Early Ottoman Diplomacy: Ad Hoc Period

Abstract

Throughout many centuries, until the period of overall reform by Selim III, the Ottoman sultans carried out their relations with foreign rulers in the form of ad hoc diplomacy. Although that was the general practice of the Middle Ages, as early as 1454 the Ottoman court had become acquainted with a residential ambassador in Constantinople. The Venetian bailo permanently resided in Istanbul to carry out relations with the Ottoman Empire as well as secure the interests of Venetian merchants. Nevertheless, successive Ottoman sultans preferred ad hoc diplomacy, and sent out representatives of various ranks as necessity required. In this study, the reasons for such a preference — Ottoman approach to diplomacy, Islamic influences, Ottoman diplomatic protocol and conduct of diplomacy — will be illuminated by the archives, with selected examples from contemporary sources and chronicles.