Diplomacy and distinction. The functions of a nobleman’s diary around 1800

Why was a nobleman at the end of the 18th century interested in making career within a sovereign’s diplomatic service? In addressing this question, the article is in line with recent research on diplomatic practices in the early modern era, while seeking to develop it in two respects. On the one hand, the identification of an envoy’s mental framework and self-conception not only continues but also extends the new actor-centred approaches in diplomatic history. On the other hand, making this analysis for a diplomatic actor around 1800 contributes at the same time to a chronological broadening of this field of research, which most often takes the French Revolution as either the end or as starting point. The opening to this twofold development of diplomatic history is possible thanks to the ego-documents of Jean-Pierre de Chambrier d’Oleyres (1752-1822), a Prussian envoy in Turin (1780-1805) and Switzerland (1805- 1816). In order to identify Chambrier d’Oleyres’ mental framework the article follows a praxeological approach, as introduced in the research on ego-documents. In sketching the praxeological analysis of Chambrier d’Oleyres’ diary of 51 volumes or more than 20000 pages, the contribution therefore also aims to underline the benefits of combining two dynamic fields of historiography which until now are seldom brought together, namely the new diplomatic history and research on ego-documents.