A History Of Europe, Key Battles

In April 1877, two Russian armies invaded the Ottoman empire. The focus of the war became the siege of Plevna in Bulgaria. The strong resistance there gave the Turks real hope for a final victory, or at least holding off the enemy and forcing a more favourable diplomatic solution. www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Rimsky-Korsakov: Polonaise, and Russian Easter Festival OverturePicture - The defeat of Shipka_Peak, Bulgarian War of Independence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April 1876 news spread across Europe of appalling atrocities being committed in Bulgaria, by Turks against local uprisings. These occurred soon after similar events elsewhere in the Balkans region – in Bosnia and Serbia. The strongest reaction came from Russia where widespread sympathy for their fellow Slavs led to a nationwide surge in patriotismA new sultan in Constantinople, Abdul Hamid II, rejects any concessions, leading to warwww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Frederic Chopin - Mazurkas in C sharp minorPicture - The Batak massacre carried out by Ottoman irregular troops in Bulgaria in 1876 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1875, the Balkans entered a period of turmoil as various nationalities (Serbians, Bulgarians, Macedonians, Albanians and Romanians) struggled for independence from the Ottoman Turks. Uprisings quickly spread across the region and resulted in a major war between the Ottomans and Russians from 1877 to 1878.Meanwhile, Constantinople was suffering a renewed period of political instability which led to the overthrow of Sultan Abdülaziz in May 1876www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Bedrich Smetana - Ma Vlast (My Fatherland), and Frederic Chopin- Nocturne in C sharp minor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philippa has written novels set in several different historical periods, especially the Tudor period. We discussed the period around the Glorious Revolution 1688 when the Prince of Orange invaded England from Holland and replaced James II as king, and the Battle of Sedgemoor 1685 three years before.Some of Philippa's novels have won awards and have been adapted into television dramas. The most successful of her novels has been The Other Boleyn Girl, published in 2001. Philippa has also published a series of books about the Plantagenets, the ruling houses that preceded the Tudors, and the Wars of the Roses.Her new book is called Dawnlands, the third in a series named Fairmile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For centuries, Europe’s German centre had been politically fragmented and weak. The continent had been dominated by states on the periphery, whose interest was to maintain the power vacuum at the centre. Now, however, for the first time, the Germans were united under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck and launched a major invasion into France, which ended up destroying the balance of power on the continent.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Frederic Chopin - Mazurkas in C sharp minor, Poloniase nr 7 and Predule nr 10Picture - Bismarck and Napoleon III Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following Prussia's victory at Königgrätz in 1866, the North German Confederation became an instrument for Prussian dominance. All northern German states not directly annexed by Prussia were put in the new Confederation in which Berlin assumed control of their foreign and military affairs, and most of their internal ones as well. A solid block of Prussian territory stretched now between France and Belgium in the west to Russian Lithuania in the east.Tensions rise between Paris and Berlin, and Napoleon III of France blunders into a war against Germany for which he is not preparedwww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Brahms Symphony nr 3, parts of the 2nd and 3rd movementsPicture - German troops at Torcy, in September 1870 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Austro-Prussian War of 1866 was brief, yet its consequences were profound. It was the culminating event in a rivalry that began with the rise of the house of Brandenburg-Prussia, most notably Frederick the Great’s unprovoked attack upon the Habsburg province of Silesia in 1740. From that time Austria and Prussia were involved in a long struggle for supremacy in Germany.In 1866 Prussian armies invades Saxony and then the Austrian Empire with the main battle occurring on 3rd July 1866 at Königgrätz with immense armies on both sides.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, movements 3 and 4. Also Waltz nr. 15 in A flat major. Courtesy of musopen.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Any list of decisive battles of European history would be incomplete without a battle which occurred on 3 July 1866 near the town of Königgrätz, in the north of the today’s Czech Republic.The victorious allies of the Schleswig War of 1864, the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, soon after fall out with each other and go to war.Austria faces great challenges - in the centre of Europe and facing in two directions – north and west to Germany, and south and east to a number of various ethnicities in eastern Europe and the Balkanswww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Camille Saint-saens: The Carnival of the Animals - Aquarium and SwanPicture - Map of Central Europe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When in November 1863 King Frederick VII of Denmark died, a dispute arose over who had a legitimate claim to rule over the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. Otto von Bismarck saw this as a great opportunity to increase Prussian power in the region and decided, together with the Austrians, to invade Denmark.The key battle in the war was the siege of Dybbøl in April 1864This month, August 2022, I'm doing a cycling challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. More info at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carl-rylett-cycle274www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Anton Bruckner (Erinnerung) and Sergei Rachmaninoff (Preludes, number 10, Lento in B minor)Picture - Siege of Dybbol  Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

A border dispute between the German Confederation and the Kingdom of Denmark in the regions of Schleswig and Holstein breaks out into an inconclusive war in 1848-1850, and tensions remain into the 1860's.Meanwhile, a common culture was developing across the German population of Europe, with the literary works of Goethe and Schiller, and philosophers Kant and Hegel. On the political scene, Otto von Bismarck rises to power as the Prussian chief minister. He urges the need for the king’s military reforms, famously stating that the great questions of the time would not be resolved by speeches or parliamentary votes but by ‘iron and blood’.This month, August 2022, I'm doing a cycling challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. More info at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carl-rylett-cycle274www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Edvard Grieg (Peer Gynt Suite - Aase's Death, Anitra's Dance)Picture - Otto von Bismarck Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit a

