Congress of Paris
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Treaty of Paris participants

The Treaty of Paris of 1856 settled the Crimean War between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Sardinia, France, and the United Kingdom. The treaty, signed on March 30, 1856, made the Black Sea neutral territory, closing it to all warships, and prohibiting fortifications and the presence of armaments on its shores. The treaty marked a severe setback to Russian influence in the region.

Description

Moldavia and Wallachia 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 the Ottoman Empire (as was France).
• Russia lost its influence over the Romanian principalities, which, together with Serbia, were given greater independence.
• Political reforms were called in Russia after they lost the war.

Treaty of Paris: debates

A medallion issued to celebrate the end of the Crimean War and the Treaty of Paris, made from a soft "silver colour" alloy

Signing parties

• A. Walewski
• Bourqueney
• Buol-Schauenstein
• Hubner
• Clarendon
• Cowley
• Manteuffel
• Hatzfeldt
• Orloff
• Brunnow
• Cavour
• de Villamarina
• Aali
• Mehemmed-Djemil

150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland Islands commemorative coin

See also

• The 150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland Islands was celebrating in Finland by issuing a high value commemorative coin, the €5 150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland Islands commemorative coin, minted in 2006. The obverse depicts a pine tree, very typical in the Åland Islands. The reverse design features a boat's stern and rudder, with a dove perched on the tiller, a symbol of 150 years of peace.

• Berwick-upon-Tweed — an apocryphal story concerns Berwick's status with Russia

References

• Flagship History; Europe 1760-1871.

• (French) Edouard Gourdon, Histoire du Congrès de Paris, Paris, 1857, full text at google Print

• Some photos of the Treaty

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Treaty of Paris, 1856