The Crimean Khanate and Poland-Lithuania. International Diplomacy on the European Periphery (15th–18th Century). A Study of Peace Treaties Followed by Annotated Documents. The Ottoman Empire and its Heritage (2)

This work is a translation from English of the Chapter 4 “The Polish and Lithuanian Instruments of Peace Addressed to the Khans” from the second part “A Study in the Crimean and Polish-Lithuanian diplomatics and diplomacy” of the scientific work “The Crimean Khanate and Poland-Lithuania. International Diplomacy on the European Periphery (15th–18th Century). A Study of Peace Treaties Followed by Annotated Do­cuments. The Ottoman Empire and its Heritage” (pp. 425–443). The book “Crimean Khanate and Poland-Lithuania” is the result of many years of research by the famous historian, director of the Institute of History of the University of Warsaw, professor of the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences Dariusz Kolodziejczyk, who studied the history of diplomatic relations between the Crimean Khanate and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The book contains many interesting facts, analyses and documents that illuminate different aspects of this complex and controversial cooperation. In Chapter 4 “The Polish and Lithuanian Instruments of Peace Addressed to the Khans” the author analyzes the form, content and significance of the documents that Poland-Lithuania sent to the Crimean khans as confirmation of peaceful relations. The author shows how these documents reflected the different stages of historical development of both sides, as well as how they influenced their mutual perception and respect. The author examines different types of documents such as letters, diplomatic accreditations, treaties, agreements, privileges, and letters of gift. The author also focuses on the visual aspects of documents such as language, handwriting, seals, signatures and ornaments. He shows how these documents reflected the complex relationship between the two states based on mutual dependence, conflict, and cooperation. The author also explores the way that Polish-Lithuanian side adapted its diplomacy to the traditions and demands of the Crimean Khanate, as well as how the Crimean khans perceived and interpreted these documents.