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

small in numbers to settle conquered areas. So, according to the historical
context in which it occurred, the meaning of tribute varied and so did
interpretations.
When put in the historical context of Algerian European relations, one
finds that tribute as instituted by early Algerian-Dutch treaties rather reflects
the second meaning of the definition, i.e.: ‘a form of regulated trade in goods
and services,” which can also be perceived in the Algerian-French treaties
about the Bastion of France. By the beginning of the 18 th century, tribute also
became indicatory of Christian submission because a new form of practice was
attached to it: presentation of consular gifts as shown in the Swedish treaty.
Originally presented to the Dey and close members of his Turkish circle by
European consuls as a sign of respect, this form of consular practice was later
incorporated in treaties which specified amounts of consular gifts and
frequency of their presentation to the Dey. The latest treaties set value limits
for gifts and made them biennial. 67 Originally consular gifts were presented by
the new consul when such change of consuls occurred either because of death,
replacement, or when the former consul was ordered to leave the country. The
Europeans attributed the last reason to the greediness of the Deys and
pretended that the Deys frequently expelled the consuls so that they could get
more gifts for themselves, their families, and their friends. The true reason,
however, resides in the non-respect of treaties by the Europeans; perhaps also it
67 Allegedly, this change occurred because the rulers of Algiers had become more demanding about the
value of gifts.
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