Grygorieva T. Diplomatic communication between Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire: embassies and diplomatic ceremonial (1622-1678)

The dissertation is devoted to the embassies from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to the Ottoman Empire in the period of 1622-1678: from settling relations after the Khotyn War and to the appointment of the first resident ambassador of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Istanbul. The author explores the peacemaking procedure after the Khotyn war as the first full-scale peacemaking precedent in the relations of the parties; distinguishes factors that encouraged peaceful relations during the period of the years 1624-1667; identifies reasons and consequences of the Polish-Ottoman war in 1672-1676. Comparing the tasks and powers of the Polish ambassadors with the information about process and results of the embassies, the author estimates effectiveness of organizing diplomatic missions from Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to Istanbul. Particular attention is paid to the role of diplomatic ritual and ceremony in the ambassadorial performance. Specifically, the author compares Polish descriptions of ambassadorial receptions in the Topkapy palace to the results of modern reconstructions of the Ottoman palace ceremonial and suggests an interpretation of contradictory information in the mentioned descriptions.