Mavi Boncuk | Arrival of the first Dutch ambassador Cornelis Haga in Istanbul, 1612. Here he is welcomed by the "Kupudân -i Derya,| the admiral at sea" Khalil (Halil) Pasha.
Early Ottoman-Dutch Political and Commercial Relations after 1612 Capitulations [1] by Bulent Ari
After the conclusion of Twelve years Truce in 1609, the United Provinces was in need of international recognition and of new markets for its accelerating economic development. In early Seventeenth Century, the United Dutch East India Company(VOC) had already established a well working commercial system for spice trade in India. The monopoly of VOC in Indian spice trade with moderate price level almost completely destroyed the caravan route to Aleppo. The Dutch Republic then should open new markets for the Dutch merchants to trade in the Levant. It was risky to sail especially in the Western Mediterranean in those days. Other than the North African corsairs, English and Spanish ships were creating great danger for the Dutch vessels. To sail as far as Anatolian, Egyptian and Syrian coasts. Dutch ships had to get safe conduct from the Ottoman Sultan. Venetian, French, and English merchants were trading in these coasts freely for a long time. From early Seventeenth Century onwards, Dutch merchants began to unload merchandise more intensively in the Levantine ports under either French or English flags. After the Twelve Years Truce in 1609. the States General made attempts to establish official relations with the Sublime Porte. Initially letters were exchanged between the States General and the Grand Adrniral Halil Pasha. Taking positive response from the Porte, the States General decided to send Cornelis Haga to Istanbul, with the title of orator. When Haga arrived in Istanbul in March 1612, he was faced with severe opposition of the Venetian, French, and English ambassadors. Particularly Venetian and French ambassadors resorted to diplomatic intrigues, and even bribery to prevent Haga from audience with the Sultan....The favor of the Sultan over any of them could be ended, and consequently might even result with the execution of the statesman. In the shifting Internal policies of the Porte, the ceaseless intrigues of the Seraglio, there was a danger that the patrons upon whom foreign agents relied for support might be suddenly removed.5 Halil paga had inaugurated the official correspondence with the States General in 1610 when he was the Grand Admiral. Although he was dismissed from his post in 161 1, Halil Paga kept his seat at the imperial Divan as Vizier. Throughout the early contacts of Haga at thePorte, Halil Paga sustained his duty. Furthermore, the Sultan appointed him to Grand Admiralry for the second time in 1613, and as Grand Vizier in 1616. The rising graphic of Halil Paga, protector of Haga, was fortunate for him as well. Since Haga was unable to convey the original text of the Dutch 'ahdname,' granted by Sultan Ahmed I, he had sent it with his assistant, Lambert Verhaer. Osman Bey, who was a sipahi, and a man of Halil Pasha, would accompany Verhaer. This Osman had been sent to accompany Haga during his journey throughout the Ottoman territories. He traveled as far as the Polish border to encounter Haga there, and accompany him till Istanbul. Imperial decrees were sent to all the kadis and the commanders of the castles (Dizdars) to assist Osman Aga.to Lambert Verhaer would carry the original text of the capitulations, its Dutch translation and the Memoriael of Haga from his arrival till granting of the capitulations. On l4 July 1612, both of them departed overland via Buda to the Netherlands. Halil Paga had written a letter to the Viceroy of Buda to request assistance on their way through Hungary. When they reached the Netherlands, they sent a letter to Haga to inform him about their arrival and the recent developments about the military success of the Dutch navy. When Haga received the letter, Halil Paga was at Edime, and Haga soon conveyed a letter to inform Haiil Paga.
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See also: A. De Groot, The Ottoman Entpire and the Dutch Republic. (Leiden/lstanbul: 1978)
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