Abstract:

Throughout the historical process of the Ottoman Empire, many foreign statesmen and diplomatic delegations were hosted within their official protocols. These visits have contributed to the display of the Ottoman Empire's power and wealth. Ambassadors serve as intermediaries in conducting diplomacy between two states. Although early modern world ambassadors were primarily responsible for facilitating communication between states, they were also obliged to report to their home countries what they saw, heard, and even state secrets. The status of ambassadors also determined the Ottoman Empire's approach to them. Ottoman statesmen arranged ambassadorial receptions and accommodations based on what they wanted ambassadors to see and hear. This study focuses on the reception of Iranian ambassadors in the first half of the 18th century in the Ottoman Empire and the feasts provided by the Matbah-ı Âmire (the imperial kitchen). The nutrition needs of ambassadors were met through the Matbah-ı Âmire. Outside of the imperial kitchen, the ambassadors' food was also supplied from markets along their travel routes and in the capital city of Istanbul. The meals served to the ambassadors varied based on the tastes of their home countries, and they were rich and diverse in presentation. The feasts provided to ambassadors were prepared meticulously in accordance with protocol. The visits of Iranian ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire helped to foster Ottoman-Iranian relations. Although these political visits have contributed to the resolution of tensions and disputes between the two states, they have also sometimes led to the outbreak and prolongation of wars. Thus, this study focuses on the role of the palace kitchen in the Ottoman state tradition, diplomacy, and protocol.

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