Criˌmean ˈWar, the BrE AmE
(1853–56) a war between Russia on one side, and Britain, France, Turkey, and Sardinia on the other. It started because Britain and France believed that Russia intended to take control of the Balkans (=southeast Europe) , and it ended when the Russians were defeated and lost control of their naval base at Sevastopol. In the UK most people connect the Crimean War with Florence ↑ nightingale , who cared for the injured soldiers and developed new ideas about nursing, and with a battle called the ↑ Charge of the Light Brigade , a serious military mistake in which many British soldiers were killed.