Imperial Envoys at the English and British Court (1660–1740): Reception Ceremonies and Disputes over Titles

Abstract

In this article the author first analyses the development of the first audiences attended by Imperial envoys at the court of St James’s (1660-1750). A key focus is on the crucial changes that were introduced by James II in the 1680s when the English king attempted to unify ceremonial rules for the reception of all envoys. Second, this article outlines the periods of long-lasting conflict between English kings and Habsburg emperors regarding the appropriate title that should be given to the English king by the emperor and his Imperial Court Chancellery; the former was given the ‘Serenitas’ title by Vienna but desired instead to be addressed as ‘Majestas’. This article is based on the written instructions and reports of Imperial diplomats and demonstrates that although successive British and Austrian rulers did find ways to navigate the rules in order to communicate diplomatically, nevertheless, the previously unchallenged Imperial primacy amongst Christian sovereigns was gradually lost.