The Crimean War was the first significant conflict between major powers in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars, and therefore the earlies notable contest of the Age of Rifles. In a state of decline, the Ottoman Empire suffered from internal curruption and was vulnerable to military actions on the part of Russia, it's closest and most formidable neighbor. The "Sick Man of Europe" was losoing control of its perimiter regions in Europe, and Rusia felt the future of teh Slavic region was an issue to be decided by heself - without intervention by the Western Powers. England felt preserving the Ottomans was essential to ensuring the overland route to Persia (a route soon to be rendered irrelevant with the construction of the Suez Canal), and further did not want Russia to become a Mediterranean power. In France, Napoleon II needed to court favor and acceptance for his government - his friendship with the Sultan became a reason to help shore up the Ottoman Empire. Austria viewed Russia's claims of the Bulgars and Serbs being the southern branch of the great Slav race with alarm, as this covered the bulk of the Astrian Empire. The final ally, Sardinia, saw the cause as a means of gaining the prestige it needed to unify Italy under its flag. Thus, Russia found itself alone without any allies while Turkey found itself with an abundance. Without anything in place to check his ambitions, Russian Czar Nicholas I plunged on. In 1854, Russia crossed the Danube and invaded Ottoman territory. Almost immediately England and France declared war and dispatched troops to help the Turks defend their territory - but before they could even get there Russia bowed to Austria's demands that they remove their forces. Determined on their course of war, England and France decided nevertheless to teach Russia a lesson. The allied forces landed on the Crimean coast in September without opposition with the intention of seizing the Russian naval base at Sebastopol. On the way they encountered a Russian army entrenched on the heights overlooking the Alma River. The British attacked, overwhelming the defenders through their superior technology - the British rifled musket allowed them to engage the Russians long before the Russian's outdated muskets came within range. The allies continued on their march to Sebastopol. An immediate assault would likely have captured the port, but the allies decided to take a cautious approach and began preparations for a siege. The Russians took advantage of the lull and went on the offense, making two attempts to break through and bring relief to the garrison. The first attempt was made at Balaclava, a battle destined to be made famous by the Light Brigade. Through a combination of mistakes, the British cavalry attacked the Russian artillery positions at the end of a long valley. The "Charge of the Light Brigade" would be added to the long list of heroic failures, as the situation was hopeless . In spite of this disaster the allies held the field. The second attempt at Inkerman was no more successful for the Russians. In the end, the outcome was determined, as it was at Alma, by the Allied troops' rifled muskets. The Russians suffered 12,000 casualties and the allies only 3,000. It was the Russian winter, coupled with an inadequate supply and medical system that finally stalled the British for the remainder of 1854. Early 1855 found the British troops exhausted and their ranks decimated, and the fight was passed on to the French and Sardinian forces. From April 8-18, 1855, a major portion of the Russian defenses were destroyed during what came to be known as the Easter Bombardment. The Russian army deployed to meet the French and Italian forces, however, a fully committed attack was never made. The Allied field commanders were instead forced to debate tactics with their home governments, and never actually launched an all-out, frontal assault assault (French general Canrobert resigned his command over the interference). Still, Russia lost over 6,000 casualties through the course of the battle. The British army was functional again by June, and plans were made for a renewed assault by the Allied forces. The objectives were two Russian strong points, the French would take the Malakoff and the British the Redan. Unfortunately, the French attack was premature, a fatal mistake compounded by British high command's failure to properly support their attack arm with artillery, and devastating bombardments by the Russian navy. The battle ended miserably, by 8 a.m., with heavy losses for the Allied armies. Lord Raglan, commander of all British forces, died heartbroken ten days later. Despite the Allied setback, the Russian’s last hope for repelling their enemies ended with in their defeat on August 16th at the Battle of the Traktir Ridge. Though Russia was still in a precarious position, pressure from the new Czar, Alexander II, forced an attempt to break out of the siege. Two Russian corps were thrown against approximately 37,000 French and Sardinian resulting in over 7,000 Russian casualties, against only 1,700 Allied casualties. The end came on September 8, with the storming of the Malakoff. After an intense bombardment the French launched an assault with Bosquet's entire corps. To preserve secrecy, no signal to attack was given; instead the commanders synchronized their watches and attacked at the designated time (perhaps for the first time in history). By nightfall it was over - the cost, 13,000 Russian dead, 10,000 allied dead. All told the Crimean War had little impact on world affairs. It only temporarily stopped Russian involvement in the Balkans and served only to delay the end of the Ottoman Empire. In the end, the casus belli was the power vacuum left by the withering of the Ottoman Empire. Politically it started the major change in the British military system, gave a lift to Napoleon III's power base, and indirectly played a part in the unification of Italy. Nevertheless, the Crimean War proved to be a watershed for the weaponry and evolving technology of the Age of Rifles.