How did Leopold von Ranke use reports written by Venetian diplomats?

Leopold von Ranke utilized the relazioni—the detailed reports written by astute Venetian diplomats—as a vital source for his historical research. He leveraged these documents to gain deep insights into the inner workings of European nation-states and their complex relationships with one another.1

Specifically, Ranke employed these reports to analyze the geopolitical dynamics of the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the rivalry between the Ottoman Empire and Spain in the Mediterranean. By examining these primary accounts, he was able to move beyond surface-level narratives and depict institutions like the papacy not merely as ecclesiastical bodies, but as significant worldly powers. This reliance on firsthand diplomatic documentation was central to his commitment to historical accuracy and his objective to show how events "actually occurred" (wie es eigentlich gewesen).21