Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

2. 1. Sovereignty
The nature of the triangular diplomatic relationship between the
European states and the Sublime Porte, on the one hand, and between the latter
and the Regency of Algiers, on the other, and finally between Algiers and the
European states explains in part the evolution of Algiers from a mere
dependency of the Ottoman Empire to a sovereign political entity recognized
and accepted diplomatically by all sovereign states in the western world. The
capitulations between the Ottoman Empire and the different Christian countries
were diplomatic acts concluded between a state and another state and were
generally respected as such. Technically, Algiers was a dependency of the
Ottoman Empire, not a separate state, and legally it was administered as an
Ottoman province by a Pasha, or viceroy, who was the representative of the
Sultan and governed on his behalf. As a “vassal to the Sultan,” Algiers was
“theoretically bound by those capitulations in the same way as their
signatories”—the Ottoman Empire and the European states. 51 However, and for
reasons discussed earlier, Algiers refused to abide by them and the Sublime
Porte failed to force Algiers to respect them. The foreign states, conscious
about those weaknesses in relations between Constantinople and its regency,
started signing separate treaties with Algiers early in the 16 th century. That
implicitly meant recognition of Algiers as a sovereign state.
Furthermore, and paradoxical as it might seem, when the Sultan
authorized foreign powers to “chastise the Algerian pirates,” occupy their ports,
51 Blondy, “Discours sur l’esclavage,” par. 18.
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