Travelling | Royal and diplomatic visits | Diplomatic gifts

Diplomatic gifts played a crucial role in the political relationship between Europe and the Arab and Ottoman world.

Diplomatic gifts, exchanged to cement the complex political relations between the Arab and Ottoman world and Europe, had a significant symbolic role to play and so were selected very carefully. As markers of power, wealth, luxury and sophistication, gifts were intended to convey clear messages about the status, prowess and trustworthiness of the giver while at the same time subtly impressing if not intimidating the recipient. The quality and extent of the gifts given reflected closely the interactions that were sought or that the gift-giver hoped to maintain. At the same time, gifts were chosen to showcase either what the best national industries and craftsmen had to offer or to pander directly to the recipient’s tastes and predilections. Highly decorated weapons were among the most popular gifts exchanged. Other particularly favoured items included timepieces, bejewelled medals and artefacts, richly caparisoned horses, textiles, items of clothing, carpets, and even national antiquities.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
AT 009Pair of pistols, a diplomatic present of Sidi Mohammed II, Bey (1855–1859) of Tunis, to Emperor Franz JosephKunsthistorisches Museum, Collection of Arms and Armour1857Wood, iron, diamonds and goldThe 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.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
RO 033Sword that belonged to Carol of HohenzollernNational Museum of Romanian History1866This 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.
TN 034CannonPalais de la Rose – Musée de l’Armée19th century MetalThis 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.
RO 035Order of the Medjidie that belonged to Alexandru Ioan CuzaNational Museum of Romanian History1860Alexandru 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.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
RO 036Order of the Osmanie that belonged to Alexandru Ioan CuzaNational Museum of Romanian History1864While 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.
IT1 027Babouches [slippers] given to the King of Italy by an Ambassador from Morocco visiting Italy in 1890National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography Late 19th centuryVelvet; gold embroidery; leatherIn 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.

IT1 047The horses presented by the Sultan of Morocco to the King of Italy on the occasion of the official visit to Italy by a Moroccan delegationState Library of Modern and Contemporary History1890Horses 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.

Working NumberNameHolding MuseumDateMaterialsCurator Justification
IT1 026Caparison 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 1890National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography Late 19th centurySilk; gold embroideryIn 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.
IT2 052Garments and accessories: bisht (cloak), bag, ghutra (headdress), ‘iqal (rope)National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography 'Luigi Pigorini'1917This 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.