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