The Adventures of Tuscan Ambassador Neri Giraldi in Istanbul (1598)

Year 2022, Volume: 39 Issue: 2, 433 - 447, 30.12.2022

Özden Mercan

https://doi.org/10.32600/huefd.1028489

Abstract

In this article the diplomatic initiative of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which was negotiated with the Ottoman administration in 1598 and ended in failure, will be examined. In the existing literature, the anti-Ottoman activities of the galleys of the Order of St Stefano in the Eastern Mediterranean are considered as the reason for the failure of the negotiations. Although this matter was one of the main issues discussed during the negotiations, there were other factors that played a decisive role in the failed diplomacy. In this regard, the activities of Neri Giraldi, who was sent to Istanbul as the representative of Tuscany, deserve attention. Giraldi’s lack of knowledge about Ottoman administration and diplomatic practices led to some diplomatic mishaps and eventually the failure of the negotiations. Reconstructing the negotiation process in light of the evidence from various archival documents, this article will focus on Tuscan ambassador’s adventures in the Ottoman capital.

Keywords

Granduchy of Tuscany, diplomacy, Neri Giraldi, galleys of the Order of St Stefano, Ottoman Empire

Toskana Elçisi Neri Giraldi’nin İstanbul’daki Maceraları (1598)

Abstract

Bu makalede Toskana Grandukalığının Osmanlı yönetimiyle 1598 yılında müzakere edilen ve başarısızlıkla sonuçlanan diplomatik girişimi ele alınacaktır. Mevcut literatürde müzakerelerin başarısız olmasının nedeni olarak Santo Stefano Tarikatına ait kadırgaların Doğu Akdeniz’de Osmanlı karşıtı faaliyetleri gösterilmiştir. Bu konu görüşmelerde öne çıkan meselelerden biri olsa da müzakerelerin başarısızlıkla sonuçlanmasında başka faktörler de etkin rol oynamıştır. Özellikle Toskana temsilcisi olarak İstanbul’a gönderilen Neri Giraldi’nin faaliyetleri bu anlamda önemlidir. Giraldi’nin Osmanlı yönetimi ve diplomatik uygulamaları konusundaki yetersiz bilgisi birtakım diplomatik krizlere yol açmış, görüşmelerin başarısızlıkla sonuçlanmasına neden olmuştur. Bu makale, çeşitli arşiv belgelerindeki bilgiler ışığında müzakere sürecini yeniden kurgulayarak, Toskana elçisinin Osmanlı başkentindeki maceralarına odaklanacaktır.

Keywords

Toskana Grandukalığı, diplomasi, Neri Giraldi, Santo Stefano Tarikatı Kadırgaları, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu

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