Major war in the mid 19th century .

TFSmith121

Banned
Consider the two decades between the outbreak of

When would a major European war be most likely in the period of around 1820-1870 ?

Considering the (roughly) two decades between the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish war in 1853 and the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 were the bloodiest in Europe between 1815 and 1914, take your pick...

The Prussian and Austrian face-off over "Germany" and Central Europe; the rise of Germany and Italy as nation states; the face-off between the Russians and Austrians and Turks over the Balkans; the effort by the French to re-assert themseleves on the Continent and in the Mediterranean littoral; the efforts by the British simply to maintain their position in relation to the continent and the Mediterranean; the efforts by the Turks, Spanish, Danes, etc to hang on to what they had; etc.

Even without the alliance system as it was by 1914, the ingredients for a "Great War" in Europe were certainly in the offing a half-century earlier, and given the number of potential actors, the odds are actually much more likely for a major conflict in Europe than they are for a major conflict involving a European power (or two) in the Western Hemisphere.

It's actually rather surprising there wasn't a major, multi-year, multi-power conflict in Europe beyond those that occurred historically.

Perhaps someone should consider writing one.;)

Best,
 
Considering the (roughly) two decades between the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish war in 1853 and the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 were the bloodiest in Europe between 1815 and 1914, take your pick...

The Prussian and Austrian face-off over "Germany" and Central Europe; the rise of Germany and Italy as nation states; the face-off between the Russians and Austrians and Turks over the Balkans; the effort by the French to re-assert themseleves on the Continent and in the Mediterranean littoral; the efforts by the British simply to maintain their position in relation to the continent and the Mediterranean; the efforts by the Turks, Spanish, Danes, etc to hang on to what they had; etc.

Even without the alliance system as it was by 1914, the ingredients for a "Great War" in Europe were certainly in the offing a half-century earlier, and given the number of potential actors, the odds are actually much more likely for a major conflict in Europe than they are for a major conflict involving a European power (or two) in the Western Hemisphere.

It's actually rather surprising there wasn't a major, multi-year, multi-power conflict in Europe beyond those that occurred historically.

Perhaps someone should consider writing one.;)

Best,

Also Danish-German war 1864 and the Austrian-German war 1866 .

Maybe the Balkan crisis is not delayed in 1876 and leads to a European war ? Not exactly mid-19th century but still.

And the Russian-British powergame in the East could have escalated again, maybe they clash over Afghanistan ?
 
Last edited:

TFSmith121

Banned
Certainly possible...

Maybe the Balkan crisis is not delayed in 1876 and leads to a European war ? Not exactly mid-19th century but still. And the Russian-British powergame in the East could have escalated again, maybe they clah over Afghanistan ?

Certainly possible; the 1853 Russo-Turkish has the possibility of bringing the Austrians, Turks, French, British, and Sardinians in against the Russians; if the Russians and Prussians can allign (as they did in 1863) over Poland and the Prusso-Austrian conflict over "Germany," however, there are some new jokers in the deck.

Likewise, if the Russians and Prussians allign (as they did in 1863) over Poland, and then the Prusso-Austrian conflict breaks out, there's the possibility of the Russians, Prussians, and Italians-to-be lined up against the Austrians - at which point the French and Turks (and presumably the Danes and Greeks) may become involved.

A Prusso-Austrian war against Denmark that grown to encompass the Swedes (who still, somewhat, controlled Norway at this point) is another possibility.

An Allied intervention against the Turks over the Cretan rebellion is another...

Essentially, the faultlines that led to 1914-18 were present in Europe a half-century earlier; they needed more than simply a spark, of course, but they were not that far below the surface.

Best,
 
Top