James argues, that the practice of dynastic #marriages marrying young noble #women to princes in very different countries and cultures, made them ideal #diplomats.

They needed to adapt to their new surroundings and built networks, while keeping an eye on the interests of the family of origin. Nonetheless, they remained largely unofficial actors and always had to balance their political and diplomatic activities with the prescribed norms of female behaviour. In general, it was their connection to men – their husbands, fathers, sons or brothers – that enabled them to play a role in #emdiplomacy. (6/7)

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There were different ways in which #women could play a role in #emdiplomacy: as wives of #diplomats as princesses and queen consort or as ladies-in-waiting. It was often their position between their family of origin and their new family that enabled them to act as diplomatic brokers and person of contact of foreign diplomats.

Women had access to places at #court that were often inaccessible for men and thus were ideal information gatherers and spies. This is especially true for the European diplomats sent to #Constantinople, where the Harem was an important centre of power that remained closed to male diplomats. (4/7)

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After the Charles XII’s death in 1719, as many as 159 Swedish soldiers and sailors were transferred to Hesse-Kassel. They were quartered and supplied at the expenses of the landgrave, but resident Brunell had to communicate between the two parts. Moreover, he had to figure out a plan how to bring these soldiers and sailors back to #Sweden as soon as possible. And, last but not least, he had to negotiate with the landgrave on support for his daughter-in-law, the new queen of Sweden.

This example sheds light not only on the very poorly researched connection between military issues and #emdiplomacy as well as how #emdiplomats sometimes were forced to solve exceptional situations. (4/5)

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Two years later, Brunell’s career as a #emdiplomat began with a position as an #embassy secretary in #Berlin where he stayed until 1714. In 1716 he was sent to #Kassel in the same capacity to assist the Swedish resident in the lantgraviate Hesse-Kassel, Axel Sparre. However, he did not arrive in Kassel before June 1717. After Sparre was recalled in 1719, Brunell was promoted to Swedish resident in Hesse-Kassel and ennobled with the name #Örncrona. Three years later, he was recalled. Back in #Stockholm, Örncrona was appointed royal councillor. Only a few years later, in 1728, his diplomatic career continued when he was appointed Swedish #ambassador to #Denmark, where he died in 1734. (2/5)

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Ezekiel Spanheim was born into a calvinist refugee family in #Geneva. In 1642 the family moved to #Leiden where Spanheim’s father had been appointed professor in #theology. At the very same university Spanheim junior studied oriental and ancient languages as well as theology. In 1650 he received a doctorate. And only one year later he received a professorship in rhetoric in Geneva. The following year, Spanheim was appointed to the city's Grand Council. After five years in Geneva, Spanheim left the city and his position at the university to move to #Heidelberg where he became tutor of Charles, the son of Charles I Louis, elector of #Palatine (2/7)

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Between 1623 and 1629 #Rubens was repeatedly involved in diplomatic activities. Isabella of #Spain made use of his standing and popularity as an artist to pursue inofficial #emdiplomacy. By sending her #court painter she expanded her scope of action without being bound by formal ceremonies, alliances or Spanish politics. In the secret negotiations that Isabella conducted in the #Netherlands against the wishes of the Spanish King Philip IV, Rubens operated within a network of personal, family and business relationships. On the one hand, this facilitated diplomatic exchange, as there were no regular diplomatic relations between #Brussels and #TheHague, and on the other, it ensured the necessary secrecy towards the Spanish court. However, the attempts of concluding #peace between the different parts of the Netherlands failed. (4/6)

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After his return to #Antwerp in 1609, #Rubens was appointed #court painter of Albert VII of #Austria and his wife Isabella Clara Eugenia of #Spain, the sovereigns of the #Habsburg #Netherlands. However, he once again combined his artistic activities with #emdiplomacy.

During his stay in #Paris due to his work on the #Medici cycle he also collected (secret) information, a core tasks of all #diplomats, thus acting as “noble spy” as #emdiplomats also were called. (3/6)

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#Rubens was the son of Flemish refugees in the #HRE. He was born in #Siegen in 1577. Later his family moved back to #Antwerp. Rubens received a humanist education. In 1592 he began his apprenticeship as an artist which he concluded six years later. Between 1600 and 1608 he stayed in #Italy. During this time, in 1603, he was dispatched on his first diplomatic mission. On the commission of the Duke of #Gonzaga, he handed over gifts to king Philip III of #Spain. However, he used his stay there to deepen and refine his artistic skills through studying the royal art collection. (2/6)

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Anton Meuting did not limit himself to commercial activities and cultural mediation, but also repeatedly accepted diplomatic commissions. He passed on news and information, a core task of all #emdiplomats. Moreover, in 1573 duke Albrecht of #Bavaria commissioned him to secretly negotiate a marriage between the Bavarian princess Maximiliane and king Sebastian of #Portugal a nephew of the Spanish king, at the #court in #Madrid. At the end of the year, Meuting continued his mission to #Lisbon for secret negotiations with Sebastian’s grandmother, Catherine of #Austria who was in favour of this project. However, Meuting’s efforts did not succeed. (4/6)

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After his marriage in 1550, Anton Meuting worked as an independent merchant, especially in and with #Spain, where he established himself as a cultural broker between the #court in #Munich and the court in #Madrid and was active in various fields - the purchase and sale of goods, financial services. From 1560, he was regularly mentioned as a supplier of jewellery, devotional objects, silk, clothing and accessories to the Bavarian ducal court. (3/6)

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