# Canonical recap data for Charge of the Light Brigade (1854)
# Source: https://recap.at/1854/charge-light-brigade
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: charge-light-brigade
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1854/charge-light-brigade"
title: Charge of the Light Brigade
subtitle: The British cavalry's fatal charge during the Crimean War became a defining symbol of military sacrifice and the human cost of miscommunication in modern warfare.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1854-10-25
datePrecision: day
year: 1854
decade: 1850
country:
name: Russia
slug: russia
geo:
lat: 44.53777778
lng: 33.62416667
place: Russia
significance: 50
geos:
- lat: 44.53777778
  lng: 33.62416667
  place: Russia
  significance: 50
summaryShort: The Charge of the Light Brigade was a military action undertaken by British light cavalry against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, resulting in many casualties to the cavalry. On 25 October 1854, the Light Brigade, led by Lord Cardigan, mounted a frontal assault against a Russian artill
summaryLong: The Charge of the Light Brigade was a military action undertaken by British light cavalry against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, resulting in many casualties to the cavalry. On 25 October 1854, the Light Brigade, led by Lord Cardigan, mounted a frontal assault against a Russian artillery battery which was well-prepared with excellent fields of defensive fire. The charge was the result of a misunderstood order from the commander-in-chief, Lord Raglan, who had intended the Light Brigade to attack a different objective for which light cavalry was better suited, to prevent the Russians from removing captured guns from overrun Turkish positions. The Light Brigade made its charge under withering direct fire and reached its target, scattering some of the gunners, but was forced to retreat immediately.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan_%28cropped%29.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Charge of the Light Brigade"
importance: 68
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade"
  title: Charge of the Light Brigade
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan_%28cropped%29.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan_%28cropped%29.jpg/800px-William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan_%28cropped%29.jpg"
  caption: Charge of the Light Brigade
  credit: Wikipedia · "Charge of the Light Brigade"
  width: 330
  height: 193
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Joseph_Malone_VC%2C_13th_Light_Dragoons.png/1280px-Joseph_Malone_VC%2C_13th_Light_Dragoons.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Joseph_Malone_VC%2C_13th_Light_Dragoons.png/800px-Joseph_Malone_VC%2C_13th_Light_Dragoons.png"
  caption: Joseph Malone VC, 13th Light Dragoons
  credit: Author unknown. As photo taken 165 years ago, can assume died 70̹̟plus years ago
  width: 258
  height: 398
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan.jpg/1280px-William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan.jpg/800px-William_Simpson_-_Charge_of_the_light_cavalry_brigade%2C_25th_Oct._1854%2C_under_Major_General_the_Earl_of_Cardigan.jpg"
  caption: William Simpson - Charge of the light cavalry brigade, 25th Oct. 1854, under Major General the Earl of Cardigan
  credit: |-
    William Simpson (painter, 1823-1899)
    E. Walker (lithographer, unknown)
    Published by Goupil &amp; Cie, Paris,  and Day &amp; Son, London.
  width: 4353
  height: 2880
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade.jpg/1280px-Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade.jpg/800px-Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade.jpg"
  caption: Charge of the Light Brigade
  credit: Richard Caton Woodville Jr.
  width: 960
  height: 583
categories:
- war
metaDescription: The Charge of the Light Brigade was a military action undertaken by British light cavalry against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean W
wikidataQid: Q757870
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260704153449/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade"
  capturedAt: 2026-07-04
  label: Charge of the Light Brigade
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade"
