An Ottoman delegate in Paris: Mehmed Galib Efendi

Abstract

Diplomacy is one of the parameters that keep a state alive in the international arena. Embassies are the only institutions that carry out the diplomacy process abroad in bilateral relations. The Ottoman Empire established diplomatic relations with the principalities and states on its periphery since its foundation (although not in an institutional sense). In the process that developed for political and economic reasons, the first steps of embassies were taken as a result of mutual relations with Venice immediately after the conquest of Istanbul, and later with Poland, Russia, France, Austria, England and the Netherlands. With Selim III, a resident embassy was opened in France. This was the first step towards institutionalization. With the rapprochement of the Ottoman Empire with France and the maturation of the process, Galip Efendi took office in Paris with the title of extraordinary ambassador (ambassador of the Devlet-i Aliyye). Galip Efendi's main challenge during this period would be to successfully carry through a policy of balance against the diplomats of France, Russia and England. The Ottoman Empire had to be strong at the diplomatic table with these states, with whom it had confronted in different parts of the empire. The main problematic of this microhistorical study is to emphasize the diplomatic relations of Mehmed Galip Efendi, the Ottoman ambassador to Paris, who played a significant role in the development of Ottoman diplomacy. In addition to archival sources, secondary sources and visuals are used to enrich the arguments in the text.