Treaty of Paris (1856)
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The Treaty of Paris of 1856 settled the Crimean War between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France and the United Kingdom. The Treaty was signed on March 30, made the Black Sea neutral and closed it to all warships and prohibited fortifications and the presence of armaments on its shores. The treaty marked a severe setback to Russian influence.
Moldavia and Walachia would stay under nominal Ottoman rule, but would be granted independent constitutions and national assemblies, which was to be monitored by the victorious powers. A project of a referendum was to be set in place to monitor the will of the peoples regarding unification. Also, Moldavia received the south of Bessarabia (Budjak).
The treaty also demilitarised the Åland Islands in the Baltic Sea, which belonged to the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland. The fortress Bomarsund had been destroyed by British and French forces in 1854 and the alliance wanted to prevent its use as a Russian military base.
The peace of Paris confirmed Nicholas I's failures.
- Russia lost territory it had been granted at the mouth of the Danube.
- It was forced to abandon its claims to protect Christians in Turkey (as was France).
- Russia lost its influence over the Romanian principalities, which, together with Serbia, were given greater independence.
Trivia
Upon her entry in the Crimean War, the United Kingdom declared war on the Russian Empire "in the name of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick-upon-Tweed, and all British Dominions". Yet in the Paris Treaty which ended the war, no mention of Berwick was made in the official document.
Although not all agree, many think that this meant a small British town remained at war with one of the world's mightiest nations for 113 years until 1966, when a Soviet official made a special visit to Berwick to sue for peace.
(Source: Flagship History; Europe 1760-1871) Template:France-hist-stub Template:UK-hist-stub Template:Russia-hist-stub Template:Ottoman-stubbg:Парижки мирен договор (1856) fr:Traité de Paris (1856) ja:パリ条約 (1856年) pl:Traktat paryski pt:Tratado de Paris (1856) fi:Pariisin rauha (1856)