Dyplomacja i religia. Zakonnicy franciszkańscy u sułtanów w Stambule
Religion and Diplomacy. The Franciscan Friars at the Sultans‘ in Istanbul

Summary/Abstract: The story of the Franciscan presence in the Middle East began with the encounter between St. Francis and the sultan. The Turkish sultans had their seat in Constantinople and for this reason there was a need for a continued presence of the Franciscans on the banks of the Bosphorus. During the period of Ottoman rule Istanbul was not only that largest Islamic city, but also the center of Jewish and Christian minorities. They were subjected to so-called millet. The capital of the Empire functioned also as the seat of the Oriental Patriarchates. The Greek Orthodox communities, taking advantage of the fact that their members were subjects of the Ottoman Empire, had many privileges. Competition for the possession of the Holy Places led those communities to begin a defamation campaign against the Franciscans, depicting them as usurpers, foreigners and enemies of the Turkish Empire. The defense and recovery of the Holy Places were due to the laborious action undertaken by the Franciscans and the Holy See. They asked Catholic rulers to begin diplomatic work with the Muslim sultans of Constantinople for the defence of Catholic rights in the Holy Places. This is a long tradition marked by diplomacy in various regions belonging to the Ottoman Empire.

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