Manuscripta Orientalia - Manuscripta Orientalia

Abstract. Development of the Russo‑Persian trade and diplomatic relations in the 17th century led to the emergence of a position of a ruler's commercial representative (Pers. kirakyaraq, Rus. kupchina). These representatives were sent by both Shah of Iran and Tsar of Muscovy with the goal of selling their sovereign's wares and buying the ones required by their master. The article surveys the never before studied complex of documents in Russian and Persian from the Fund 77 “Russia's Relations with Persia” of the Russian State Archives of Ancient Acts (RSAAA), pertaining to the mission led in 1629—1631 by such commercial representative of Shah Safi I, Mulla Khwaja Rahmat (Rus. Hozja Rahmet). During his journey Khwaja Rahmat experienced quite a few incidents of various nature and this survey allows us to get a more or less clear understanding of the challenges that a regular Persian kupchina of the time was encountering on his way to Moscow and back. The survey is preceded by a short overview of commercial and diplomatic ties between the Tsardom of Muscovy and the Safawid Empire, as well as historiography of Russo‑Persian trade and diplomatic relations. A previously unpublished document in Persian from the same complex is published facsimile, transcribed and translated into English.

Keywords: Russo‑Iranian relations, 17th century, Mikhail Fjodorovich, Safi I, ‘Abbas I, archival documents, Tsardom of Muscovy, Tsardom of Russia, Safawid Empire, kupchina, Russo‑Iranian trade, embassy

Acknowledgment. Supported by the research grant from the Russian Scientific Foundation, project No. 18‑78‑10052 “The Documentary History of the Russian Strand of Safawid Diplomacy (1501—1722)”.

DOI: 10.31250/1238-5018-2019-25-2-37-46

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Received by the Editorial Board: 02.10.2019