The Titular War of the Moscow State with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the Turn of the 16th – 17th Centuries: Communication and Pragmatic Aspect

Purpose. The struggle for the royal title recognition was one of priorities in the foreign policy of the Moscow State in diplomatic relations with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) at the turn of the 16 th – 17 th centuries. The purpose of the article is to identify the communication and pragmatic features of the controversy about the title «tsar» betweenthe Russian monarch Boris Godunov and the Lithuanian ambassadors, which was preserved in the documents of the embassy of the GDL’s Chancellor Lew Sapieha to Moscow (1600–1601). Results. The main communication strategy of Boris Godunov in obtaining the recognition of the royal title was ration-al argumentation: succession by the right of inheritance and conquest, recognition by Christian and Muslim rulers, observance of the necessary rituals and diplomatic protocol. However, the key arguments of the Russian monarch were regarded by the Lithuanian side as a manipulative influence attempt, since they did not have sufficient documentary and factual confirmation. In turn, Lithuanian ambassadors also used verbal manipulation: deliberate substitution of the meaning of words, appeal to «God’s justice» and opponent’s emotions. Conclusion. Despite the failure to achieve recognition of the royal title, the analyzed polemics played an important role in the development of Russian diplomatic communication, since: 1) it let clearly formulate the official position of the Russian government and systematize relevant arguments in favor of the royal title, 2) stimulated the search for new communication strategies and tactics to legitimize the royal title in foreign policy relations with the GDL.