Where histories of Venetian diplomatic success in France have long drawn on the ambassadors’ dispacci and relazioni, these are only just beginning to be used to explore the personalities of the ambassadors themselves. In contrast, this article will use French notarial and legal records to investigate the daily lives of the ambassador and his staff in seventeenth century Paris. In particular, it will examine documents attesting to the turbulent life of the Hôtel de Venise, and its boisterous staff and servants. Apart from their official presence at Versailles, little has been done to establish where the ambassadors lived in Paris, and with whom they had contact. This article first shows the mobility of the official hôtel, but also points to simultaneous lodgings being held by the ambassadors, suggesting an official and a private life. This also illustrates the ambassadors in contact with the Parisian elite, beyond the court. It then outlines how the French archival record points to which were the most visible household officers, and traces their appearance in legal and business transactions. It demonstrates a distinct corps of Italian officers, and French domestiques, all of whom represented Venice in Paris, and had contact with Parisians. While these servants eased the ambassadors’ existence in France, they also created problems for them. Indeed, some servants were more likely to make trouble than others. In situations where the ambassadors’ servants breached the peace, or were themselves menaced by the French, who was ultimately responsible for the good behaviour of the embassy?
The article describes the social group forming the court of Duke Janusz II of Mazovia. The collected material allowed study of the Duke’s courtiers and valets, as well as their further career in Mazovia and the Crown. The courts of the dukes of Mazovia in the 15th century were organized in imitation of the courts of the Jagiellons, however, since the income of the Piasts was modest in comparison with that of the royal courts, the ducal courts had their own distinctive characteristics. The head of the ducal court was a marshal, who was the superior of all the people employed at the court, except for the clerical staff. One characteristic feature of the court of Janusz II (as well as of other Mazovian Piasts of that period) was its almost uniform ethnic composition. Among the courtiers and valets of Janusz II we find mainly wealthy and moderately affluent Mazovian noblemen. Dołęga, Prawdzic, Radwan, Rogal, Junosza, Prus, Boleścic, Pierzchała, Ślepowron families are represented. The court of Janusz II played an important role in promoting cultural and moral paradigms and created opportunities for rapid advancement, including material advancement. The time spent at the ducal court broadened cultural and geographical horizons, creating an opportunity for the noble youths of Mazovia to come into contact with both material and spiritual culture of other countries. Employment at the court was the start of a career for many descendants of noble and magnate families in Mazovia. After incorporation of the Duchy of Płock into the Crown (1495), some of them continued their careers at the royal court of the Jagiellons.
PL
W artykule scharakteryzowano grupę społeczną tworzącą środowisko dworskie księcia mazowieckiego Janusza II. Zebrany materiał umożliwił poznanie dworzan i pokojowców księcia, a także ich dalszej kariery na Mazowszu i w Koronie. Dwory książąt mazowieckich z XV w. były urządzone na wzór dworów Jagiellonów, jednak ze względu na skromne dochody Piastów w porównaniu z królewskimi, miały własną specyfikę. Zwierzchnikiem dworu książęcego był marszałek, który był przełożonym wszystkich osób zatrudnionych na dworze, z wyjątkiem personelu kancelaryjnego. Cechą charakterystyczną dworu Janusza II (podobnie jak innych Piastów mazowieckich z tego okresu) był prawie jednolity skład etniczny. Wśród dworzan i pokojowców Janusza II spotykamy głównie Mazowszan wywodzących się z kręgu bogatej i średniozamożnej szlachty. Byli to przedstawiciele rodów: Dołęgów, Prawdziców, Radwanów, Rogalów, Junoszów, Prusów, Boleściców, Pierzchałów, Ślepowronów. Dwór Janusza II odegrał ważną rolę w propagowaniu wzorców kulturowych i obyczajowych i stwarzał możliwości szybkiego awansu, także materialnego. Czas spędzony na dworze książęcym poszerzał horyzont kulturalny i geograficzny, stwarzając szansę młodzieży szlacheckiej z Mazowsza zetknąć się z dobrami kultury materialnej i duchowej innych krajów. Praca na dworze była początkiem kariery dla wielu osób pochodzących z rodzin możnowładczych i szlacheckich na Mazowszu. Część z nich po inkorporacji księstwa płockiego do Korony (1495) kontynuowała karierę na dworze królewskim Jagiellonów.
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