"The People Here are Nosy" - The Swedish Diplomats physical and metaphysical mobility 1690-1750

This thesis examines the codification of the Swedish diplomatic corps between 1680 and 1765, focusing on the formalization and professionalization of its structures. Through a detailed analysis of diplomatic appointments, petitions, and legislative developments, the research reveals a dynamic interaction between individual diplomats and the central administration. Central factors, such as economic challenges, evolving state expectations, and a gradual shift to merit-based appointments, shaped the Swedish diplomatic landscape. The research is based on a digital prosopography of the 167 individuals who were accredited diplomats during this period. Through the prosopography, normative individuals have been identified and are used as a qualitative foundation for the analysis. The concept of "sideways state-building" is employed to illustrate how individual autonomy, shaped by geographical distance and limited central oversight, contributed to the codification of Sweden’s diplomatic framework. Ultimately, the thesis argues that the Swedish diplomatic system represents one of many unique models, distinct from its European counterparts, and calls for a broader understanding of early modern diplomacy beyond aristocratic dominance, where the preconditions and presuppositions of each diplomatic system intermingled and were interwoven within a European diplomatic field of action.