Russia’s Most Terrifying Enemy

During its long history the Russian nation has fought many deadly enemies, from the Mongols in the 13^th century, Napoleon and his Imperial Guard in 1812, Nazi Germany during the Great Patriotic War and in more recent times the West. But there is one enemy who some believe are still at war with the Russian nation, while others believe the conflict began in 1853 ended in 1966. The Russian threat came not from a World Super power but rather the Northern English market town of Berwick upon Tweed …

 

Contrary to the rather looming introduction the war between Russia and Berwick upon Tweed became one of history’s many diplomatic irregularity. Berwick upon Tween located on the border between England and Scotland was defined in 1502 under the Treaty of Everlasting Peace between Scotland and England as being a part of England but not in England. This resulted in any acts of parliament or any other legal documents Berwick would be named individually. With this in mind when in 1853 Great Britain declared war on Russia, known as the Crimean War, the document stated that war was declared by “Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick upon Tweed and all British Dominions.” However during the Treaty of Paris of 1856 when peace was made between the waring nations, Berwick was not named in the treaty, leaving the border town in theory, at war.

 

Although Berwick was not mentioned in the 1856 peace treaty, there is still debate surrounding whether Berwick is still at war with Russia or when they made peace. One argument states that Berwick did make peace in 1856 as the Wales and Berwick Act of 1746 stated that all references to England were to include both Wales and Berwick and so in the Paris Peace Treaty although Berwick was not mentioned, it was enclosed as part of England. Contrary to this fact it is rumoured that in 1966 the Major of Berwick, Robert Knox signed a peace treaty with a Russian diplomat where it has been said that Knox commented, “Tell the Russians they can sleep easy in their beds.” As comical as Knox’s comment is there is very little evidence to support the supposed 1966 peace treaty as there are no official paper nor do contemporary newspapers comment on the event. And so the questions still remains, when did Berwick upon Tweed and the Russian nation make peace?

 

Sources

Graham Spicer, ‘Myth Or Reality? Berwick Revisits Its War With Russia’, Culture 24, < http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art38768&gt;

Michael Southwick, ‘Berwick v. Russia and other Unfinished Wars,’ North-East History Tour, < http://northeasthistorytour.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/berwick-v-russia-and-other-unfinished.html&gt;