Leopold I and Belgian Policy on the Eve of the Crimean War

In this article, the author analyses the foreign policy efforts of King Leopold I of Belgium, namely his attempts during the international crisis to maintain the European balance on which the future of the Belgian state depended. Prior to the Crimean War, the monarch believed that the main threat of destabilisation emanated from France and sought the support of the three great powers, namely Great Britain, Austria and Russia, but soon the aggravation of the Eastern Question, in which the powers that had guaranteed Belgian neutrality in 1831 and 1839 became adversaries, presented Leopold I with a challenge to mediate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The purpose of this study is to trace the extent to which the head of a neutral state tried to mediate and reconcile the parties and to show the results of his activities. The sources are documents from the Foreign Policy Archive of the Russian Empire, as well as published personal correspondence between the king and monarchs, statesmen, and representatives of foreign powers. The author concludes that the formation of the Anglo-French military-political alliance in March 1854 and the declaration of war on Russia forced the King to adapt his policy to the existing international situation, including the settlement of relations between Belgium and France. At the same time, documents indicate that Leopold I's position towards Russia had not changed and that the dialogue between the two countries, based on mutual support, persisted.

Keywords

Belgium, Russia, Leopold I, Nicholas I, Queen Victoria, Napoleon III, Crimean War of 1853–1856, international relations, foreign policy

Received

03.09.2022

Publication date

19.12.2022

Number of characters

40826

Cite

GOST	Khorosheva A. Leopold I and Belgian Policy on the Eve of the Crimean War // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2022. – Issue 6 C. 83-94 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640020486-2-1 (circulation date: 11.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640020486-2
MLA	Khorosheva, Aleksandra "Leopold I and Belgian Policy on the Eve of the Crimean War." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 6 (2022):83-94. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640020486-2
APA	Khorosheva A. (2022). Leopold I and Belgian Policy on the Eve of the Crimean War. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (6), pp.83-94 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640020486-2

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 192

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Намазова А.С. Бельгия. Эволюция государственности в XVIII–XX веках. М., 2008.

2. Намазова А.С. Российская империя и Королевство Бельгия: установление дипломатических отношений и первые посланники // Новая и новейшая история. 2021. № 5. С. 94–104.

3. Россия и Бельгия. Страницы истории. К 150-летию установления дипломатических отношений / сост. А.С. Намазова. М., 2003.

4. Россия – Бельгия. К 150-летию установления дипломатических отношений. 1853–2003. Russia – Belgium. 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Moscow, 2003.

5. Тарле Е.В. Крымская война. Т. I–II. М., 2005.

6. Тарле Е.В. Сочинения. Т. IX. М., 1959.

7. Namazova A.S. Bel'gija. Jevoljucija gosudarstvennosti v XVIII–XX vekah [Belgium. The evolution of statehood in the 18th–20th centuries]. Moskva, 2008. (In Russ.)

8. Namazova A.S. Rossijskaja imperija i Korolevstvo Bel'gija: ustanovlenie diplomaticheskih otnoshenij i pervye poslanniki [The Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Belgium: the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the First Envoys] // Novaja i novejshaja istorija [Modern and Contemporary History]. 2021. № 5. S. 94–104. (In Russ.)

9. Rossija i Bel'gija. Stranicy istorii. K 150-letiju ustanovlenija diplomaticheskih otnoshenij [Russia and Belgium. Pages of history. On the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations] / sost. A.S. Namazova. Moskva, 2003. (In Russ.)

10. Rossija – Bel'gija. K 150–letiju ustanovlenija diplomaticheskih otnoshenij. 1853–2003. Russia – Belgium. 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Moscow, 2003. (In Russ.)

11. Tarle E.V. Krymskaja vojna [The Crimean War]. T. I–II. Moskva, 2005. (In Russ.)

12. Tarle E.V. Sochinenija [Works]. T. IX. Moskva, 1959. (In Russ.)

13. Alexandre Le Masson. Les limites de France. Paris, 1853.

14. Baubeau P. Les rumeurs d’annexion de la Belgique à la France de la II–e République à Sédan // France–Belgique: 1848–1914. Affinités-ambiguïtés. Actes du colloque des 7, 8 et 9 mai 1996. Bruxelles, 1997. P. 29–51.

15. Comte Corti, baron Buffin. Léopold Ier, oracle politique de l’Europe. Bruxelles, 1927.

16. Defrasne O. Léopold Ier et le clan Cobourg. Bruxelles, 2004.

17. Juste Th. Léopold I et Léopold II. Rois des Belges. Leur vie et leur reigne. Bruxelles, 1878.

18. Juste Th. Léopold I, Roi des Belges d’après des documents inédits. Bruxelles, 1868.

19. Letters of Queen Victoria: A selection from her Majesty’s correspondence between the years 1837 and 1861 / eds A.Ch. Benson, R.B.B. Escher. Vol. 2, 3. London, 1908.

20. Lettres de Léopold Ier / ed. C. Bronne. Bruxelles, 1948.

21. Lettres de Léopold Ier. Liège, 1973.

22. Namasova A. L’institution monarchique en Europe et les liens de la maison Romanoff avec la famille royale de Belgique // Patrimoine russe dans l’Union Européenne. Bruxelles, 2012. P. 46–60.

23. Nouveaux regards sur Léopold Ier et Léopold II. Bruxelles, 1997.

24. Ridder A. de. La crise de la neutralité belge de 1848. Dossier diplomatique. Bruxelles, 1928.

25. Ridder A. de. Le mariage de Léopold II d’après les documents inédits. Bruxelles, 1925.

26. Stengers J. L’action du Roi en Belgique depuis 1831. Pouvoir et influence. Paris; Louvaine-la-Neuve, 1992.

27. Stengers J. Léopold I et la France au lendemain du coup d’Etat du 2 décembre // Les relations franco-belges de 1830 à 1934. Metz, 1975. P. 21–64.

28. Terlinden Ch. L’établissement des relations diplomatiques entre la Belgique et la Russie (1852–1853) // Revue d’histoire diplomatique. 1923. № 37. P. 398–431.

29. Witte E., Gubin E., Nandrin J.-P., Deneckere G. Nouvelle histoire de Belgique. Vol. 1. 1830–1905. Bruxelles, 2005.