The Persian Carpet for Emperor Alexander III: archival findings

Abstract

The author presents the results of research conducted at the Archive of Russian Foreign Policy (AVPRI, Moscow), which aimed to identify and publish materials that contribute to the study of bilateral relations between Russia and Persia (Iran) through the activities of Russian consular services in Khorasan (Mashhad) and trade and economic diplomacy as a key tool for implementing the foreign economic strategy of the Russian Empire in the Middle East in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sources. The article is based on materials from the Archive of Russian Foreign Policy (AVPRI, Moscow), which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. These materials provide the necessary and representative information for the study of the effectiveness of interaction between the Russian Empire and Persia (Iran) through a comprehensive analysis of the functions of the consular service and its contacts with representatives of Persian business in the region during this historical period, including information about legislative and administrative measures. Relevance. The study of the role of the individual in history remains relevant today, given the growing need of modern society to understand the importance of patriotic principles, to analyze the activities of figures such as Emperor Alexander III, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, the Consul General in Khorasan (Meschad), P.M. Vlasov, as well as the military and regional authorities represented by the Headquarters of the Transcaspian District and Governor-General of Baku, V.P. Rogge, their views and motivations for political and diplomatic actions, which allows for a better understanding of the process of making administrative and foreign policy decisions. Research methods. The study uses chronological, comparative-historical, and comprehensive methods. Results. Based on an analysis of archival sources, in particular, the correspondence between the Governor-General of Baku, V.P. Rogge, and representatives of government and military agencies, such as the Headquarters of the Transcaspian Military District and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire in 1889–1890, through the Russian consular services that negotiated the purchase, the author reconstructs the history of the order for a Persian carpet for Emperor Alexander III and reveals new and understudied aspects of Russian history in the context of Russian-Persian business relations.