Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz’s State Visit to Britain (July 1867): A Case in Negotiated ‘Ornamental’ Diplomatic Gifts
This article examines gift-giving during Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz’s State visit to Britain in July 1867. An exceptional occasion in itself – for an Ottoman Sultan had never left his Empire in peacetime or ever would again –, the visit offers an interesting case for nuancing the generally accepted i...
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| Publicado en: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/rfcb, |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Lenguaje: | Anglais |
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Revue française de civilisation britannique
2024
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Sumario: | This article examines gift-giving during Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz’s State visit to Britain in July 1867. An exceptional occasion in itself – for an Ottoman Sultan had never left his Empire in peacetime or ever would again –, the visit offers an interesting case for nuancing the generally accepted idea that gifts between equals (here rulers) are “free gifts”. The article makes a case for gift-giving in that particular context being a long and vexed process resulting from negotiations, as Queen Victoria did not originally want to entertain the Sultan, nor did she originally want to invest him with the Order of the Garter, or accept his counter-gift in the form of Arabian horses. Examining relevant diplomatic and private sources reveals the final arrangements to avoid a series of diplomatic faux-pas and show how they reflect a transcultural understanding that would help both sides refine their gift-giving protocols. |
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