However, Britain and France, both with interests of their own in the territory, were not prepared to allow Russia to muscle in on the region unopposed. Russia had long been in conflict with the Turkish empire, so this atmosphere was nothing new to the region (Warner, 6). With the Turkish (Ottaman) empire in serious decline, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia anticipated its inevitable collapse, and thus took measures to ensure that when it did, Russia would not be deprived of certain valuable territories in the Balkan area. The Crimean war, which lasted from 1853-1856, was an example of a war caused entirely by the imperialstic agenda of the major powers involved. “Crimean War” Courtesy of Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia The charge was regarded as one of the most heroic yet futile assaults in British military history, and was instantly the subject of speculation back home. The charge took place at the Battle of Balaclava, during Britain’s war with Russia in the Crimea in the mid 19th century.

The poem recounts an assault by a brigade of British cavalry under the command of Lord James Thomas Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan, which cost the lives of 113 men and injured 143 others. Tennyson reading “Charge of the Light Brigade” “Charge of the Light Brigade” by Richard Caton Woodville, Courtesy of Claremont College

Caesura in charge of the light brigade