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Nicholas I of Ru ia wanted to bble up Turkish territory, all the way to Constantinople, but England and France were unalte bly op d to expansion Thus the stage was t for conflict Since Austria rdered on the lands, Franz J f would alm t inevitably drawn into any con­ flict, though s goal was not territory but ace and order.
Nicholas declared war on Turkey on to r 1, 1853, using as his ex­ cu the freeing of Christians living under Turkish rule. England and France entered this Cri an War on Turkey's side in March 18 . F nz J f was mbarded from side Nicholas wanted him in the war on Ru ia's side or at least to declare a firm neutrality; France and England wanted Austria on their side. Franz J f could do none of th thin Neither side in this war was morally st ie even an o n decl ation of neutrality would t much to Nicholas' advantage. Franz J f called for a ace conference and i ued ste w in to Nicholas not to cr the Danu . He succe fully demanded that Nicholas evacuate the Danu­ bian Principalities, a diplomatic triumph, but was not firm enough with England and France that they maintained illusions that he was coming into the war on their side. When he didn't, they accu him of weakne and changeablene
Probably one of the rea ns for Franz J fs failure in this area-which was a diplomatic failure only, not a ilure of licy or of moral principle-was a problem in his nal life which would continue to afflict him for many year F nz J f the ruler was al Franz J f the husban and it is im rtant to understand his wife and his mar age.
In 1853 Franz J fs mother phie had arranged a marriage tween her n and the Bavarian prince Helena But when Franz J f went to Bavaria to meet Helena, he fell in love with her sixteen-year ld sister Eli th, known as Sisi Though autifui Sisi was immature, but Franz J f put his f t down to his mother and id he would have no one but Sisi for his wife. in April 1854 the two were married. Alm t immediately problems n. Sisi and phie couldn't stand e h other. phie constantly criticized Sisi as lacking in the pro r havior of an em­ pre and Sisi reacted by having even more irres nsibly. She refu d to participate in the court ceremonies demanded of her and me increa ingly more vain and o with her auty. The constant bickering ­ tween phie and Sisi couldn't help but affect Franz J f, who would come home to it from his draining duties each day. When the children were rn, phie tried to dominate them Franz J f intervened on Sisi's side, but the tension remained Sisi made constant demands on Franz J f