ABSTRACT
Contrary to the view of women's 'lacke of wisdome' supported by Bodin and others, Friedrich Karl von Moser certified 'minister-like cleverness' for numerous ambassadresses. This chapter demonstrates ambassadors' wives played a fundamental role in various aspects of early modern diplomacy. Ambassadresses took part in diplomatic meetings within the embassy and negotiated with foreign officials in their husband's absence. The chapter focuses on the particular role of ambassadresses within the 'diplomatic working couple', mainly focussing on the two ambassadresses Lady Elizabeth Trumbull and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. According to Moser, ambassadresses enjoyed 'the rights of the fair sex' so that men always allowed them respect, even if they had a higher rank. Just as the ambassadress' status remained unclear throughout the early modern period, so did her ceremonial treatment: 'the European courts do not have one way of thinking about the esteem of the female envoy', Moser declared.
