Boris Skossyreff

Boris Mihailovich Skossyreff Mawrusow (also called baron Boris de Skossyreff), born in 1896 with Vilnius, Lithuania, and probably died in 1944 in France, was a Russian adventurer which proclaimed king of Andorre in 1934 under the name of Boris Ist.

After having fled the Russian Revolution in 1917 and having travelled in many countries, the baron Boris de Skossyreff arrives to Andorra in July 1934 after of being expelled a few months before for disorders of the law and order. The country as poor as is then insulated. Supported by a member of the General advice, Skossyreff promises with the Room a liberal mode and the modernization of the country, which it projects to transform into Tax shelter by attracting Investissement S foreigners. It disputes the French authority on Andorra, supporting that Jean of Orleans, duke of Own way (heir apparent to the throne of France) is the true heir to the counts de Foix and Béarn, prínces of Andorra, and that " the Andorran ones feel managed against their will by Albert Lebrun, president of the Republic française".

The July 6th 1934, it proclaims King of the Government of Andorra under the name of Boris Ist Two days later, the General advice of the Valleys ratifies the Monarchie unanimously less one vote, and a provisional government is made up as of the following day. The General advice becomes the Parliament, and a new flag, decorated of a crown, is adopted. A new constitution must be written.

Skossyreff proclaims political, religious freedom and of opinion. France, in the capacity as coprince of Andorra, accepts the decision of the General advice of Andorra. The only adviser who opposed Skossyreff returns in Spain in the bishop of Urgel, the other coprince of Andorra, to inform it of the situation.

July 10th, the Parliament renews its confidence with Boris Ier (always unanimously less one vote). The population seems to see the advent of the monarchy of an good eye.

After one week of reign, the king is relieved on July 14th on order of the coprinces, the Spanish bishop of Urgell and the French president Albert Lebrun. A group of the civil Guardia (Spanish gendarmerie) enters to Andorra and stops Boris Ist It will be transferred to Barcelona, then with Madrid to be finally expelled towards the Portugal. According to the Spanish authorities, it carried a passport Dutch indicating that it had been born on June 12th, 1896.

Skossyreff would have died in 1944 in a Prison camp close to Perpignan.

Biographical source

Antoni Morell, Boris I, rei of Andorra , Magrana, Barcelona (ISBN 84-7410-157-3)

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