What the cause of the Crimean War in 1854 has long been forgotten in history. The conflict began in 1854 with the Russian Empire on one side and Britain, France, Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire on the other. Their dispute was on which side would have influence in the ending of the Ottoman Empire. The war’s major battleground was in Russia's Crimean Peninsula, which the conflict is named after. British and French forces arrived in Crimea at the end of 1854 with the thought of attacking Russia's naval base at the city of Sevastopol and therefor weaken its naval presence in the Black Sea. Even though the war is only of dim recollection, it is vividly remembered as one of the most horrific tragedies of the campaign;