The Tsars and the East

The grand dukes of Muscovy and later the tsars of Russia forged strong diplomatic and commercial ties with the Timurids, Safavids and Ottomans - their neighbours in the Golden Horde, Iran and Turkey - as a way to survive and prosper in the turbulent times from the late fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. Ambassadors of shahs and sultans presented lavish gifts to gain the tsar's political support. Envoys from Iran and Turkey, as well as Greek merchants in Istanbul, strove to secure profitable trade routes. They showed respect by offering opulent ecclesiastical items to the Patriarch of Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church. To sustain and promote these alliances, impressive embassies brought to Moscow ornate saddles and horse trappings, gold and silver arms and armour, jewel-encrusted vessels and colourful fabrics. Many of these highly valued gifts from Iran and Turkey were immediately added to the Tsar's Treasury in the Kremlin, where they were prized for their rich materials and exceptional artistry. In time, these works inspired a new aesthetic at the Russian court.