1 An adventuring commonwealth
-
Felicity Jane Stout
Abstract
The early history of the Muscovy Company was one of risk and exploration, negotiation and trade, commonwealth and corruption. The Elizabethan government and the company were primarily interested in gaining and retaining advantageous trading privileges in Russia and Persia, rather than forging offensive alliances with far-away princes. Thomas Randolph was successful on the mercantile front, but less so in deflecting Ivan IV's desire for an Anglo-Russian entente. Ivan was outraged by Elizabeth's blasé response to the 'great affairs' of alliance, accusing her of focusing solely on mercantile affairs and suggesting that she was ruled entirely by her merchants. The English venture to discover a northern passage to Cathay was originally proposed by Robert Thorne in 1527 and later by his business partner Roger Barlow in 1540. Differences in English and Russian attitudes towards the delivery of titles of rulers posed a continuing threat to the smooth running of diplomatic relations.
Abstract
The early history of the Muscovy Company was one of risk and exploration, negotiation and trade, commonwealth and corruption. The Elizabethan government and the company were primarily interested in gaining and retaining advantageous trading privileges in Russia and Persia, rather than forging offensive alliances with far-away princes. Thomas Randolph was successful on the mercantile front, but less so in deflecting Ivan IV's desire for an Anglo-Russian entente. Ivan was outraged by Elizabeth's blasé response to the 'great affairs' of alliance, accusing her of focusing solely on mercantile affairs and suggesting that she was ruled entirely by her merchants. The English venture to discover a northern passage to Cathay was originally proposed by Robert Thorne in 1527 and later by his business partner Roger Barlow in 1540. Differences in English and Russian attitudes towards the delivery of titles of rulers posed a continuing threat to the smooth running of diplomatic relations.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Note on style, dates and terminology xiii
- Introduction 1
- 1 An adventuring commonwealth 15
- 2 A commonwealths-man in Russia 59
- 3 Creating a feigned commonwealth 93
- 4 A corrupted commonwealth 117
- 5 A commonwealth counselled 147
- 6 A controversial commonwealth 189
- Conclusion 227
- Select bibliography 232
- Index 244
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of figures viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Note on style, dates and terminology xiii
- Introduction 1
- 1 An adventuring commonwealth 15
- 2 A commonwealths-man in Russia 59
- 3 Creating a feigned commonwealth 93
- 4 A corrupted commonwealth 117
- 5 A commonwealth counselled 147
- 6 A controversial commonwealth 189
- Conclusion 227
- Select bibliography 232
- Index 244
