Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.21857/y6zolb3k1m
A Contribution to the Research of British-Ottoman Relations: The Embassy of Edward Wortley Montagu (1716-1718)
Marija Kocić
; Department of History, Faculty of Philosophy, Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
A review of the personal correspondence and other materials of Edward Wortley Montagu indicates that he prepared very seriously for the post of ambassador of Great Britain to the Ottoman Empire. The first thing that shows this is his reference to the experience of William Paget, but also to certain oversights of British politics made in his period. The aforementioned sources imply that he arrived in the Ottoman state with a pronounced wish to become a mediator in negotiations, hoping to achieve a favourable position for British merchants in the Levant as well as fame for himself. A fixed position and ideas that were already crystal clear, neither of which he intended to retreat from, made it difficult for him to achieve his chosen political aims. Very soon, the British government realised that it was a much better solution to appoint an experienced diplomat as ambassador at the Porte, so Abraham Stanyan was given that post. Edward Wortley was recalled without having had any opportunity to attempt to become a mediator in the Požarevac negotiations, and this was a disaster for his political career.
Keywords
Edward Wortley Montagu; diplomacy; the Ottoman Empire; Great Britain
Hrčak ID:
179599
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2016.
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