The French ambassador, Sieur la Haye, faced harsh and unusual treatment while serving in the Ottoman Empire. He represented the French King at the court of the Grand Vizier Kuperli when the Ottoman court was in Adrianople. At that time, a treaty was being negotiated between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, with the French ambassador acting as mediator.
Interception of Secret Letters
During the negotiations, some letters written in code by the French ambassador were intercepted by the Ottomans. The letters contained sensitive information, and it was clear that they could harm the state if exposed. The Ottomans suspected, correctly, that an Italian had been involved in sending the letters. After examining the letters and questioning the messenger, they confirmed that the French secretary had delivered the cypher to him Bulgaria Private Tours.
Summons to Court
Once the interception was discovered, the ambassador stationed in Constantinople was urgently summoned to appear at the Ottoman court. The authorities wanted an explanation and possibly punishment for the delivery of sensitive documents. However, the ambassador was elderly and in poor health, suffering from gout and kidney stones. Because of these conditions, he could not make the long and difficult winter journey to Adrianople.
Sending a Proxy
To manage the situation, the ambassador sent his son as his procurator, or representative, to the court. He provided detailed instructions on how to answer any questions or objections that might arise. This allowed him to explain his position and defend his actions without personally undertaking the physically demanding journey.
This incident demonstrates both the strict control of the Ottoman court over foreign diplomats and the challenges faced by ambassadors in sensitive negotiations. Even experienced and respected representatives were vulnerable to scrutiny and sudden summons. Health, age, and careful planning all played a role in how ambassadors managed these crises, showing the combination of ceremony, risk, and diplomacy in the Ottoman Empire.