17. Yüzyılın Sonunda Bir Safevî Elçisinin Osmanlı Devleti’ne Maliyeti

Abstract

This paper on Ottoman diplomacy includes the envoy Abu'l-Ma'sum Khan the ruler of Khorasan, who was sent from Iran to congratulate the enthronement of Sultan Mustafa II at the end of 1696 and was hosted in Edirne instead of Istanbul. Therefore, the diplomatic process beginning at the eastern border following the envoy's appointment and ending at the same point on his return, and the "rations" allotted by the government during the accommodation of the envoy were discussed. The welcoming of the Iranian envoy during his travel, accompanying him on his journey to Istanbul, ensuring the safety of the road for him and his entourage as he journeyed to Istanbul; after reaching Istanbul, his crossing from the Anatolian side (Uskudar) to Sarayburnu; his taking to Edirne as the Sultan was there and equipping the places where they would reside until the envoy had an audience before the Imperial Divan; the honours and expenses (allotment/ tayinat) made for the delegation during and after their admission to the Court were tried to be evaluated. It was extremely important during that time for the Ottoman government to ensure the continuation of the current peace with Iran, depending on the bad course of the long war on the Western front, which started after the Second Siege of Vienna. Hence, it is hoped that the findings to be obtained through this study, which is based on Ottoman archival sources, will contribute showing the importance of envoy exchanges with Iran. In other words, the strategic and diplomatic importance attributed to Iran through the expenditures made for the delegation was analyzed. Likewise, the ceremony is similar when compared with the classical methods of hosting the envoys of the Ottoman Empire against the Iranian envoys who came before and after Ebu'l-Ma'sum Khan. Although classical rules were followed in ceremonies, it became clear that as the Empire was at war with Austria and its allies, a great deal of friendship and pomposity was shown to Iran in the envoy's presence. Again, the ceremonies held during the accommodation and reception of the envoy have some different aspects as they all took place outside of Istanbul and the palace. For these and additional inferences the archival documents of the period, contemporary Ottoman chronicles, and some researches have been employed.