Confectionery and diplomacy in the colonies of the Republic of Genoa by the Black Sea towards the end of the Middle Ages

The article consists of two basic parts. The first part presents a characteristics of the diplomatic activities of Caffa, the main colony of the Republic of Genoa on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula in the 1380s. Of special significance in that domain were contacts with the Tatar emirs of Crimea who represented the Khan of the White Horde-Tokhtamysh. Those contacts led to a series of treaties (in 1381, 1382 and 1387), which resulted in the Genoese strengthening their position on the southern coast of Crimea. Moreover, in place of existing trading factories an overseas territory was established in southern Crimea, which belonged directly to the Republic of Genoa. In the second part of the article the author presents the role and significance of confectionery in the above mentioned diplomatic activities, on the basis of an analysis of the contents of the three oldest fiscal books of the Caffa massaria (tax office) (ASG, MC, room 34, 590/1225, 1226 and 1226-1) from the years: 1374-1375, 1381-1382 and 1386-1387. Confectionery appeared during feasts that rulers of Caffa held for foreign envoys. Sweets were often served with wine during snacks known as collationes. Finally the author proposes a hypothesis that such a form of refreshments in the world of Genoese diplomacy by the Black Sea was practised since at least 1375, though under a different name.