In 1807 Kars successfully resisted an attack by the Russian Empire. After another siege in 1828 the city was surrendered on June 23, 1828 to the Russian general Count Ivan Paskevich, 11,000 men becoming prisoners of war. Although it later returned to Ottoman control, the new border between the Ottoman Empire and Russia was now much closer to Kars. During the Crimean War an Ottoman garrison led by British officers including General William Fenwick Williams kept the Russians at bay during a protracted siege; but after the garrison had been devastated by cholera and food supplies had depleted, the town was surrendered to General Mouravieff in November 1855