Andrii Pastushenko

Research question: How were foreign nationals integrated into the culturally, socially, and professionally complex world of Elizabethan seafaring?

Pastushenko’s project examines foreigners, or “strangers”, on Elizabethan ships (1558–1604). In the 16th century, the notion of foreignness was fluid: even the term “foreigner” could refer to someone from another parish, town, or county. Foreign individuals were commonly described as “strangers”; for clarity, he employs “foreigner” in its modern sense.

This project explores their cultural profiles—including national and religious identities—the routes by which they joined crews, and the ways in which they integrated and adapted to shipboard life. Their acceptance often depended on professional skills and perceived social value. While many foreigners came from across Europe, some arrived from Africa and Asia. Although English crews were predominantly recruited nationally, and shipboard communities could be notably xenophobic, multinational crews did occasionally emerge on merchant, pirate–privateer, or exile vessels.

Because “strange” sailors were relatively rare, and national mythology tended to glorify Protestant sea dogs, historians have often overlooked them. This study seeks to redress that neglect, contributing to broader debates on migration, diversity, and multiculturalism.