Had Russia's 1848-49 intervention in Hungary already established it as a great power?
Short answerRussia had major capabilities, but logistical weakness and limited operational reach kept that power from being uniformly effective.
NotesRussia's intervention in Hungary showed considerable military potential, but potential strength was different from usable reach. Russia could assemble significant forces when mobilized, while moving, supplying, and sustaining them across distant theaters remained difficult. During the Crimean War, Ottoman armies could still take the offensive and defeat Russian formations in some areas. Great-power status therefore did not guarantee uniform operational superiority.