Boris Skossyreff

Boris Mikhailovich Skossyreff (Russian: Бори́с Миха́йлович Ско́сырев, Boris Mikhailovich Skosyrev; Catalan: Borís Mikhàilovitx Skóssirev [boˌɾis .mikˌaj.lo.vit͡ʃ sˈko.si.ɾef]; 12 January 1896 - 27 February 1989) was a White Russian adventurer who attempted to seize the monarchy of the Principality of Andorra during the early 1930s, styling himself Boris I of Andorra. He assumed the throne with support from the local citizens and government, before being deposed by neighboring Spanish authorities and eventually fading into obscurity.

Skossyreff was born on June 12, 1896, in Vilna, Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire.

In January 1919, described as a former translator for the Japanese Military Mission, Skossyreff appeared in the Westminster Police Court in London, charged and fined for passing fraudulent checks.

Skossyreff moved to Andorra and received Andorran citizenship in December 1933. After some time, he presented an administrative reform plan that included the creation of several offices, to which he asked to be appointed. However, he soon ran afoul of local authorities and was expelled around May 1934.

On July 6, 1934, he issued a proclamation in Urgell, Spain, declaring himself Boris I, King of Andorra and "Regent for His Majesty the King of France." Despite his claim that he was acting on behalf of the French Crown, France had not been a Kingdom since 1848, and he was disavowed by the formerly-ruling House of Bourbon. Skossyreff declared war on Justí Guitart i Vilardebó, Bishop of Urgell and the Co-Prince of Andorra. Two days later, the General Council of Andorra voted unanimously for the monarchy, and a provisional government was formed the next day. The General Council became the Parliament, a new flag adorned with a crown was adopted, and a new constitution was drafted.

On July 20, Skossyreff was arrested by the Spanish Guardia Civil and deported from Andorra. He was first taken to Barcelona and was to be transferred to Madrid on July 22. However, his transfer was delayed when he refused to travel via train in third-class. When his appeal to a friend to pay his first-class fare did not receive a response, two Catalan detectives accompanied him to Madrid on July 23. Skossyreff was imprisoned there until he was deported from Spain to Portugal in November.

Spanish authorities noted that Skossyreff carried a Dutch passport, but declared himself to be a Russian White émigré. However, this background is somewhat contradicted by a report in the publication Spain Week by Week, which claimed on July 25, 1934, that Skossyreff was a Jew who resided for some years in Catalonia 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 Defender of the Faith."

Some sources claim that Skossyreff died in a Vichy French prison camp near Perpignan in 1944. However, others argue he survived and became a civilian technician for the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front in World War II.

Some Russian-language publications and websites erroneously claim that Skossyreff ruled Andorra for a number of years until he was overthrown by Vichy France in 1941. However, other Russian sources refute this claim, and it is not supported by accounts in other languages.

A novel, titledBoris I, Rei d'Andorra (Boris I, King of Andorra) 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 Boris. It was later adapted for the stage by Beth Escuda.