Diplomacy and Humanism: Ambassador Jean Nicot and the French-Portuguese Maritime Rivalry (1559-1561)

Abstract

This article aims to re-examine Jean Nicot’s embassy to Portugal, by using his correspondence. I attempt to show that the main episodes in this maritime rivalry during Nicot’s tenure are intrinsically connected with the ambassador’s acquisition of Portuguese maritime knowledge. I also suggest the connection between the information transmitted by Nicot from Lisbon with his work as a translator and disseminator of Portuguese knowledge after his resettling in France. Nicot’s embassy is compared with those of other French and Spanish ambassadors.