Diplomatic gifts as a status symbol. Examples of late medieval Dubrovnik

This paper focuses on the detection of gifts that Ragusan ambassadors presented to their hosts at various places: European courts, private residences and the Sublime Porte, covering the period from the mid-14th to the mid-15th century. The material culture of diplomatic gifts is seen as a determinant of power and a visible sign of the recipient’s status. Of particular interest is the comparison of specific gifts presented to various political actors with whom the Dubrovnik authorities conducted diplomatic communication, and who resided within the same courts. This comparison allows for conclusions regarding gift¬ giving among different genders or age groups, if the recipients are of the same gender. In this sense, diplomatic gifts could be seen as a distinguishing factor of an individual’s power within the hierarchical power relations. Finally, such an analysis allows conclusions about how these gifts underwent diachronic alterations, based on the recipient’s importance in Dubrovnik’s foreign policy, the city’s economic power, or the recipient’s preferences and cultural background.