Keywords
Anthony Jenkinson
Shah Tahmasp I
Volga–Caspian route
Anglo-Safavid relations
Safavid Azerbaijan
How to Cite
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to examine the establishment and early development of Safavid-English trade relations during the sixteenth century based on Anthony Jenkinson’s second expedition to the Safavid state in 1561–1563. Particular attention is devoted to the political, economic, and diplomatic significance of this mission, as well as to the strategic role of Safavid Azerbaijan and the Volga–Caspian trade route in the expansion of Anglo-Safavid relations. The research methodology is based on comparative-historical analysis, synthesis, and critical examination of primary written sources. The study mainly relies on Anthony Jenkinson’s travelogue, the collections published by Richard Hakluyt, and other documentary materials related to the activities of the Muscovy Company. In addition, modern historiographical studies concerning Safavid-European relations were comparatively analyzed in order to ensure a balanced and objective interpretation of the problem. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the comprehensive analysis of Safavid-English trade relations within the broader geopolitical context of sixteenth-century Eurasia. Unlike earlier studies that focused only on separate aspects of the issue, this research evaluates the political, commercial, and diplomatic dimensions of Jenkinson’s mission together. The study also critically reassesses several historiographical interpretations related to Ottoman influence, the role of intermediary merchants, and the chronology of Jenkinson’s negotiations at the Safavid court. Conclusions. The findings demonstrate that Jenkinson’s expedition represented the first systematic attempt by England to establish direct commercial and diplomatic relations with the Safavid state through the Volga–Caspian route. The privileged decree granted to English merchants in Shirvan in 1563 became the first official legal framework regulating Anglo-Safavid trade relations and contributed to the continuation of economic and diplomatic contacts between the two states throughout the later sixteenth century.References
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