@histodons

Together Laufs and Wenzel tackle the important question of conflict management. How did #emdiplomats deal with conflicts? What practices were established?

Key to #earlymodern conflict management were mediation and arbitration as practices with a long tradition going back to the Middle Ages. Here, a third party tried to mediate and help find a compromise between the conflicting parties. (4/6)

#emdiplomacy #history #EarlyModernEurope #mediation #peacemaking

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern

Often the agreed amounts were only paid out after the mission’s completion, and the travel and subsistence expenses, which were often agreed upon separately, were carefully checked and settled, and in some cases even refused.

For many #emdiplomats, debts were not uncommon at the place of assignment; especially for bourgeois representatives in lower-ranking positions, diplomatic activity could mean financial ruin. (7/8)

#emdiplomacy #EarlyModernEurope #economicHistory

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern

A problem, when it comes to researching the financial side of #emdiplomacy, is that the sources often are distorted as well as incomplete, because of separate budgets or because specific services were not paid for at all or in another way. Account books do not necessarily show the total expenses of a mission, but they do provide information about the daily life of the #emdiplomats. Not only the type and amount of expenses for housing, food, travel and mail are evident, but also how they were handled at court. (6/8)

#emdiplomacy #emdiplomacysSources #economicHistory

Despite this importance of language, it is hardly discussed in treatises on early modern diplomacy. This is somewhat surprising, as it was helpful, if diplomats spoke different languages, as they did not have to rely too much on translators. This reduced the risk of misunderstandings and espionage.

But it is difficult to assess how many languages early modern diplomats actually spoke and probably varied vastly. In many cases they were dependent on interpreters and translations; a topic that only recently got the necessary attention in research. (7/8)

#emdiplomacy #emdiplomats #NewDiplomaticHistory #history #histodons #earlyModern #translation

@dhiparis @womenknowhistory @histodons @earlymodern

@womenknowhistory @earlymodern @histodons @historikerinnen

It is crucial to recognise that an #emdiplomat’s networks were not necessarily diplomatic in itself, as being an envoy or an ambassador was usually only a part of a courtly or administrative career. However, a diplomat stayed in foreign country for some extended time, his networks to regional actors or other diplomats became an asset. At the same time, he had to maintain his contacts to his home court. The networks of the wives of #emdiplomats could also be of great importance, as they often had access to different circles. (7/8)

#emdiplomacy

@womenknowhistory @earlymodern @histodons @historikerinnen

They argue that #clientelism had a key function in #earlymodern #diplomacy, as the #emdiplomats needed confidants and stable relations both at their home institutions and the place of #diplomatic action in order to fulfil their tasks successfully. Diplomats could be patrons as well as clients. (6/8)

#emdiplomacy

@historikerinnen @womenknowhistory @earlymodern @histodons

Mazargalli argues that consuls were essential for understanding #earlymodern states as “as a conglomerate of conflicting personal and group interests”.
Moreover, focussing on consuls as diplomatic actors reminds us that #emdiplomacy is so much more than courtly audiences and #peace negotiations. The economic side needs much more attention, especially as contemporaries did not necessarily distinguish between economic and political #emdiplomacy. (6/6)

#emdiplomats #consul #economicHistory #diplomaticHistory

@historikerinnen @womenknowhistory @earlymodern @histodons

Consuls played an important role in information gathering and the daily life of economic relations. They assisted foreign diplomats and other travelers and helped smooth out commercial and political relations on the ground.
Consuls, or “short-sleeves diplomats” as Mazargalli calls them, were clearly subordinated to ambassadors. Nonetheless, they kept an eye on possible arising conflicts and informed their superiors, so that the diplomats could negotiate matters. (5/6)

#emdiplomacy #emdiplomats #consul

@historikerinnen @womenknowhistory @earlymodern @histodons

Consuls were originally a Mediterranean phenomenon. While in the beginning a consul had jurisdiction over a a community abroad, overtime he became a state agent abroad. However, it would simplify matters to regard consuls only as state agents and the development of the consul system as part of the statebuilding process. Instead a number of factors came into play and consular posts were frequently established by chance. (4/6)

#emdiplomats #consul #emdiplomacy