History 04/03/20 Boris I: how Russian crook became king of Andorra
in the Autumn of 1933 in the territory of the Principality of Andorra came a strange Russian. The foreigner struck the local his manners, wealth and ability to win over people. His name was Boris Skosyrev. A year later the General Council of the valleys will vote for the appointment of a foreigner as king of Andorra under the estate of Boris I.
Who was Boris Skosyrev
In an interview with Boris Skosyrev called himself a “Russian monarchist, born at Vilna”. Skosyrev contended that he was a nobleman who escaped from Russia after the shooting the whole family and that in his time he studied in the best universities of England and France. He was also proud of the friendship with the British politician Oliver Locker-Lampson the future founder of British military aviation.
Until 1919 Skosyrev was in the Ukraine within the British aid group the White movement. Once in London, he got a job as a military translator. Soon Boris was arrested because he stayed in Britain without registering and paying for the accommodation of invalid checks.
In 1922 he moved to the Netherlands where, according to him, he began to provide secret services to the Royal family, the Queen Wilhelmina conferred on him the title of count and the name orange. This, of course, is not true. The adventurer managed to live in Colombia and many countries of Europe, where he has developed a reputation as a spy.
Researchers believe that the impetus for the adventure was not only energetic nature skosyreva, but a woman. He was married to Frenchwoman Marie-Louise de Gasse Pair. But shortly before the decision to ascend to the throne of Andorra Boris began an affair with a rich American Florence Marmont. As they say, its ideas, its money.
the First attempt to be king
At that time, Andorra was a small Principality in the Pyrenees mountains sandwiched between Spain and France. The country’s population of only 5 thousand people, and ruled them at the same time the Bishop of Urgell (a diocese in Catalonia) and the king of France, and after the revolution – the French President. With this form of government did not agree the lawyers, who assumed that the head of the Principality should not stand by the President, and the great-grandson of the last king of France, Jean of Orleans, Duke of guise.
In 1933, due to the reform concerning the electoral law in Andorra start riots. To pacify Andorra France enters on the territory of the Principality of 50 gendarmes. Performances subside, but dissatisfaction against the Patriarchal inhabitants of the valleys of the Iberian remains. Skosyrev decides to take advantage of this situation.
in the Autumn of 1933, he arrives in Andorra, where it is immediately attracts attention. Excellent manners, knowledge of Spanish, German, English, French inspire Andorrans respect to Skosyreva. In the territory of the country as a private person, Skosyrev attends local meetings of the General Council of the valleys, consisting of 24 members.
Skosyrev tells the Council about the prosperous Principality of Monaco, and maintains that Andorra can go on his way. He proposed to implement democratic reform, to cancel the taxes, to start the construction of hotels, casinos, to attract foreign capital. A written document was prepared on 17 may 1934. For a successful outcome of the transformations Duchy was to become a Kingdom led by king Kozyrevym.
Surprisingly, a Russian immigrant had every reason to claim the throne. In the hands Skosyrev was a letter from Jean of Orleans, Duke de guise, in which he passed his powers to Boris Skosyreva. Where this document is unknown. Soon, however, the reformer was expelled from the territory of the Principality. Historians believe that his initiatives reported Catholic dignitary the only vote against skosyreva member of the Board of the valleys.
the King of Andorra Boris I
Skosyrev were not going to surrender and on 7 July 1934, he is again in Andorra. After the Council vote, the valleys 8 and 10 July (for – 23 against – 1) Russian immigrant becomes king Boris I. the New king proclaims the Constitution, consisting of 17 articles. The document declares the sovereignty of Andorra, equality before the law, civil liberties that do not depend on gender, religious and political views.
the French President was not against the independence of Andorra, over acted and the Bishop of Urgell. But the latter didn’t like the plan skosyreva the opening of the casino, which he called “the devil’s games”. In response to the protest of the second co-ruler, the new king made a strange move. He declared war on the Catalan Bishop Justi Guitart-and-Vilardebo.
“Blitzkrieg in Andorra” did not work. The war Boris I lost, and his reign lasted 9 days. The fighting was limited to the arrival from Spain fifty gendarmes, who arrested the sovereign monarch.
Life after the reign
the trial of the former king was held in Barcelona. The subsequent biography skosyreva vague. He then collaborated with the Germans and fought in the Wehrmacht, worked for British intelligence. Some researchers say he died after the war in the Soviet Gulag, and others suggest that he lived in the town of Boppard in Germany.
scholars of international law believe that the letter from the Duke de guise did Skosyrev legitimate ruler of Andorra, and his reforms and are now considered progressive. Therefore, the reign of king Boris I not really a gamble.
Alexander Brazhnik
Source:
© Russian Seven
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