Collections | Travelling | Royal and diplomatic visits | Diplomatic gifts [9 Objects]

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Introduction to the Chapter

Cannon

19th century

Palais de la Rose – Musée de l’Armée

La Manouba, Tunis, Tunisia

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 Justification for this item

This bronze canon was gifted to Muhammad Sadiq Bey of Tunis by King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy in 1867. At the time, Italy was consolidating its economic and political influence in Tunisia in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stem or at least hinder French imperialist expansion in the region.

Cannon

19th century

Palais de la Rose – Musée de l’Armée

La Manouba, Tunis, Tunisia

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Pair of pistols, a diplomatic present of Sidi Mohammed II, Bey (1855–1859) of Tunis, to Emperor Franz Joseph

1857

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Collection of Arms and Armour

Vienna, Austria

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 Justification for this item

The Bey of Tunis gifted these pistols to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria as part of his strategy to secure an alliance with the Austrian Empire against the French and their threatening presence in neighbouring Algeria. His efforts were aided by the fact that, in the late 1850s, Austria was on the brink of war with France, which was to erupt eventually in 1859.

Order of the Medjidie that belonged to Alexandru Ioan Cuza

1860

National Museum of Romanian History

Bucharest, Romania

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 Justification for this item

Alexandru Ioan Cuza, elected Domnitor (ruler) of Moldova and Wallachia in 1859, was awarded the Order of the Medjidie by his overlord, Ottoman Sultan ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, in September 1860, on the occasion of his investiture in Istanbul.

Order of the Medjidie that belonged to Alexandru Ioan Cuza

1860

National Museum of Romanian History

Bucharest, Romania

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Order of the Osmanie that belonged to Alexandru Ioan Cuza

1864

National Museum of Romanian History

Bucharest, Romania

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 Justification for this item

While in Istanbul to obtain approval for the new constitution adopted in the Romanian Principalities, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, ruler of the United Principalities of Moldova and Wallachia (1859–66), received this medal from his Ottoman overlord in 1864.

Order of the Osmanie that belonged to Alexandru Ioan Cuza

1864

National Museum of Romanian History

Bucharest, Romania

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Sword that belonged to Carol of Hohenzollern

1866

National Museum of Romanian History

Bucharest, Romania

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 Justification for this item

This sword, together with five horses, was given to Carol of Hohenzollern, Domnitor (ruler) of the United Principalities of Moldova and Wallachia 1866–81 and King of Romania 1881–1914) by his overlord, the Ottoman Sultan ‘Abd al-‘Aziz (Abdülaziz) on the occasion of his investiture in 1866.

Sword that belonged to Carol of Hohenzollern

1866

National Museum of Romanian History

Bucharest, Romania

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The horses presented by the Sultan of Morocco to the King of Italy on the occasion of the official visit to Italy by a Moroccan delegation

1890

State Library of Modern and Contemporary History

Rome, Italy

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 Justification for this item

Horses were highly treasured diplomatic gifts and much appreciated by both Arab and European rulers, many of whom were experts at breeding horses in their own right. Symbols of royal majesty, courage, pedigree and pride, they best represented the traits rulers wanted to project and at the same time honour or flatter in their opposite.

Caparison for a horse given by the Sultan of Morocco to the King of Italy, on the occasion of a visit to Italy of a Moroccan Ambassador in 1890

Late 19th century

National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography

Rome, Italy

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 Justification for this item

In June 1890, the Sultan of Morocco sent his ambassador to Italy with gifts, including caparisoned thoroughbreds, to seek the King’s support against French expansion in North Africa. Nevertheless, in 1900, Italy gave her blessings to “French special interests in Morocco” in exchange for France’s approval of her interests in Libya.

Babouches [slippers] given to the King of Italy by an Ambassador from Morocco visiting Italy in 1890

Late 19th century

National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography

Rome, Italy

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 Justification for this item

In June 1890, the Sultan of Morocco sent his ambassador to Italy with gifts, seeking the King’s support against French expansion in North Africa. Nevertheless, in 1900, Italy gave her blessings to “French special interests in Morocco” in exchange for France’s approval of her interests in Libya.

Garments and accessories: bisht (cloak), bag, ghutra (headdress), ‘iqal (rope)

1917

National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography 'Luigi Pigorini'

Rome, Italy

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 Justification for this item

This contingent of clothes and accessories was gifted to King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy by Sheikh al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali al-Himmat, who proclaimed himself King of Hijaz in 1917, the year that Italy, together with France and Britain, officially recognised his new role.

Garments and accessories: bisht (cloak), bag, ghutra (headdress), ‘iqal (rope)

1917

National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography 'Luigi Pigorini'

Rome, Italy

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Introduction to the Chapter