Istruire sulle parole e sui gesti della diplomazia: le Istruzioni agli ambasciatori europei inviati al sultanato mamelucco

peer reviewedThrough adopting a comparative approach, this article examines the instructions the late-medieval rulers of the Crown of Aragon, Florence, and Venice gave to their envoys to be sent to the Mamluk Sultanate (Egypt-Syria, 1250-1517). These sources vividly shows that the interactions between the Christian emissaries and the sultan and his entourage followed different phases and relied on various forms of communication, both verbal (spoken and written messages) and non-verbal (exchange of gifts, ceremonial). The practical and theoretical analysis of these ambassadorial instructions shows the various set of rules and strategies underlying the diplomatic dialogue between Christian powers and Mamluks