Tag Archives: diplomatic history

White Paper: Infantas as Brides in European Royal Diplomacy—and Whether the Alliances Held

Posted on December 16, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive summary From the late medieval period through the 18th century, the daughters of Iberian monarchs—infantas of Spain (and similarly in Portugal)—were among Europe’s most valuable diplomatic assets. Their marriages were not primarily “romantic unions,” but instruments designed to (1) … Continue reading →

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White Paper: What Was Lost: Scotland in the Wars of the Auld Alliance and in the Brain Drain of Empire

Posted on October 2, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Scotland’s history is marked by two great forms of loss: first, the devastation of recurrent wars fought against England in the medieval and early modern periods, often within the framework of the Auld Alliance with France (1295–1560); second, … Continue reading →

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The Path To Pearl Harbor, or, The Failure Of Diplomacy

Posted on December 7, 2024 by nathanalbright

Introduction The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, represented the culmination of decades of deteriorating relations between the United States and Japan. This breakdown reflected complex interactions between economic warfare, racial preconceptions, intelligence failures, and diplomatic impasse. … Continue reading →

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