Unknown letters of Antonio Possevino from the collection of historian N. P. Likhachev.

Druzhevskii Anton Olegovich Postgraduate student of the Department of Russian History from Ancient Times to the beginning of the 19th century at the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University Methodologist at the Department of Educational Programs; Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library 191186, Russia, St. Petersburg, Central district, nab. Moika River, 48-50-52 adruzhevskij@mail.ru Other publications by this author

The era of Ivan the Terrible is still of great interest not only to professional historians, but also to writers and cinematographers. This trend has persisted for almost five centuries. Even during the life of the first Russian tsar, Western envoys sought to study the personality of the ruler and the peculiarities of everyday life of Russians in the medieval era^[1]. During the protracted Livonian War (1558-1583), contacts with representatives of Western countries became more frequent^[2]. The information war and frenzied propaganda portrayed the Muscovites and their sovereign in black. ^[3] Foreign guests fulfilled the will of their hosts, came to Russia to establish interstate relations.

One of the most interesting and multifaceted figures of foreign diplomacy is the papal envoy Antonio Possevino, who was awarded an audience with Ivan the Terrible about 10 times during 1581-1582 ^{[4, pp.88-89]}. Documents from the archive of the historian N.P. Likhachev shed light on the biography of this man^[5]. The year of Antonio Possevino's birth is controversial ^[6]. Archival documents show that the more likely year of his birth is 1534.^[7] Having lived only 78 years, the papal envoy was a multifaceted personality and performed in various guises.: Jesuit, writer, diplomat, rector of the Padua Academy, philanthropist, negotiator, balancing between Ivan the Terrible and Stefan Batory. At the first meeting with the tsar, overcome by negative prejudice, he describes his bloody hands and eyes, corresponding to a man who has lived his life ^{[8, pp.198-204]}. It is of great interest to us that during Possevino's visit he has the opportunity to observe Ivan Ivanovich, who will tragically pass away in November 1581. The unexpected death of the tsarevich will unleash a controversy about the circumstances and cause of his death between B.N. Florey (a supporter of the death of the tsar's son by his hand) ^{[9, pp.389-390]} and adherents of the poisoning of the tsar's son (L.E. Morozov) ^{[10, pp.216-234]}. The discussion was put to an end by T.D. Panova, who published the protocol of the autopsy of Tsarevich's remains by a scientific commission led by anthropologist M.M. Gerasimov in 1963 ^{[11, p. 137]}. From these materials, it is clearly seen that the prince most likely died of tertiary syphilis, which does not exclude the acceleration of the process after hitting the temple with a staff. Nevertheless, surprisingly, Possevino does not cite in his reports the features of Ivan Ivanovich's appearance that are characteristic of this disease: gum infiltration, characteristic appearance, skin manifestations^[12]. The disease was probably in a latent period. The trigger for the progression of syphilis was the body's reaction to the conflict between father and son that occurred in November 1581 in Alexandrova Sloboda. Back in the era of the great reforms, V.O. Klyuchevsky, recognizing the importance of foreigners' notes about Russia, noted that Antonio Possevino's writings were the most reliable^[13]. Possevino played a subtle diplomatic game and balanced between the warring parties during the signing of the Yamal-Zapolsky truce. Fulfilling the will of the pope, he sought to weaken Russia by bringing it into the fold of the Catholic Church and increasing Muscovy's dependence on the West. The importance of this ideological confrontation was also realized by N. P. Likhachev, who in the 1930s formed a collection of office documents compiled in ancient languages. After the scientist's death, Possevino's documents were separated and integrated into Collection No. 39 of Rossika. These are personal letters from Antonio Possevino and several of his short biographies^[14]. The materials of the Antonio Possevino collection No. 45 are copies of documents collected by Possevino and copied only in the nineteenth century ^[15]. Back in the 1930s, B.D. Grekov planned to publish all the works of Antonio Possevino with commentary. This idea was partially realized by L.N. Godovikova, who translated most of the papal envoy's writings and a number of his personal letters^[16]. However, there are letters that have escaped her attention. Here is a complete translation of the letters we are introducing into scientific circulation^[17]:

"To His Serene and Venerable Master Julius (Echter von Mespelbrunn), by the grace of God, Bishop of Würzburg, Chancellor of Franconia, most gracious Master.

