THE VISIT OF THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH TO İSTANBUL IN 1869.

Throughout centuries, two great dynasties (Habsburgs and Ottomans) engaged in wars, yet by the mid-19th century, they sought to sustain their existence through diplomacy in the face of powerful European states. Another similarity between the two states is that, in 1867, for the first time, an Ottoman Sultan traveled to Europe, and in 1869, a Habsburg ruler made his first visit to Istanbul and Suez. This article examines Emperor Franz Joseph's visit to Istanbul in 1869. It discusses the reasons behind the Emperor's decision to undertake such journeys following Austria's recent heavy defeats and explores the expectations from these visits. The Emperor's impressions of the places he toured in Istanbul are conveyed using information derived from primary sources. Furthermore, detailed accounts of the press coverage from both Vienna and Istanbul regarding these visits are presented. Preparations and expenses for hosting a foreign emperor for the first time in Istanbul are also documented using archival records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]