French Revolutionaries in the Ottoman Empire: Political Culture, Diplomacy, and the Limits of Universal Revolution, 1792-1798

Synopsis

The Effects Of The French Revolution Reached Far Beyond The Confines Of France Itself. The Ottoman Empire, Ancient Ally And Major Trading Partner Of France, Was Not Immune From The Repercussions Of The 'age Of Revolutions', Especially Since It Was Home To Permanent French Communities With A Certain Legal Autonomy. French Revolutionaries In The Ottoman Empire Examines, For The First Time, The Political And Cultural Impact Of The French Revolution On Franco-ottoman Relations, As Well As On The French Communities Of The Ottoman Empire. The Modern Interpretation Of Revolutionary Ideological Expansionism Is Strongly Influenced By The Famous Propaganda Decree Of 19 November 1792 Which Promised 'fraternity And Help To All Peoples Who Wish To Recover Their Liberty', As Well As The Well-studied Efforts To Export The Revolution Into The Territories Conquered By The Revolutionary Armies And To The Various Sister Republics. Against All Expectations, However, French Revolutionaries In The Ottoman Empire Exhibited Neither A 'crusading Mentality' Nor A Heightened Readiness To Use Force In Order To Achieve Ideological Goals. Instead, As This Volume Shows, In Matters Of Diplomacy As Well As In The Administration Of French Expatriate Communities, Revolutionary Policies Were Applied In An Extremely Circumspect Fashion. The Focus On The Effects Of The French Regime Change Outside Of France Offers Valuable New Insights Into The Revolutionary Process Itself, Which Will Revise Common Assumptions About French Revolutionary Diplomacy. In Addition, Pascal Firges Takes A Close Look At The Establishment Of The New Political Culture Of The French Revolution Within The Transcultural Context Of The French Expatriate Communities Of The Ottoman Empire, Which Serves As A Thought-provoking Point Of Comparison For The Emergence And Development Of French Revolutionary Political Culture.-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Pt. I Franco-ottoman Relations During The Revolution -- 1. End Of The French Diplomatic Ancien Regime -- 2. Negotiating For A Besieged Republic: Franco-ottoman Diplomacy In 1793 -- 3. Negotiating For A Victorious Republic: Franco-ottoman Diplomacy 1794-1798 -- Pt. Ii From Paris To Istanbul: French Revolutionary Foreign Policy And Diplomatic Practice -- 4. Neglect Or Refusal? The Revolutionary Government's Attitude Towards Franco-ottoman Negotiations During The Terror -- 5. Between Innovation And Continuity: French Revolutionary Political Culture And Diplomatic Practice -- 6. Self-containment Or World Revolution? The Purpose Of French Revolutionary Propaganda -- Pt. Iii Regime Change In The French Communities Of The Levant, 1792-1795 -- 7. Forgotten By Liberty? Regime Change And The Challenges To Consular Authority In The Levant -- 8. On Silent Feet: Stabilizing The Regime Change In The French Communities -- 9. Turning Expatriates Into Citizens: The Emergence Of A New Political Culture In The French Communities Of The Levant. Pascal Firges. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 259-272) And Index.