Boris Skossyreff: Difference between revisions

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Kessler|website=www.historyfiles.co.uk|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803063421/https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesEurope/EasternRussia_Skossyreff01.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Boris Mikhailovich Skossyreff (1896-1989) - Find...|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133119124/boris-mikhailovich-skossyreff|website=www.findagrave.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172810/https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/133119124/boris-mikhailovich-skossyreff|url-status=live}}</ref> His later acquired ] elaborated that his supposed title was Monsieur le Baron Boris de Skossyreff - a possible title, but likely false due to the rarity of ]s in ].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Eccardt|first=Thomas M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQFzO_v_uwwC&q='Monsieur+le+Baron+Boris+de+Skossyreff&pg=PA155|title=Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City|date=2005|publisher=Hippocrene Books|isbn=978-0-7818-1032-6|language=en|access-date=2020-11-25|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172815/https://books.google.com/books?id=gQFzO_v_uwwC&q=%27Monsieur+le+Baron+Boris+de+Skossyreff&pg=PA155|url-status=live}}</ref> He was likely from a family of lower nobility, corresponding to his serving as an ] in ].<ref name="issuu.com">{{Cite web|title=The Russian King of Andorra: Fantasies and Facts|url=https://issuu.com/alexanderkaffka/docs/english_el_rei_rus_dandorra_kaffka_|website=Issuu|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172819/https://issuu.com/alexanderkaffka/docs/english_el_rei_rus_dandorra_kaffka_|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=p2|date=13 January 1919|title=Russian Officer's Story. Relatives murdered by Bolshevists|work=The Times}}</ref>

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d'Andorra|url=http://www.andorraantiga.com/boris-i-rei-d-andorra.html|last=Marsenyach|first=Albert Daina|website=El Coprincipat d'Andorra ara fa molt de temps.|language=es-ES|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116043649/http://www.andorraantiga.com/boris-i-rei-d-andorra.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His attempt was ridiculed by Council members, who were quoted as responding: ''"he should not meddle in political affairs in the Valleys'' ''; and that, in the event of a repeat offence, this'' ''reserves the right to raise complaints to the competent Authority so that it applies the sanctions that will be deserved. recurrent".''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boris 1e, le mystérieux roi d'Andorre venu de Russie|url=https://histoiresroyales.fr/boris-1e-roi-andorre-histoire-boris-skossyreff/|last=Fontaine|first=Nicolas|date=2020-02-07|website=Histoires Royales|language=fr-FR|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927165615/https://histoiresroyales.fr/boris-1e-roi-andorre-histoire-boris-skossyreff/|url-status=live}}</ref>

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learned Spanish, which he later utilised in ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Борис I: правитель Андорры из Вильно|url=https://www.lrt.lt/ru/novosti/17/218768/boris-i-pravitel-andorry-iz-vil-no|date=2018-07-09|website=lrt.lt|language=lt|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172822/https://www.lrt.lt/ru/novosti/17/218768/boris-i-pravitel-andorry-iz-vil-no|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Блоги / Diletant.media: Борис I: правитель Андорры из Российской империи|url=https://echo.msk.ru/blog/diletant_ru/2236368-echo/|last=Diletant.media|website=Эхо Москвы|language=ru|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

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magazines.|url=https://www.pressreader.com/spain/historia-y-vida/20130802/282024734887631|website=www.pressreader.com|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172850/https://www.pressreader.com/spain/historia-y-vida/20130802/282024734887631|url-status=live}}</ref> While these claims allowed Skossyreff to build up his persona, both the ] and ] confirm that he was not a student.<ref name="issuu.com"/>

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source. Instead, it was reported at the time that Boris was "known in Andorra, where he was considered a disturbed person." He is alleged to have never set foot in Andorra during his supposed reign, his one attempt to enter the country being frustrated singlehandedly by the Spanish chief of vigilance at Urgell. Boris was accompanied by his young partner, the

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Destino|edition=1st|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172826/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boris-Rey-Andorra-Antoni-Morell/dp/B00RBZT3G4|url-status=live}}</ref> He told ] that he had served in the ] Armoured Service, which was sent to Russia to fight against the Germans.<ref name=":0" />

