#emdiplomacyAdventCalendar (23/24) #emdiplomats had to be flexible, even when celebrating Christmas. The Protestant diplomats in Osnabrück celebrated Christmas at the same date as the Catholics, although according to the Julian calendar it was not until 2 weeks from now.
This fascinating blog on #MentalHealth of modern #diplomats made us think about the mental health of #emdiplomats. They faced similar problems being far away from home for extended times in often stressful situations.
In 1487, Lorenzo de Medici received the giraffe as a gift by Sultan Qā’itbāy of Egypt who thereby showed his support in Lorenzo’s fight against the Ottomans. The animal was presented to the Florentine republic by the Egyptian ambassadors at the market place so that everyone could marvel the giraffe. Unfortunately, it died only a few months after its arrival breaking its neck while being transported in its box. (3/6)
But the afterlife of the giraffe was much longer. It had been the first giraffe in Europe since the 13th century and it remained so for many centuries coming. Thus, one should not wonder that it was commemorated in literature and paintings, such as the painting by Giorgio Vasari (1556 / 1558). There are many other figurative representations of this giraffe, such as the famous frescos in the Tornabuoni Chapel by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1485-1490). (4/6)
In fact, Giorgio Riello argues that “it was not Lorenzo’s real animal but its representation in Ghirlandaio’s fresco that kept the visual imagination of giraffes alive in Europe”. This points us to another topic for another day: the visual representation of #emdiplomacy. (5/6)
Giorgio Riello: Spot the Giraffe: The Material Culture of Animals Found, Lost and Painted. In: Tina Asmussen, Eva Brugger, Maike Christadler, Anja Rathmann-Lutz, Anna Reimann, Carla Roth, Sarah-Maria Schober, Ina Serif (ed.): Materialized Histories. Eine Festschrift 2.0, 17/05/2021, https://mhistories.hypotheses.org/?p=1788. (6/6)
#emdiplomacyAdventCalendar (18/24)
It is the season for mulled wine. The negative side effects of too much alcohol are well described in #emdiplomacysSources as this example shows: The drunken staff of Swedish ambassador Oxenstierna at the #WestphalianPeaceCongress dislocated a horse’s leg.
The connection between #emdiplomacy and trade needs still much more research. Here is a new study on Anglo-Swedish relations and the close connection between commercial and diplomatic relations and interests.
#emdiplomacyAdventCalendar (13/24) wonders what are you planning for the next festive dinner? Better keep your hands of crustaceans. Crayfish claws could cause dangerous and long-lasting side effects on your health as this #emdiplomacy example illustrates. https://habsmon.hypotheses.org/634
Finding the perfect gift is not easy. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some of the diplomatic gifts that German chancellor Adenauer received (in German).
Today we want to show you one of the many faces of #emdiplomacy: Antoine Emmanuel Nsaku Ne Vunda (d. 1608) , envoy of the kingdom of Congo to the Pope in 1608.
Let's end this week with an #emdiplomacyReadingRecommendation! Through sheding light on #diplomacy at the #court of Polish king #Sigismund III #Vasa (1566-1632) this brand new anthology edited by Oliver Hegedüs and Kolja Lichy highlights a widely overlooked region and makes an important contribution to the history of #emdiplomacy beyond the south-west European focus that dominates research.
Today is the day of Saint Nicholas, that means of course loads of sweets and cookies!
We found the perfect #emdiplomacy cookie and want to share the recipe with you in our #adventcalendar - Although these #panda cookies are almost too cute to eat...
As the famous French stateman and #diplomat Charles Maurice Talleyrand (1754-1838) said:
“Le meilleur auxiliaire d’un diplomate, c’est bien son cuisinier.”
#emdiplomacyAdventCalendar (4/24)
Information gathering and securing were very important for #emdiplomacy - however, it was a thin line between legal methods and espionage. Therefore, #emdiplomats were also called honourable spies.