Diplomacy in the Early Modern Times. Nuremberg’s costly Gifts. A Contribution to the History of Corruption in Europe (Diplomatie in der frühen Neuzeit. Nürnbergs kostspielige „Verehrungen“. Ein Beitrag zur europäischen Korruptionsgeschichte)
Author : Wolfgang Wüst
Abstract :
Corruption was by no means an unknown phenomenon in early European society, and it stands to reason that corruption played a particularly significant role in economically lucrative regions and cities, where it was referred to using trivializing or euphemistic terms. Instead of corruption, chambers often used descriptions such as “benefits”, “attendance”, “kindness”, “gift”, “offering”, “manus manum lavat”, “friendship” or “bribe.” Since the time of absolutism in France, people in Germany simply referred to it as the melodious “douceurs,” a romanism. For the imperial city of Nuremberg, and especially given the extensive contacts of the “Losungsamt” here, this topic is new and, in view of the excellent archival records, deserves a monographic presentation. However, this could not be provided here in an initial approach to the topic. The most important hub for cross-border activities involving bribery, “friendship” and often precarious exploitation of advantages was certainly the imperial city's main office (“Losungsamt”) in Nuremberg. As tax authorities, the tax collectors, most of whom belonged to the patriciate, had virtually unlimited financial resources at their disposal. Money and expensive gifts (especially gingerbread and flowers) were the means used by the trading and imperial city to obtain favorable judgments from the two highest imperial courts in Vienna and Wetzlar. In addition, diplomats, agents, and council consultants were rewarded accordingly when they represented the interests of the council and the mayors with verve in countless district and imperial diets.
Keywords :
Nuremberg, Vienna, Wetzlar, imperial city, imperial courts, corruption, bribe, gifts, friendship, early modern times, money, flowers, gingerbread (Nuremberg's specialty).
