Ivan IV of Russia demonstrates his treasures to the English ambassador (1875)

The Muscovy Company (also called Russian Company or Muscovy Trading Company, Russian: Московская компания), was a trading company chartered in 1555. It was the first major English joint-stock trading company, the precursor of the type of business that would soon flourish in England, and became closely associated with such famous names as Henry Hudson and William Baffin. The Muscovy Company had a monopoly on trade between England and Muscovy until 1698 and it survived until the Russian Revolution of 1917. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (829x523, 116 KB) Ivan IV of Russia demonstrates his treasures to the ambassador of Queen Elizabeth I. Painting by A. Litvinenko from 1875. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (829x523, 116 KB) Ivan IV of Russia demonstrates his treasures to the ambassador of Queen Elizabeth I. Painting by A. Litvinenko from 1875. ... Tsar Ivan the Terrible, by Viktor Vasnetsov Ivan IV Vasilyevich (Russian: ) (August 25, 1530, Moscow â€“ March 18, 1584, Moscow) was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547 and Czar of Russia from 1547 until his death. ... A joint stock company is a special kind of partnership. ... Events Russia breaks 60 year old truce with Sweden by attacking Finland February 2 - Diet of Augsburg begins February 4 - John Rogers becomes first Protestant martyr in England February 9 - Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper is burned at the stake May 23 - Paul IV becomes Pope. ... The arms of the British South Africa Company Chartered companies are associations formed by investors or shareholders for the purpose of trade, exploration and colonisation. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... No portrait of Hudson is known to be in existence. ... William Baffin (1584 – January 23, 1622) was an English navigator and discoverer. ... A monopoly (from the Greek language monos, one + polein, to sell) is defined as a persistent market situation where there is only one provider of a product or service, in other words a firm that has no competitors in its industry. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... Muscovy (Moscow principality (княжество Московское) to Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое Княжество Московское) to Russian Tsardom (Царство Русское)) is a traditional Western name for the Russian state that existed from the 14th century to the late 17th century. ... Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

History

The Muscovy Company traces its roots to the Company of Merchant Adventurers (in full: 'Mystery and Company of Merchant Adventurers for the Discovery of Regions, Dominions, Islands, and Places unknown') founded in 1551 by Richard Chancellor, Sebastian Cabot and Sir Hugh Willoughby, who decided to look for the Northeast Passage to China. The Company of Merchant Adventurers (in full: Mystery and Company of Merchant Adventurers for the Discovery of Regions, Dominions, Islands, and Places unknown) was founded in London in 1551 by Richard Chancellor, Sebastian Cabot and Sir Hugh Willoughby. ... Year 1551 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Richard Chancellor (birth date unknown — 1556) was an English explorer; the first to penetrate to the White Sea and establish relations with Russia. ... Sebastian Cabot (1484-1557). ... Sir Hugh Willoughby (d. ... The Northern Sea Route (Russian Северный морской путь) is a shipping lane from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean along the Siberian coast of Russia. ...

The first expedition of the Company of Merchant Adventurers was led by Willoughby, who seems to have been chosen for his leadership skills and unfortunately had no prior nautical or navigational experience. Chancellor would function as the navigator of the small fleet, which consisted of three ships: the Bona Esparanza under Willoughby, the Edward Bonaventure under Chancellor and the Bona Confidentia). The fleet departed from London on 10 May 1553, but near the Lofoten islands the ships were caught in a storm and Chancellor's ship was separated from the other two. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events June 26 - Christs Hospital in London gets a Royal Charter July 6 - Edward VI of England dies July 10 - Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen of England - for the next nine days July 18 - Lord Mayor of London proclaims Queen Mary as the rightful Queen - Lady Jane Grey... Reine, Lofoten, seen from top of Reinebringen (June, 2003). ...

Willoughby eventually crossed the Barents Sea and reached Novaya Zemlya. He spent some time sailing along the coast, then turned south towards Scandinavia. However at the mouth of the Arzina river on the coast near Murmansk the ship became trapped in ice. Willoughby and the crew were not prepared for the cold, and after a few desperate failed attempts to find help he and his men froze to death in the extreme cold of the northern winter. The following year the ship, laden with frozen corpses, was discovered by Russian fishermen. Location of the Barents Sea. ... Novaya Zemlya (Russian: , lit. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe and includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ... Murmansk, Archangelsk, Dikson, Tiksi, on the Arctic Ocean Murmansk coin Murmansk (Russian: ) is a city in the extreme northwest of Russia (north of the Arctic circle) with a seaport on the Kola Gulf, 12 km from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from...

Chancellor was luckier. He penetrated the White Sea, where the local fishermen were amazed by the great size of his Western-built ship. He reached the harbour of Nikolo-Korelsky Monastery on the Northern Dvina river, near the present-day Arkhangelsk which would be eventually founded in 1584 to service the growing trade. The region had just recently been added to Muscovy, and when tsar Ivan the Terrible heard of Chancellor's arrival, he immediately invited the exotic guest to visit Moscow for an audience at the royal court. Map of the White Sea Two satellite photos of the White Sea The White Sea (Russian: ) is an inlet of the Barents Sea on the North Western coast of Russia. ... Severodvinsk (Russian: ) is a city in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. ... The Northern Dvina (Се́верная Двина́) is a river in Northern Russia flowing through the Vologda Oblast and Arkhangelsk Oblast into the Dvina Bay of the White Sea. ... Arkhangelsk (Russian: ), formerly called Archangel in English, is a city in and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. ... 1584 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Ivan IV (August 25, 1530–March 18, 1584) was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar. ... Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: , Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ...

