The XII Duke of Osuna, between aristocratic spirit and Dandy. The Russian embassy as a matter of honor

Russia   and  Spain re-established  relations  in  1856  after a  two-decade  diplomatic crisis  caused  by disagreements  over   Carlism. The  appointment of  Mariano  Téllez-Girón,  XII   Duke  of  Osuna,  as the  plenipotentiary minister  in the  Russian  court signaled a friendly reconciliation between the  two  countries.  However, it meant above all the  reaffirmation of the  Spanish nobleman, who  left his mark  on the  Russian  royal  and public  sphere.  The  Duke of Osuna knew  how to gain the   Tsar’s trust and displayed his  sense of  honor,   imbued with   the   aristocratic  spirit   and  the   European  dandy.   This  work provides a portrait of the  Duke of Osuna during  his embassy in Saint Petersburg, against the  backdrop of the  ideal of Spanish liberalism, and of the  dandy as a new  archetype of bourgeois honor.  The Letters from   Russia,   by Juan  Valera,  secretary of  that embassy,  help   to understand the  controversial image displayed by Osuna in the  Court of Alexander II. The Duke not only adapted to the  Russian  noble and autocratic  customs,  but   also   presented a very  particular way   of understanding the  figure of the  nobleman, which allowed him to refute the  existing stereotypes around Spain, as well as reinforce the  prestige of  Queen Elizabeth,  formally  recognized  not only  by Russia,  but  by the  rest of the  powers.