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Mysterious Woman Friend|work=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=p5|date=20 January 1919|title=Mysterious Russian's Cheques. Satisfactory explanations|work=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=p4|date=20 January 1919|title=Bolshevists in London. Secret Conference at Memorial Hall|work=The Times}}</ref>

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Skossyreff proposed to make Andorra one of the most important business centers in the world, where banks, financial entities and international companies would not waste time installing their social domicile there, taking advantage of the tax regime. He asked for a reward in return for his gift to the

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explained that during his stay at Modelo de Madrid, Boris and his collaborators continued to interpret the papers they had signed. Thus, they received several telegrams in their name, in which they guaranteed that "all documents were safe" and that they would receive a postal order of 200 pesetas.

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Skossyreff released an innovative constitution for Andorra that would have substantially modified the traditional Andorran political system. The Co-principality would have freedoms, modernisation, foreign investments and the recognition of a tax haven; one which was argued would bring Andorra into

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In October 1942, he was released by the occupying Germans. With the victory of the allies, Skossyreff was first arrested by the Americans, and after a brief period of freedom he was again arrested on December 4, 1946 by the French who occupied Berlin. He remained in the Coblence-Metternich prison

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Following ], Skossyreff was mentioned in multiple newspapers for ] and swindling of a gold watch.<ref>{{Cite news|last=p4|date=6 January 1919|title=Russian Interpreter's Cheques|work=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=p5|date=18 January 1919|title=Reticent Russian Officer. A

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Almuzara|isbn=978-84-17558-35-2|language=es|access-date=2020-11-25|archive-date=2020-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220172826/https://books.google.com/books?id=cypyDwAAQBAJ&q=Skossyreff+Santa+Coloma+d%27Andorra&pg=PT81|url-status=live}}</ref> During this visit,

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to proclaim him Prince of Andorra. According to later legends, Boris's proposal was almost entirely supported by the Chamber; with only one adviser against the remaining twenty-three who formed the council, the monarchy was instituted. This, however, is entirely unsupported by any contemporary

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On the 17th of May, 1934, Skossyreff presented the former court prosecutor and other advisers to the ''Council of the Valleys'' (former name of the Government of Andorra) a document laden with his suggestions, in which he justified his intentions of rule.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boris I Rei

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Skossyreff was born in ] to a family of lower nobility. Following the outbreak of the ], Skossyreff was able to seek ] in ], where he enlisted in the ] for the end of ]. This was followed by his work in the ]. He moved to the ] in the mid 1920s, where he was in a list of Prominent Foreign

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On his first visit to ], Skossyreff took up residence in the village of ], near ].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Izu|first=Miguel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cypyDwAAQBAJ&q=Skossyreff+Santa+Coloma+d'Andorra&pg=PT81|title=El Rey de Andorra|publisher=Editorial

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He took up residence in Boppard (West Germany), however he went to an area controlled by the Soviets, leading to his arrest and sentencing to 25 years of forced labor in a Siberian camp. He was released in 1956, returned to Boppard and died there in 1989.

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was believed to have begun planning his 'coup', having had extensive conversations with peasants, artisans and politicians across Andorra.<ref>{{Cite news|last=p11|date=3 March 1934|title=No King for Andorra. Offer from Chicago Declined|work=The

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was able to seek ] in ], where he enlisted for around two years in the ] for the end of ].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boris-Rey-Andorra-Antoni-Morell/dp/B00RBZT3G4|title=Boris I, Rey De Andorra|date=2007|publisher=Ediciones

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spoke about a childhood friendship with the ].<ref name="issuu.com"/> Also stating that he attended the prestigious ] in Paris, followed by ].<ref name="pressreader.com">{{Cite web|title=PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and

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and Majorca. That account also contended that Skossyreff had made his proclamation on July 11 and that he had declared himself "Boris I, Prince of the Valleys of Andorra, Count of Orange and Baron of Skossyreff… Sovereign of Andorra and