In Würzburg

Most Serene and venerable Sir, Most Merciful in Christ!

From the time when, returning from Moscow, I received, during my stay in Augsburg, Your Highness's letters to the eternal memory of Gregory XIII, the Great Pontiff, the thought immediately came to my mind, and I repeatedly returned later, whether I could be in any way useful for the service of Your Highness, because I am perfectly well Her unceasing concern for the Church of Christ is well known, and her outstanding services to our Society have made me a humble servant of Your Highness. But when I heard that Your Highness spoke favorably of those (works) that were published under my name, and I myself had been working hard for many years to produce a rather extensive work, I still waited until it was printed in the Pontifical Printing House. And since I had to make the same kind of apology to the Most High Pontiff only recently, the day before yesterday, I could not miss the opportunity to give me a copy (of this work) through the Lord Procurator, the Venerable and Most Serene Bishop of Bamberg. Therefore, in sending this work to Your Highness, I humbly ask that what is being sent to you be favored. In the meantime, since (my work) is very difficult to publish, and I am seeking the opportunity to do so, even in Belgium, Gaul or Germany, I ask Your Highness, if only he decides that this work can be useful for His Academy, for schools, for business people, and even for magistrates, let from him, or from any other (representatives of the authorities), the booksellers will be ordered to order (this book) from Venice. Since a number of copies of it will be released there soon, I will try to ensure that they do not sell for more than the cost of printing. Since I will be leaving here shortly in order, with the help of God Almighty, to arrive in Venice, I inform you that I will stay in Venice until the end of November; and if (Your Highness) wishes to give me any assignment while I am in this city, of course, I will be able to receive letters from Your Highness, which can be sent to the address of the Venerable Apostolic Legate residing there.

Finally, I humbly offer all my services and respectful service to Your Highness, hoping that with God's help the second volume of my work, which I mentioned in this letter, will be published if I succeed in achieving all that is necessary for the whole matter. May God enrich you with His heavenly gifts. Rome, September 8, 1593

Your Highness

The eternal servant in Christ

Antonio Possevino, the Society of Jesus.

The letter shows that there was little interest in Russia in Europe. Russia remained a distant, incomprehensible and barbaric state. Muscovy entered the arena of European politics only with the Livonian War. It is clear from the text of the document that A. Possevino understood that Russia had a future. Moscovia is a very important player who has entered the international arena. This player needs to be known and studied. It is unlikely that the author of the letter wanted to make money by selling his writings, since he offered to sell them at cost. His name was important to him, as for a diplomat, i.e. he hoped that his services would be used by other sovereigns who would come into contact with the Moscow state. Possevino was attracted by the fame of the discoverer, and by and large there were few European diplomats who dealt with the Moscow state.

1. Antonio Possevino predicted a big role in European affairs, said that you need to know and study. Therefore, he published his notes not for the sake of earning money, but for enlightenment.

2. The author sought to glorify his name, hoping to travel more than once as an ambassador to the Moscow state. Possevino was a vain man.

3. The European courts were asleep at that time, they did not realize the importance of the Moscow state. In this regard, the Papal see was closer to the real political situation, because it received information that the Moscow state was strong, it was profitable to deal with it, it was profitable to negotiate, and it was possible, as a maximum program, to draw it into union with the Catholic Church. Of course, A. Possevino also dreamed of this.

Thus, one letter contains quite a lot of information: touches on the biography of A. Possevino and the specifics of European politics.

4. Russia did not seek to advertise its actions in Europe: it had lost the information war. Evidence of this is that the European courts were not interested in her, and Possevino advertised his work through a bishop he knew.

5. At the same time, Possevino's letter is an important tool in the ideological war between Muscovy and Western countries.

6. Although Antonio Possevino's mission was not a success, his trips to Moscow influenced Ivan the Terrible (conflict with his son) so did Possevino himself, who tried to present Russia and its sovereign objectively.