Seal of the Russia Company

Chancellor made the journey of over 600 miles (over 1000 kilometres) to Moscow through snow and ice covered country. He found Moscow large (much larger than London) and primitively built, most houses being constructed of wood. However, the palace of the tsar was very luxurious, as were the dinners he offered Chancellor. The Russian tsar was pleased to open the sea trading routes with England and other countries, as Russia did not yet have a connection with the Baltic Sea at the time and the entire area was contested by the neighbouring powers of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Swedish Empire. In addition, the Hanseatic League had a monopoly on the trade between Russia and Central and Western Europe. Chancellor was no less optimistic, finding a good market for his English wool, and receiving furs and other Russian continental goods in return. When he returned to England in 1554, he had letters from the tsar with him, inviting British traders and promising trade privileges. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A trade route is the sequence of pathways and stopping places used for the commercial transport of cargo. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Sweden between the years 1611 and 1718 is known as the Swedish Empire. ... Carta marina of the Baltic Sea region (1539). ... Central Europe The Alpine Countries and the Visegrád Group (Political map, 2004) Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe. ... The borders of Western Europe were largely defined by the Cold War. ... Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, Arizona Wool is the fiber derived from the fur of animals of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats, alpacas, llamas and rabbits may also... For alternative meanings, see Fur (disambiguation). ... Events January 5 - Great fire in Eindhoven, Netherlands. ...

The Company of Merchant Adventurers renamed itself the Muscovy Company, and in 1555 Chancellor left for Russia again. The Muscovy Company began to serve as an important diplomatic link between Muscovy and England, and was especially important for the previously landlocked Muscovy. When Chancellor returned to England one year later in 1556, he was joined by the first Russian ambassador to England, Osip Nepeya. However this is where Chancellor's luck finally ran out. Off the Scottish coast, his ship was caught in a sudden storm and shipwrecked. Chancellor drowned, but Nepeya managed to reach the coast, where he was taken hostage by the Scots for a few months before being able to travel on to London. Events Russia breaks 60 year old truce with Sweden by attacking Finland February 2 - Diet of Augsburg begins February 4 - John Rogers becomes first Protestant martyr in England February 9 - Bishop of Gloucester John Hooper is burned at the stake May 23 - Paul IV becomes Pope. ... Events January 16 - Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 - The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China. ...

Chancellor was succeeded as the main trader of the Muscovy Company by Anthony Jenkinson, who made two important voyages himself - one trying to reach Cathay overland from Moscow, eventually stopping at Bukhara, the other, between 1562 and 1579 to establish overland trade routes through Russia to Persia. In 1567, when Muscovy was faring badly in the Livonian War, Jenkinson was asked by Tsar Ivan to sound out Queen Elizabeth I of England as a marriage prospect, providing possible refuge to the tsar if he was forced to flee the country. The negotiations yielded no results, and Tsar Ivan was soon forced to sign a ceasefire with Poland. Eventually, after his death, the country was ravaged by the civil wars of the Time of Trouble. Cathay is the Anglicized version of Catai, the name that was given to northern China by Marco Polo (he referred to southern China as Manji). ... Bukhara (Tajik: Бухоро; Persian: , Buxârâ; Uzbek: ; Russian: ), from the Soghdian βuxārak (lucky place), is the fifth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and capital of the Bukhara Province (viloyat). ... Year 1562 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Events January 6 - The Union of Atrecht united the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain. ... A trade route is a commonly used path of travel for those (e. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and beyond in Western Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. ... Events The Duke of Alva arrives in the Netherlands with Spanish forces to suppress unrest there. ... The Reformation reached Livonia in the 1520s. ... Elizabeth I redirects here. ... The Time of Troubles (Russian: Смутное время, Smutnoye Vremya) was a period of Russian history comprising the end of 16th and beginning of 17th century. ...

A further voyage undertaken by the Muscovy Company shortly after Chancellor's death, was another attempt to complete the Northeast Passage, led by Stephen Burrough. He managed to sail through the "Kara Gate", as the strait between Vaygach and Novaya Zemlya is known. Vaygach Island (Вайгач in Russian) is an island in the Arctic Sea on the border of the Barents Sea and Kara Sea. ...

In 1646, English merchants were expelled from Muscovy, but trade reopened on the restoration of Charles II in 1660, when it was also reorganized as a regulated company. It enjoyed important privileges until 1649 and a monopoly on the English Russia trade until 1698, when it losts its privileges due to political opposition. It continued in existence until the Russian Revolution of 1917. The company headquarters (called the Old English Yard), built during the reign of Ivan the Terrible not far from the Moscow Kremlin, were visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994. 1646 (MDCXLVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... King Charles II, the first monarch to rule after the English Restoration. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... // Events January 1 - Colonel George Monck with his regiment crosses from Scotland to England at the village of Coldstream and begins advance towards London in support of English Restoration. ... // Events January 30 - King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded. ... A monopoly (from the Greek language monos, one + polein, to sell) is defined as a persistent market situation where there is only one provider of a product or service, in other words a firm that has no competitors in its industry. ... Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... The Moscow Kremlin (Russian: Московский Кремль) is a historic fortified complex at the very heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River (to the south), Saint Basils Cathedral (often mistaken by westerners as the Kremlin) and Red Square (to the east) and the Alexander Garden (to the west). ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ...

See also

• Eastland Company

The Eastland Company, or North Sea Company, was an English crown-chartered company, founded in 1579 to foster trade with Scandinavia and Baltic states. ...

References

• T. S. Willan, The Early History of the Russia Company, 1956, reprinted in 1968;

External links

• Northern Lights Route
• Old English Court museum 1
• Old English Court museum 2
• Old English Yard in Moscow
• Logo of the Company
• Bibliography of works related to the Company
• Sir Hugh Willoughby and Richard Chancellor