875:, in the early 1930s, Skossyreff worked on gaining power. During extensive conversations with local politicians in May 1934, Skossyreff presented the Government of Andorra a document in which he justified his intentions of rule. 1265:

by train, accompanied by two agents. His arrival in the Spanish capital coincided with Spanish journalists, who tried to interview him. He was sent to the Modelo prison in Madrid, while acting as a monarch in exile. Historian

1044:. The Archives of the Dutch Government establish that Skossyreff did not serve the Royal Household, nor was rewarded with a title, instead being found in a list of Prominent Foreign Revolutionaries in 1924, prepared by the 2307: 878:

Through falsely portraying himself as a member of the European aristocracy, Skossyreff proposed freedoms, modernisation, foreign investments and the recognition of a tax haven to Andorra through his self-published

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3523: 3699: 1387:) was written in 1984 by Catalan author Antoni Morell i Mora. The author dedicated the book to his grandmother, who he claimed had personally met Skossyreff. It was later adapted for the stage by Beth Escuda. 3684: 1120:(just 5 km from Andorra) in the Hotel Mundial, where he began behaving like an authentic monarch; one which led to many interviews, some of them telephone calls, including those given to the newspapers 1337:

In February 1939, Skossyreff was in a French prison camp with Spanish anti-Francoists, alongside Italian and Central European anti-fascists from the regions occupied by the Third Reich before World War II.

3704: 1091:(former name of the Government of Andorra) a document laden with his suggestions, in which he justified his intentions of rule. His attempt was ridiculed by Council members, who were quoted as responding: 1287:

who wrote an article in 1935 about the "king of Andorra". It was at this stage that Skossyreff finally obtained a passport and left Olhão for Genoa, where he was denied disembarkation, only to proceed to

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Skossyreff was born on January 12, 1896, in ], ], then part of the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boris Skossyreff|url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesEurope/EasternRussia_Skossyreff01.htm|last=P L

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Skossyreff was born on January 12, 1896, in ], ], then part of the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boris Skossyreff|url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesEurope/EasternRussia_Skossyreff01.htm|last=P L

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has a number of articles about Boris Skossyreff - both the takeover and the 1919 incident mentioned above (6 January 1919 p 4, 13 January p 2, 18 January p 5, and 20 January p 5).

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the modern age. Skossyreff printed ten thousand copies of his Constitution, addressed to Spanish and French celebrities. One of them, which ended up at the hands of the

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Revolutionaries in 1924, prepared by the ], in which he was noted as an international swindler. Despite this, Skossyreff falsely claimed to have been working in the ].

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Revolutionaries in 1924, prepared by the ], in which he was noted as an international swindler. Despite this, Skossyreff falsely claimed to have been working in the ].

1084:. During this visit, he was believed to have begun planning his 'coup', having had extensive conversations with peasants, artisans and politicians across Andorra. 267:

extensive conversations with local politicians in May 1934, Skossyreff presented the Government of Andorra a document in which he justified his intentions of rule.

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During his 'exile', Skossyreff granted visits, made official receptions and organised numerous events, such as a mass for the late Catalan president

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In June 1936 he returned to Spain, coinciding with the start of the Spanish Civil War. He went on to France in 1936, where he was arrested again in

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elaborated that his supposed title was Monsieur le Baron Boris de Skossyreff - a possible title, but likely false due to the rarity of

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Through his visits to ], a co-Principality in the ] co-princed by the ] and ], in the early 1930s, Skossyreff worked on gaining power.

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Through his visits to ], a co-Principality in the ] co-princed by the ] and ], in the early 1930s, Skossyreff worked on gaining power.

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Prior to his arrival in Andorra, little is known about Skossyreff. When the Russian revolution of 1917 broke out, he was able to seek

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1920: 201745/201745/38 A request for assistance by Irene Skossyreff regarding the processing of her reparation from Russia to England

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reserves the right to raise complaints to the competent Authority so that it applies the sanctions that will be deserved. recurrent".

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Through his attempts to gain power, Skossyreff came into contact with several legitimate royal groups in the south of France. In

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