The accquistion of information was the most important function of early modern diplomats which was facilitaded through the establishment of permanent embassies from the 15th century onwards and discussed in numerous contemporary handbooks and treatises on early modern diplomacy. The boundaries between overt and covert, legal and illegal information gathering were fluid. This ambiguity finds expression in the term honourable espion which was coined by Pierre Ayrault. (5/7)

#emdiplomacy #emdiplomat #diplomat #diplomacy #NewDiplomaticHistory #espionage #history #earlyModern #Histodons

@MaxWeberStiftung @histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern @womenknowhistory

Lobenwein is a Post-Doc at the German Historical Institute at Rome @MaxWeberStiftung After research on nobility and questions of medical history, her current project focuses on the acquisition and processing of information of Habsburg and Venetian diplomats in the Ottoman Empire

https://dhi-roma.it/index.php?id=lobenwein&L=24 (3/7)

#emdiplomacy #NewDiplomaticHistory #diplomat #emdiplomat #Rome #OttomanEmpire #Habsburg #history #earlyModern #histodons #Venice

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern @womenknowhistory

@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

@historikerinnen @histodons @earlymodern

In order to analyse the diplomatic activities of the members of the #emdiplomat’s household, research has to shift focus with regard to #emdiplomacysSources. It is not enough to evaluate diplomatic file material, which rarely mentions these individuals. Instead, research must increasingly resort to first person documents. (10/10)

#emdiplomacy #emdiplomats #history #histodons

@historikerinnen @histodons @earlymodern

Lower-ranking envoys often resided in place for decades and thus built networks that enabled them to compensate for the disadvantages of their low status. Their lack of access to the ruler was compensated for by their contacts with members of the court.
Neither have these lower-ranking agents and residents nor their networking and its importance for the functioning of #emdiplomacy been researched in detail, as Externbring and Ferber highlight. The same is true for the #emdiplomat's household. (9/10)

#emdiplomacy #earlymodern #EarlyModernEurope #history

Afanasii Ordin-Nashchokin was the offspring of a family of the provincial gentry. But it was his father’s wish to provide him with an education in German, Latin and even mathematics. This might have been the base for his career as a civil servant and #emdiplomat. In 1642 Ordin-Nashchokin was part of the delegation that negotiated the border between #Russia and #Sweden following the #peace of #Stolbovo in 1617. Thereafter, he seemed to be engaged with domestic politics. (4/6)

#emdiplomacy #NewDiplomaticHistory #HistoricalPeaceStudies #earlyModern #history #histodons #adventCalendar #adventCalendar2024

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern

The extension and intensification of #Russia’s international contacts in the 17th century enhanced the status of the Ambassadorial Chancery that was also in charge of managing a number of cities, monasteries and several territorial chanceries. Since 1667 boyars (members of the highest rank of feudal nobility) rather than ‘conciliar secretaries’ were often appointed to head the missions; as an example, one should name Afanasii Ordin-Nashchokin (1605–1680), our #emdiplomat of the day! (3/6)

#emdiplomacy #NewDiplomaticHistory #earlyModern #adventCalendar #adventCalendar2024 #history #histodons #Russia

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern

The greater part of this work was done by secretaries and undersecretaries who corresponded in Russian. The Ambassadorial Chancery also had a number of translators and interpreters. These positions were often occupied by subjects of foreign states who entered the Russian service or less often Russians released from captivity.

Moreover, although noble origin was a prerequisite for the appointment of a Russian #emdiplomat, aristocrats often lacked appropriate skills. Therefore, since the middle of the 16th century the head of mission had a deputy drawn from the staff of the Ambassadorial Chancery – an experienced secretary or undersecretary, sometimes employee of other chanceries, who was responsible for negotiation itself & paperwork. A century later ‘conciliar secretaries’ were included into the most representative missions and could even head them. (2/6)

#emdiplomacy #NewDiplomaticHistory #Russia #earlyModern #adventCalendar2024 #history

@histodons @historikerinnen @earlymodern