ILHAN GOKALP-
HISTORY
FEATURE WRITER
FRIENDSHIP OF TWO EMPIRE RULERS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS
In the 16th century, the world’s two biggest empires established a friendship in a period of conflict between two religions Christianity and Islam. British Empire under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I formed and developed trade and diplomatic relations with Sultan Murad III of Ottoman Empire. England was one of the first countries that had established regular diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire. A Treaty of Commerce was signed between both countries for the first time in 1580. Epistolary exchanges occurred and envoys were sent between Queen Elizabeth and Sultan Murad. The first English ambassador to the Ottoman Empire was businessman William Harbone in 1583. Harborne’s visit to Istanbul in 1579 initiated the diplomatic and commercial exchanges between both countries. He was employed by Levant Company’, an association of traders led by English merchants Edward Osborne and Richard Stapera, who had accompanied Harborne on his visit to the country. He obtained permission from the Sultan Murat III for English ships to trade in Ottoman ports, after negotiations with Sadrazam Sokullu Mehmed Pasha. In which William Harborne became the correspondence between Queen Elizabeth I and the Sultan. Harborne also succeeded in obtaining from the Ottomans capitulations and other tariff reductions for English goods, and was charged with obtaining samples and information regarding dyestuffs and fabrics used in the production of cloth and clothing in Turkey at that time. Queen Elizabeth I and Sultan Murat III exchanged numerous letters. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented one of these letters to former British Prime Minister David Cameron as a gift on his visit to the country. The letter written by Sultan Murad was a response to Queen Elizabeth. The letter read, “as long as we act together against the enemies and abide by the agreement signed between the Ottoman Empire and the United Kingdom, British merchants will not be subject to any unfair treatment. They will be respected just like those who are friends with the Ottoman sultans. We welcome rescue of Muslim people who were kept hostage in Spain, by the United Kingdom. The Ottoman Empire will send a fleet in spring in an effort to help the United Kingdom.” Catholic states in Europe were in shock because of the relationship between Britain and Ottoman.
England exported tin, lead (for canon casting) and ammunitions to the Ottoman Empire. There were also military operations carried out between both countries when Queen Elizabeth asked for naval assistance of Ottoman ruler Sultan Murad against the Spanish Armada in 1585, as Francis Walsingham Principle secretary to the Queen lobbied for a direct Ottoman military involvement against Spain. Ottoman Empire’s first ambassador to England was in late 18th century. Yusuf Agah Efendi was appointed as ambassador in London in 1793. Diplomatic relations between both countries was suspended in 1914 due to the outbreak of First World War. The relations were formed again in 1924 after the establishment of Republic of Turkey.
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