Regulation of the status and authorities of Prussian consuls in the Black sea port cities of Southern Ukraine (1818-1868)

The purpose of the article is to clarify the peculiarities of regulation of the status and powers of Prussian consuls in the Black Sea port cities of the South of Ukraine. This study is aimed at an in-depth understanding of the role of Prussian consuls in the development of trade, navigation and diplomatic relations between Prussia and the Russian Empire in the context of the pan-European integration processes of the nineteenth century. The study applies a methodology based on the principles of historicism, objectivity and comprehensiveness and combines the historical and legal analysis of the normative legal acts of Prussia, a comparative historical method to identify differences in the regulation of consular activities in different European countries, and a systematisation method to streamline the amendments and additions to the Regulations of 1796. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive analysis of the Regulations of 18 September 1796 and its later amendments regarding the activities of Prussian consuls. For the first time, the data on the functions, responsibilities and sources of funding of Prussian consuls in the ports of southern Ukraine are systematised. The relationship between the development of the consular network and Prussian foreign policy and economic interests in the region is shown. Conclusions. The study has shown that the regulation of the status and powers of Prussian consuls in southern Ukraine generally met the standards of other European countries and the United States. The main differences were in the detail of time limits, financial aspects, and the procedure for interaction with Prussian state institutions. The key functions of the consuls were to protect Prussian trade interests, support navigation, and oversee compliance with international law. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the consuls' reports, which allowed Prussia to control economic processes in the region. Prospects for further study of the topic are to create a comprehensive study of the history of the Prussian consular network in the Black Sea region. It would also be advisable to compare the activities of Prussian consuls with those of representatives of other states, which would contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of diplomatic and trade relations in the nineteenth century.