Sovereignty and Representation: Tributary States in the Seventeenth-century Diplomatic System of the Ottoman Empire

Abstract

The survey of various elements concerning the diplomatic representation of Transylvania at the Sublime Porte provides a more nuanced understanding of the political status of the principality. For the author's purposes, four major questions deserve particular attention. First, how were the embassies structured? Second, can the embassy's location be taken as an indicator of the prestige of the representatives housed there? Third, what was the ceremonial aspect of their presence, the formal acts connected to the entry of the diplomats to Constantinople and their audiences with the grand vizier and the sultan? Last, what conclusions can be drawn from the occasional mistreatment of diplomats? By contrasting the characteristic practices of the principality to other tributary states, to powers not dependent on the Ottoman Empire, and to Ottoman regional governors, this chapter provides results relevant for a wider circle of reference, beyond the specific case of Transylvania. Keywords:Constantinople; diplomatic system; Ottoman empire; political status; principality; sovereignty; Sublime Porte; Transylvania; tributary states