THE TRAGIC ENGLISH EXPEDITION TO MOSCOW IN 1553

Abstract

The previous work discusses the tragic expedition of 1553 by the English to Moscow. Of the three ships participating in it: Bona Speranza, Bona Confidentia and Edward Bonaventure, two ships with their crews perished in the White Sea (near the Collie Peninsula), including the captain Hugh Willoughby, but one ship, Edward Bonaventure, captained by Richard Chancellor, still reached the Moscow state. Later, in 1555, the Moscow Shipping Company was founded, which played an important role in establishing diplomatic and trade relations between the two states: England and Moscow.

The participants of the English expedition made great sacrifices, determination, risked their lives, and incurred great expense to travel to Moscow, which we will discuss in this paper.

The expedition leader Sebastian Cabot fairly assessed this journey: “I have never seen or heard of so much work being done in any country for such a cause. I hope that this journey will be completed and will yield good results if everyone fights resolutely and fulfills their duty.”

The work disusses the goals of the expedition, its organization, composition, the purpose of the Council of 12, its charter, results, and the address of the expedition leader Sebastian Cabot to the sailors, which well reflects the organization, firm discipline and order of the expedition.

The question arises as to what led to the death of Hugh Willoughby and the sailors of his two ships?

The answer is one: inexperience and the harsh Russian winter. The frost in the White Sea reached 30 degrees, and the sailors could not bear it.

Following this expedition (1553), on February 6, 1555, the British kings Mary Tudor and Philip II issued a charter granting England trading privileges with the Moscow state. This charter officially marked the beginning of the creation of the Moscow Trading Company.

The company imported various types and colors of fabrics to England, which were in great demand, as well as ammunition. The export items included: hemp, wax, flax, ropes, threads, furs, and more.

This company differed from its predecessor, the London Merchant Adventurers' Company, which engaged in continental trade individually.

The company also differed from the East India and West India Companies, which colonized and exploited the lands they occupied;

The Moscow Stock Company enjoyed privileges under the charters granted by the Russian Tsar (1555, 1557, 1567, 1569), and moreover, had a trade monopoly on the said land;

He also played an important role in the rapprochement of Russian and Western (English) cultures. In establishing diplomatic, political, and trade relations between the two states;

This was the first joint-stock company, which played a major role in the development of trading activities in England and the formation of other joint-stock companies (Levant, East India, West India, East Baltic).

Thus, although the English voyage to Moscow was carried out under very difficult conditions, and two ships were lost, they eventually reached the Moscow state, which led to the establishment of the Moscow Shipping Company in 1555, which brought the two states of England and Moscow closer in trade, diplomacy, and culture.

Keywords: joint-stock company, charter, company, merchant-adventurer, East India Company, West India Company, Levant Company, Baltic Company.