CERTAIN SPECIFIC FEATURES OF DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PETER THE GREAT AND THE MOST SERENE REPUBLIC OF VENICE IN 1716-1720 VIA PETR BECKLEMISHEV, THE RUSSIA’S ENVOY IN VENICE
The report addresses specific features of diplomatic communication at the times of Peter the Great. The research draws on the letters (1716-1719) of Peter the Great to Giovanni Corner, the Doge of Venice, and Petr Becklemishev, the Russian Envoy, who was Russia’s representative in the Most Serene Republic of Venice (1716-1720). Becklemishev was in charge of a number of issues important for the Russian sovereign. In early XVIII century, Russia and Venice discontinued membership in the Anti-Ottoman Coalition : Russia was fighting against Sweden in the Great Northern War, Venice was handling the pre-existing problems with the Ottoman Empire, and diplomatic contacts between former allies came in a form of exchange of information about the most important military victories. After the permanent Russian diplomatic mission was opened in Venice, Peter the Great started transferring a great deal of necessary information to the Doge via the Russian Envoy. The information was transferred orally, special documents were executed only when necessary (Becklemishev’s credential letter, two petitions and a congratulatory letter to the Doge). In other cases ( including reports on the victory of the Russian naval forces in the Battle of Osel Island, the return of the Russian naval forces to Sankt-Petersburg, the death of the heir of the Russian throne, expulsion of Jesuits from Russia in response to expulsion of the Russian Ambassador from the Holy Roman Empire) Peter the Great relied on Becklemishev’s professionalism. The latter received the most important information from the Tsar’s letters (“rescripity”), which came with the attached reports (“relyatzii”) of Captain Senyavin, who won the Battle of the Osel Island, and Fleet Admiral Apraksin, who was in charge of the Russian Navy forces in Sweden.