On January 31, 2019, the Humanities Science Section of the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB) organizes, within the pale of the Seminar Lunchtime series, the lecture Amending the Ottoman Capitulations: Venetian ‘imperial signs (nishan-hümayun) in the Seventeenth Century, sustained by Radu Dipratu. The event will take place in the SSU-ICUB Seminar Hall (Dimitrie Brândza Street, no.1), starting from 14.00.
The capitulations (ahdname-i hümayun) formed the basis of the diplomatic and commercial relations between the Ottoman Empire and Venice. Analyzing the documents issued between 1595-1641, a relatively long period of peace between the two neighboring states, it can be seen that the capitulation provisions remained unchanged. It seems that over the seventeenth century, current issues were no longer addressed by the inclusion of new articles in the Venetian capitulations, but by the issuing of complementary documents, called “imperial signs” (nişan-ü hümayun). Because the term nișan refers to the sultan monogram (tuğra), present on almost every chancellery document, the interpretations and classifications offered so far on these documents were unsatisfactory.
By approaching the ottoman original documents and the venetian diplomatic reports, I will bring a series of necessary clarifications on “imperial signs”: When and why were they issued? How were they structured? What issues did they cover? The hypothesis suggested by the lecturer is that “imperial signs” were, alongside capitulations, essential to establishing peace and trade relations between the Ottoman Empire and Venice, even in the next century.
Radu Dipratu is researcher at the Institute of South Eastern European Studies of the Romanian Academy and New Europe College scholarship holder. He obtained his PhD in 2017 at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of History, with a thesis on the catholics status in the ottoman capitulations in the 17th century.
The Lunchtime Seminar is the ICUB Humanities Science Section research seminar where members and associate researchers can present their papers. The seminar starts at 13:30 with an informal lunch, and from 14:00 the researcher has an hour to present his paper, followed by an hour of debate. The purpose of this seminar is to provide a collaborative, interdisciplinary and competitive environment in which researchers can test their ideas and refine their arguments. The seminar is open to members of the Institute and associated researchers, but also to their guests. Those interested in participating can send an email to humanities@icub.unibuc.ro .
More details about the Lunchtime Seminar can be found here.
