The King's couriers: the postal transmission of information according to the correspondence of the diplomatic José Nicolás de Azara

Abstract

The enlightened governments were concerned with ensuring a system of regular mail within and outside their borders, although various obstacles, especially post-Revolutionary wars, forced to change routes and provisions. José Nicolás de Azara, representative of Spain in Rome and in Paris in 1784-1803, kept an extensive correspondence—consisting of official and confidential letters addressed to the Secretary of State or other diplomats and private letters—, which reveals the importance of the information sent by couriers for diplomatic and political action. Rapidity and security in its reception and transmission —which were not always possible—and its intelligent management were essential.