Collections | Travelling | Royal and diplomatic visits | European diplomatic visits [18 Objects]

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Introduction to the Chapter

General Hullin's audience, provided by the Dey of Algeria

19th century

National Library of France

Paris, France

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 Justification for this item

Military delegations were among the more frequent and, at times, more threatening visits rulers received. On this occasion, in 1802, Napoleon I dispatched General Hulin, accompanied by Consul Dubois-Thainville, to issue a threat to the Dey of Algiers in response to Algerian “pirate” activity against French ships.

General Hullin's audience, provided by the Dey of Algeria

19th century

National Library of France

Paris, France

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The Empress visits the Orient

19th century

National Library of France

Paris, France

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 Justification for this item

Empress Eugénie actively supported her husband’s ambition to advance French interests in the Middle East and North Africa. During her visit to Constantinople in 1868, however, she incurred the disapproval of the sultan’s mother, when – overconfidently – she broke Ottoman protocol.

The Empress visits the Orient

19th century

National Library of France

Paris, France

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Mahmud II, Sultan of Turkey (1784–1839)

1st half of the 19th century

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

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Mahmud II, Sultan of Turkey (1784–1839)

1st half of the 19th century

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

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Trip to Egypt

1903

Ajuda National Palace

Lisbon, Portugal

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Trip to Egypt

1903

Ajuda National Palace

Lisbon, Portugal

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Portrait of Archduke Maximilian

1850

Austrian Military Museum / Institute of Military History

Vienna, Austria

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Portrait of Archduke Maximilian

1850

Austrian Military Museum / Institute of Military History

Vienna, Austria

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Interview with Mehemet Ali in his Palace at Alexandria 1839

Published 1849

Sharjah Art Museum / Sharjah Museums Department

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

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 Justification for this item

The scene is a perfect representation of both the European delegations in the region at the time and the broad interests represented by them: in addition to the British Consul General in Alexandria, the group meeting Muhammad ‘Ali includes a businessman, scholars and an artist.

Interview with Mehemet Ali in his Palace at Alexandria 1839

Published 1849

Sharjah Art Museum / Sharjah Museums Department

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

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Painting of Mohamed Sadok Bey and Napoléon III

1862

Musée d’Histoire Moderne et Contemporaine de Kassar Saïd

Le Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia

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 Justification for this item

Since the 1850s, France competed increasingly with Italy and Britain for economic and political power in Tunisia. This meeting, between Muhammad al-Sadiq Bey (r. 1859–81) and Napoleon III in Algiers in 1860, symbolises France’s determination to consolidate its presence in North Africa.

Painting of Mohamed Sadok Bey and Napoléon III

1862

Musée d’Histoire Moderne et Contemporaine de Kassar Saïd

Le Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia

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Napoléon II's journey to Algeria, 7 June 1865

1865

National Library of France

Paris, France

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 Justification for this item

Napoleon III visited Algeria, already a French colony at the time, in 1860 and in 1865. On both occasions, a triumphant itinerary was staged, in order to clearly demonstrate France’s sovereignty and might, while also symbolising its control of locations and resources of key importance to French interests.

Napoléon II's journey to Algeria, 7 June 1865

1865

National Library of France

Paris, France

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Painting, Royal Reception

4 December 1864 at 10 a.m

Royal archives

Rabat, Morocco

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 Justification for this item

Belgium was one of the many European powers to obtain political and economic privileges from Morocco. In 1864, the Belgian Consul General, Ernest Daluin, visited the Moroccan sultan in Rabat as part of his country’s efforts to launch trade relations and open up new markets for Belgium’s growing national industries.

Painting, Royal Reception

4 December 1864 at 10 a.m

Royal archives

Rabat, Morocco

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The Austrian ship on which Emperor Franz Joseph participated at the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1869

1869

Austrian Military Museum / Institute of Military History

Vienna, Austria

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 Justification for this item

Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria attended the Suez Canal celebrations, arriving onboard SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth in 1869, but used his stay in Egypt to hold diplomatic and trade talks in Cairo and Alexandria as well.

Poem

1869

Austrian State Archives

Vienna, Austria

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 Justification for this item

This poem, by an Italian, honours Franz Joseph I’s visit to Egypt in 1869. European minorities living in the Arab and Ottoman world relied on the protection of their respective countries. Indeed, not only were extensive privileges negotiated for them, but often their presence served as a diplomatic pawn in order to gain influence in another nation’s affairs.

Poem

1869

Austrian State Archives

Vienna, Austria

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Painting, Royal Audience

23 November 1868

Royal archives

Rabat, Morocco

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 Justification for this item

Sir John Drummond-Hay is shown here as part of a British delegation from Tangier visiting the Moroccan Sultan Sidi Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahman at his court in Fez in 1868. Drummond-Hay was instrumental in securing an exclusive trade agreement and special relations for Britain.

Painting, Royal Audience

23 November 1868

Royal archives

Rabat, Morocco

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Ismail, Khedive of Egypt (1830–1895)

After 1869

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

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 Justification for this item

On occasion, diplomacy took place on the sidelines of a major international event, such as the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. On this occasion, the Egyptian Khedive Isma‘il invited – among others – the French and Austrian Emperors, but tellingly excluded all the region’s senior Muslim leaders.

Ismail, Khedive of Egypt (1830–1895)

After 1869

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

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Portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph

c. 1870

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

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Portrait of Emperor Franz Joseph

c. 1870

Austrian National Library

Vienna, Austria

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The Welcome to the Italian Delegation in Morocco

c. 1879

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)

Rome, Italy

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 Justification for this item

In the wake of Italy’s unification, the new nation quickly cast its eye to catching up with the colonial ambitions of other European powers, particularly in North Africa. The visit of this Italian delegation to the Moroccan sovereign in Fez during the 1870s was recorded by the Italian author Edmondo de Amicis, who witnessed it.

The Welcome to the Italian Delegation in Morocco

c. 1879

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)

Rome, Italy

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Governor Ben Anda's Son with His Escort of Honour

c. 1879

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)

Rome, Italy

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Governor Ben Anda's Son with His Escort of Honour

c. 1879

National Gallery of Modern Art (GNAM)

Rome, Italy

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Photograph of the German Emperor while on a visit to Tangier

31 March 1905

General Library and Archives

Tetouan, Morocco

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 Justification for this item

The German Emperor Wilhelm II visited Tangiers in the wake of the international Morocco crisis in 1905. While he supported Moroccan independence in defiance of French ambitions in North Africa, he was also keen to advance Germany’s economic and political influence in the region.

Photograph of the German Emperor while on a visit to Tangier

31 March 1905

General Library and Archives

Tetouan, Morocco

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Introduction to the Chapter