ABSTRACT
The Crimean War was a classic case of diplomacy interrupted by warfare. The Vienna Conference operated on and off throughout, and Russian diplomats talked with the British and French in many capitals. An almost constant chain reaction was in effect Russia restraining Prussia, restraining Austria, restraining France, restraining Britain, restraining Turkey. After Austria threatened to join the war to force Russia from the Principalities, Nicholas replaced Meyendorff in Vienna with Alexander Gorchakov, a partisan of entente with France. Nicholas sent his troops across the Danube into Eastern Bulgaria on 23 March 1854 and immediately besieged Silistria, which was only seventy miles north of Varna. He hoped that some quick victories would stir up the natives, demoralize the Turks, disabuse the British and French of any thoughts of an easy success, and create the conditions for a negotiated settlement. He then called off the promising siege in mid-June and withdrew his two well-supplied but disease-ridden corps from the Principalities in August.
