In the late 16th century France rose to be a great power after decades of religious civil war. For this, King Henri IV depended on highly qualified envoys and correspondents. Jaques Bongars (15541612) was one of these diplomats. As a scholar and humanist he also belonged to an international network. In his political missions, Bongars was often able to use his many contacts with Germany, The Netherlands, England and Eastern Europe. The biography affords an insight into the day-to-day workings of European diplomacy at the beginning of the Modern Age.

Ruth Kohlndorfer-Fries, München.