Ottoman-Kingdom of Naples relations according to Ottoman archive documents (1740-1800)

This study examines the diplomatic and political relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Naples within the time frame of 1740 to 1800. Following the Kingdom of Naples coming under the rule of the Bourbon dynasty, King Carlo's desire to conduct trade securely in the Mediterranean and his efforts to gain his share of Mediterranean trade led to a closer relationship with the Ottomans. Additionally, King Carlo, who sought to rid himself of the threats posed by pirates operating under the Garp Ocakları, took an important step towards this goal by signing a trade and friendship agreement with the Ottomans on April 7, 1740. In the face of the changing balances of the 18th century, the Ottoman Empire also saw the benefit of gaining a new ally in Europe and was therefore favorable to this rapprochement. The relations between the two states initially revolved around mutual friendship. However, a significant factor affecting these relations was the problems caused by pirates, which sometimes caused difficulties for both the administrators and ambassadors of the Kingdom of Naples and the Ottoman bureaucrats. Despite attempts to take necessary measures to combat these activities, it was not possible to completely eliminate piracy. Although the Kingdom of Naples attempted to resolve this issue by aligning itself with the Garp Ocakları, it was only able to sign an agreement with the Tripoli Janissaries on June 3, 1741. However, this agreement did not provide a complete solution to the piracy issue. The Ottoman-Naples Kingdom relations were also marked by vibrant cultural exchanges. Reciprocal gifting and, in particular, the elephant sent by Sultan Mahmud I to King Carlo, were well received by both the king and the people. This gift left a lasting impression on the people of Naples for centuries. Moreover, the diplomatic network that the Kingdom of Naples sought to establish on Ottoman territory essentially reflected commercial interests. The diplomatic representations of Naples spread over a wide area, from Thessalonica to Cyprus, covering the entire region of the Morea and its surrounding areas, demonstrating the Kingdom of Naples focus on Mediterranean trade. Finally, the alliance formed between the Kingdom of Naples and the Ottomans on January 21, 1799, against France, which was moving to occupy their territories in the late 18th century, reveals that they were pursuing similar political strategies.