Napoleon III of France and Cavour, chief minister of Piedmont come to an agreement to try to remove Austrian influence from the Italian peninsula, and provoke Vienna into war. One of the largest battles was at Solferino where there were three monarchs - Franz Joseph of Austria, Victor Emanuel of Piedmont and Napoleon III. The ensuing conflict lasted until 1861 when finally emerged the brand new nation of Italywww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Giuseppe Verdi - Overture, Iphigenia In Aulis; La Traviata - Conclusion - Ah, fors' e lui. Courtesy of musopen.org.Picture - Entry of Garibaldi to Napoli, by Franz Wenzel Schwarz See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Napoleonic Wars had a dramatic impact on Italy, completing redrawing boundaries. Even though the French were defeated, many of their political reforms were to be both profound and long-lasting. And the temporary unification of parts of the peninsula encouraged Italians to be aware of a common nationality. Yet only decades afterwards would there be real change. Some of the protagonists were Giuseppe Garibaldi, Giuseppe Mazzini and Camillo Cavour, the Prime Minister of Piedmontwww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Franz Liszt - Die Loreley, S. 532 (Piano Solo)and Mikhail Glinka - Trio Pathétique See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An allied army of British, French and Italians besiege the Crimean port of Sevastopol in late 1854. Fighting also took place in the Baltic Sea and in the Far East, and in the Caucasus mountains at the siege of the fortress of Kars. The main event at Sevastopol was particularly protracted and bloody as the allies attempted to break through into the citywww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Frederich Chopin: Preludes No. 7 'The Polish dancer'; Nocturne in F sharp majorPicture - Battle of Malakoff See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Russians invade Moldavia and Wallachia (in modern day Romania) and destroy the Ottoman Black Sea fleet at Sinop. Under public pressure, the French and British governments, concerned about growing Russian power, decide to send in troops to force the invaders to retreat. Seeking to neutralise the Russian threat in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, the Allies decide to invade Crimea. One of several early skirmishes was the famous 'charge of the light brigade'www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic composed by Frederich ChopinPicture - British cavalry charging against Russian forces at Balaclava See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Ottoman Sultans attempt to reform their army and state, under pressure from outside powers, most notably Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, who lays claim to protecting Orthodox Christians within the Ottoman Empire. The Crimean War begins when Russia invades the Orthodox territories of Moldavia and Wallachia in modern day Romania.www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Frederich Chopin: Nocturne in B flat minor, no. 1, and Polonaise no. 1Picture - The First Serbian Uprising (1804–1813) against the Ottoman Empire See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The powers of Europe, especially Britain and France are concerned by the decline of the Ottoman Empire and growing power and ambition of Russia. This episode focuses on the problems of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, who descendants once ruled a mighty empire that threatened Christendom, but in the 1800's was struggling under the pressures of modernity and the threat of regions breaking away e.g. in Egypt, Arabia and the Balkans. www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic: Chopin's Mazurka in C sharp minor, and Etude no. 3 in E major - 'Tristesse'; Mikhail Glinka - Trio PathétiquePicture - Portrait of Sultan Mahmud II See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Revolutionary breaks out across Europe continent from France to Romania, Denmark to Italy. Slowly the authorities regained control but were unable to reverse all of the changes. Most governments, for example, kept some form of constitution, and liberals worked hard to defend what was left of their achievements. The events of 1848 gave millions of Europeans their first taste of politics, and remained an inspiration for later generations. www.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic: Robert Schumann - Kinderszenen, courtesy of musopen.orgPicture: The revolutionary barricades in Vienna in May 1848 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first months of 1848, a tidal wave of revolution shook the political establishment of Europe to its foundations Events began with an uprising in Sicily in January, and by the end of the year the entire continent had been affected to some degree, including the overthrow of leaders in France, Austria, Italy and Germanywww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic: William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini, courtesy of musopen.orgPicture: Revolutionaries in Berlin in March 1848, waving the revolutionary flags See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

King Charles X of France is overthrown and replaced by his cousin Louis Philippe, Duke of Orléans. Meanwhile a 10 month long insurrection in Poland is crushed by the Russians. In the retribution which followed, eighty-thousand Poles are dragged off in chains to Siberia. The year 1830 also witnessed the formal independence of Greece from the Ottoman Empire after a war which had begun nine years before.And the Industrial Revolution gathers steam across western Europewww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic from Feliox Mendelssohn, Italian Symphony, courtesy of musopen.orgPicture - Eugène_Delacroix (Liberty Leading the People) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Congress of Vienna 1814 at the end of the long Napoleonic Wars led to a period of relative peace on the continent of Europe. A network of institutions was established known as the ‘Concert of Europe’ where differences could be thrashed out before leading to war.After the French Revolution, the basis of sovereignty shifted from individuals and families as leaders to nations and states. Throughout Europe a generation of individuals from the educated elite took the lead in developing movements of national liberation and liberal reform. But for more than thirty years the leaders of the Great Powers of the continent successfully managed to suppress these movements and clamped down on any signs of internal unrest or revolutionwww.patreon.com/historyeuropewww.historyeurope.netMusic: Frederich Chopin - Polonaise in A Flat Major; Franz Schubert's Symphony no.5Picture: Congress of Vienna watercolour etching by August Friedrich Andreas See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.