Russian ambassadors in Paris (1807–1812). On the way to confrontation

Abstract

The article is devoted to the diplomatic conflicts associated with the Russian ambassadors in Paris. For relations between Russia and France the beginning of the 19^th century became extremely productive in terms of the concluded friendship alliances and for the “wars for justice”. For good reason the relationship between Alexander I and Napoleon more than once became an object of research, but many of the phenomena of that era remained outside the scope of research interests. The Russian Embassy and its expert-analytical activity is one of such subjects.

Russian ambassadors in Paris were the direct guides of the will of the Russian Emperor in the political arena of international relations, but being completely dependent on him they remained the “variables” in a diplomatic game of the two emperors. Despite their apparent independence, they could hardly claim apartness. The article shows the example of two Russian ambassadors, the count P.A. Tolstoy and prince A.B. Kurakin, opposite in their views, still they were pursuing a policy of rapprochement with France. Their ideas, however, did not affect the already running political game of Alexander I, who made them hostages of the situation.