The Relationship Between Ottoman And Spain In The End Of XVIIIth Century

The Ottoman and Spanish empires struggled for the control of the Mediterranean during the 16th century but they withdrew their forces from this conflict for other priorities at the end of the century. In the 17th and 18th centuries their power decreased and classical institutions were damaged. The Ottomans and Spanish tried to restore their former glory by reforming their institutions. The Ottomans and Spanish re-established their political and economic relations and signed a treaty of neutrality in 1782. Thus, the Ottomans had an important support against the Russian presence in the Mediterranean. Spain, after re-establishing relations with the Ottomans, appointed their first permanent ambassador to Đstanbul and Don Juan de Bouligny started his mission in 1783. He worked to establish the embassy, find translators and dragomans, release the Spanish prisoners in the Ottoman lands. After the French Revolution, a struggle occured between the pro-French and anti-French diplomats in Đstanbul. Spain signed an alliance with the Revolutionary France in 1796, and the Spanish vessels joined the French armada to occupy Egypt. Bouligny ordered the Spanish consulates in the Mediterranean to assist the French armada. That was why, the first Spanish permanent representative in Đstanbul, Don Juan de Bouligny was declared persona non grata and deported in 1799. However, friendly relations with Spain was