His project on Swedish #consuls points to something that seems to be a characteristic of Scandinavian #emdiplomacy: the very close connection between #diplomatic activities and (maritime) #trade interests, commercial #diplomacy in other words.

Permanent #embassies in #Scandinavia developed relatively slowly. It was not before the 1600s that #resident #diplomats became a feature of Scandinavian #diplomacy. We know much more about the foreign #envoys in the North than about Scandinavian diplomats at foreign places. Writing about #earlymodern Danish and Swedish #diplomacy is not easy, as Scandinavia seems to be a blind spot in the historiography on #earlymodern #diplomacy and for #NewDiplomaticHistory. But Martin manages to cover a wide time span from the end of the #MiddleAges to the 18th century. (5/5)

#emdiplomacy #history #histodons

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern

As Almbjär is an expert on 18th century Swedish #consuls in Spanish port towns, it does not come as a surprise that he contributes with his expertise on the development of #earlymodern Scandinavian #diplomacy for the #emdiplomacy handbook. He thus presents the first ever comprehensive summary of the development of #emdiplomacy in #Scandinavia (4/5)

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07075332.2024.2345241

#history #histodon #NewDiplomaticHistory

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern

See, declaring a #LeapYear was actually the decision of the #PontifexMaximus, which was an elected political position. If Pontifices Maximi would routinely declare a leap year if they liked the #consuls, and refuse to declare one if they disapproved, in order to prolong or contract the administrations of various consuls according to their own preferences and ambitions.

Plus, since a #LeapYear wasn't declared until late, outlying parts of the empire wouldn't know until months later.