The Neapolitan Mission of A. Italinsky Based on the Materials of the Diplomat’s Personal Archive (a Study on the Reconstruction of Diplomatic Routine)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the materials of the personal fund of the Russian diplomat A. Ya. Italinsky (1743—1827) preserved in the Archive of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire (AVPRI), testifying to his diplomatic work at the Russian Embassy in the Kingdom of Naples (1783—1802). The author gives a general description of the materials of Italinsky’s personal fund related to the “Neapolitan” period of his career (letters from various people, official documents, drafts). Using those materials he reconstructs the diplomatic routine of Italinsky, revealed through two aspects: the network of social connections around the diplomat (the social space in which his professional activity unfolded), as well as the specific traits of his document handling (practices related to the analysis and processing of information). Analyzing documents from Italinsky’s personal archive, the author reconstructs the circle of the diplomat’s main correspondents: noble officials (including Italinsky's patrons associated with the Vorontsov family), employees of the Russian consulates in Italy and the Balkans, military and navy officers, Russian and foreign diplomats in Italy (including the British Ambassador W. Hamilton, who shared with Italinsky an interest in ancient culture). Using specific examples, the author recreates the main stages of Italinsky's handling on official reports (making brief daily notes, drawing up a plan for a future document, working on drafts, which in some cases included making not only stylistic but also semantic corrections). The author notes that Italinsky, who during his work in Southern Italy proved himself as a hardworking and cautious diplomat, not devoid of pride and intention to improve his material situation, used those practices in his future career.