Description

Publication of 27 original documents, which are the oldest testimonies of the diplomatic practice of medieval Russian cities and principalities and which all come from the collection of the Riga City Council, historically preserved since the 13th century. This volume publishes the 27 oldest charters preserved in the Riga City Council's collections on the relations of the Hanseatic city with the Russian world, the principalities of Smolensk and Polotsk, the cities of Novgorod and Pskov. These charters are the oldest original documents and contemporary copies testifying about Russian diplomatic practice between 1191/1192 and 1338-1341. All documents are transcribed (palaeographic and diplomatic transcription) and translated into French. The publication also focuses on the external characteristics, and thus on the palaeographic, sigillographic and other peculiarities of medieval Russian charters. The introductory studies are published in French, and all palaeographic descriptions as well as historical and diplomatic comments are bilingual, in French and Russian. High-quality digital facsimilesof each document are published for the first time. The publication will considerably facilitate comparative studies in paleography, diplomatics, and especially on the history of the Baltic region.