Ottoman Diplomacy and Ceremonial Protocols for receiving ambassadors during the rule of Sultan Suleiman the magnificent (al- Kanuni). ( 1520 A.D – 1566 A.D/ 926 Hijri - 973 Hijri)

Abstract

Synopsis: Embassies-Diplomacy-Ambassadors-Sultan Suleiman-Reception-Imperial Hall Since ancient times, nations needed to communicate with one another in order to achieve political stability and provide the living requirements for their peoples. Therefore, they tended to communicate through messengers and envoys, this was the beginning of what became known now as modern diplomacy and the emergence of ambassadors who assumed this role of communicating between nations.

The Ottoman Empire had many political relationships with other nations, and as such it needed to turn towards the diplomatic side to consolidate those relations and utilize them to demonstrate the prestige of the Ottoman Empire.

The importance of these relations emerged under the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (al- Kanuni) (1520 A.D - 1566A.D/ 926 Hijri - 973 Hijri), which is the golden age of the Ottoman Empire. Consequently, nations began to send ambassadors and diplomatic missions, and Sultan Suleiman was attentive to those arriving to the Ottoman Capital.

He gave orders to provide ambassadors with the utmost comfort in their stay and assigned parts of the army to protect and honor them. The Ottoman Empire also prepared the Imperial Hall in Topkapi palace to hold reception ceremonies for ambassadors in accordance with specific diplomatic rules.