Now let's focus on the second letter of the papal legate, which was discovered by us in the Scientific and Historical Archive of the St. Petersburg Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences^[18]:

copy

To our venerable father in Christ

Senor Virginio Orsino (1567-1596, son of Latino Orsini, a prominent Italian military theorist of the 16th century) di Lamentana, after completing his (military) service in Hungary (participated from July 1594 to January 1595 in the Austro-Turkish War), served the King of France (Henry IV), from whom he received A detachment of armed men of a hundred men, with the promise of the rank of general of the Italian cavalry and Italian (letters. "Zagorsky") guards. He swore an oath to the king, but he did so on the condition that he would not render services against the Holy Church and the king (the Doge of Venice). Matteo (Matteo Senarega, 1595-1597 served as Doge), but will only defend the crown of France. When he arrived in Lyon, with the consent of the Constable (Henry I) de Montmorency, he met with me and told me about the need that forced him to do so; during his service in Flanders, he lost all his horses and money in Hungary; and since he has eight children on his shoulders, he accepted the offer, because there were no offers from other places. He also adds that he wrote a message to Your holiness and sent it to a nobleman, but so far he has not received any response from her. Having provided me with proof of this, he also informed me that in his armed detachment there were many Romans, natives of the Marche (border region of Ancona) and several knights of the Order of Malta, and asked if I could, if I wished, give absolution to him and his people, and that they all wished and confess, and receive communion. To this I replied that, nevertheless, conscientious considerations did not give me any opportunity to commit such a crime, and pointed out that due to the fact that he was a subject of the king (Henry IV) and had to follow what was required of him in the framework of the service, I could not send a request to Rome. However, he has every chance to achieve well-being and put an end to the rebellion among his soldiers by disbanding his detachments stationed near the city of Ancona, which he would eventually have to do if his ardent desire to be a Christian and a Roman noble had awakened in him again. (a noble), and he would show every respect in all the affairs of the Holy Church. Thus, I ask you for a decision, venerable Father, regarding him, his people and similar issues, as well as for your blessing and those powers that may be necessary for the salvation of human souls if I remain in France, as well as for its neighboring provinces, for example, Savoy and Burgundy, where exactly the same cases occur. In addition, I have always been glad, among other things, that the Society (Jesuits) for the Trial of Italians (lit. "Zagortsev"), through the mediation of Cardinal (Giulio Antonio Santorio, Archbishop) of Santo Severin, was given the opportunity to absolve in confession those who confess about French affairs, who joined the king (Henry), carried weapons, and if they encroached on church property, or committed something reprehensible, or for the sake of some kind offor their own purposes, either for their own interests, that is, they took possession of it by illegal means, kept it for their own use, or for the benefit of someone else, or some other reason would have been able to prevent them from returning their souls to God, and this opportunity was given to me for three years, Since September 9, 1593, however, as I said, this case is new, and perhaps Your holy Beatitude will show leniency in it, for the reason that your wisdom personally described in the epistle to Christians. <…>

The source, which resembles an analytical report, says that an Italian nobleman is entering the service of the French king. And, accordingly, he can fight against the Italians. He asks Antonio Possevino for absolution. Probably, the papal envoy has the right to profess as a member of the Society of Jesus and represents the Italian territory in the administrative and territorial aspect, i.e., either in terms of confession and spiritual nourishment, the lands were geographically divided at that time. He refuses to confess to him and asks his superior to confess to him. We believe that the military situation of that era influenced Possevino and therefore, representing geographically a number of Italian lands, he could not, according to the existing rules, provide confession to the Italian military and his people. The letter shows that the papal envoy was a very precise man: a man of system. He asked for permission for everything, so we believe that in terms of his participation in Russian history, he accurately conveyed papal messages, i.e. he did not offer anything from himself. Thus, he adhered to the principle: a minimum of amateur activity and a maximum of broadcasting the wishes of the pope. The strict discipline of the Jesuit Order had taught him from a young age to obey his superiors. Thus, we learn from the sources additional touches of Antonio Possevino's personality. Analyzing the documents, we see that the ideological opponent of Ivan the Terrible acquires the features of a living person who is cunning, resourceful and professional.