THE DIPLOMACY TRAFFIC OF SPANISH HABSBURGS BETWEEN DUBROVNIK AND ISTANBUL (1623-1626)

Abstract

The Ottoman-Spanish War that continued through most of the 16th century ended with a semiofficial cease-fire in 1578, although actual hostilities already stopped in 1574. The cease-fire renewal for several times in later years, but neglection of this formality from 1591 onwards. After the Thirty Years War that began in Europe in 1618, to make more effective use of its military forces and financial resources, the Spanish government endeavoured to pacify the Ottoman Empire with a treaty that would neutralise its threatening presence. With this aim, in 1622, the Spanish prime minister Olivares arranged through a Spanish vassal, the viceroy of Naples, to send some representatives to sound out the political mood in Istanbul and pave the way for concluding the treaty Spain desired. Between 1623 and 1626, the English ambassador Thomas Roe, having learned of these representatives' intentions who set out for Istanbul via Dubrovnik, engaged in a diplomatic struggle to protect his country's interests and security. Roe persuaded the French and Venetian ambassadors to ally with him in achieving their common goals. On the other hand, he waged a diplomatic war to obstruct the Spanish government's plans through meetings with Ottoman politicians and lobbying activities. This research article is about Spain's diplomatic endeavours in Istanbul between the years in question and the struggle to frustrate them by an alliance of ambassadors in the Ottoman capital. The study's primary sources are Thomas Roe's letters and documents in the Dubrovnik State Archive and the Ottoman Archive in Turkey's Department of State Archives.