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Treaty of Paris
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Paris, Congress of, 1856, conference held by representatives of France, Great Britain, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), Sardinia, Russia, Austria, and Prussia to negotiate the peace after the Crimean War. In the Treaty of Paris (Mar. 30, 1856), Russia agreed to the neutralization of the Black Sea, which was to be closed to war vessels and opened to the merchant marines of all nations. The Danubian principalities (Moldavia and Walachia, after 1859 called Romania) were recognized as quasi-independent states under Ottoman suzerainty; to them Russia ceded the left bank of the mouth of the Danube and part of Bessarabia. The lower Danube was placed under an international commission. The boundaries of Russia and the Ottoman Empire in Asia were restored to their prewar limits (to the detriment of Russia). The Ottoman Empire became a member of the European concert, and its integrity was guaranteed; the sultan in turn promised to improve the status of his Christian subjects. Several principles of international law were adopted by the congress in the Declaration of Paris. The provisions of the treaty were altered (1878) by the Congress of Berlin.
Bibliography
See C. D. Hazen et al., Three Peace Congresses of the Nineteenth Century (1917).
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For other treaties of Paris, see Treaty of Paris.
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 at the Congress of Paris, 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.
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Moldavia and Wallachia would stay under nominal Ottoman rule, but would be granted independent constitutions and national assemblies, which were 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 in favour of 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
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
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