Ottoman Diplomats
Letters from the Imperial Legation in Brussels (1849–1914)
Synopsis
Passage à Bruxelles du Prince Alexandre des Pays-Bas
After a short stay in Brussels, Prince Alexander, second son of William III, King of the Netherlands, continued his trip to Algeria, where he would spend the winter because of health reasons. Etienne Carathéodory Effendi explains the importance of Prince Alexander’s short stay: it was a sign of fraternization and rapprochement between the two countries, both feeling intimidated by Germany. As it was unusual for a royal member of the Orange and Nassau family to visit Brussels, Prince Alexander’s stay in Brussels testified to the sympathy between both countries, increasingly feeling the need to forget their old resentment. As an example, Carathéodory Effendi refers to the mutual exchange of decorations to both King’s sons. Moreover, contrary to the custom rules, the Belgian King Leopold II himself presented the representatives of foreign countries to Prince Alexander at a big diplomatic banquet.
Facsimiles
| Series | HR.SYS-220-77 |
|---|---|
| Place | Brussels |
| Date | 03-12-1875 |
| Author | Etienne Carathéodory Effendi |
| Recipient | Rachid Pacha |
Names
How to cite
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Consulted online at Ottoman Diplomats: Letters From the Imperial Legation in Brussels (1849–1914) (2014 Edition), Centre for Political History (PoHis), University of Antwerp, <http://dighum.uantwerpen.be/ottomandiplomats/>.
