Capitulations of the Ottoman Empire

[1] The Turkish capitulations were grants made by successive sultans to Christian nations, conferring rights and privileges in favour of their subjects resident or trading in the Ottoman dominions, following the policy towards European states of the Byzantine Empire.

Afterwards new capitulations were obtained which summed up in one document earlier concessions, and added to them in general terms whatever had been conceded to one or more other states; a stipulation which became a most favored nation article.

[5] Capitulations signified that which was arranged under distinct headings; the Ottoman Turkish phrase was ahid nameh (عهيد نامه), whereas a "treaty" was mouahede (معاهده).

[citation needed] According to capitulations, and treaties confirmatory of them, made between the Porte and other states, foreigners resident in Turkey were subject to the laws of their respective countries.

Thus, although the Turkish capitulations were not in themselves treaties, yet by subsequent confirmation they acquired the force of commercial durable instead of personal nature; the conversion of permissive into perfect rights; questions as to contraband and neutral trade stated in definite terms.

16th century copy of the 1569 capitulations between Charles IX and Selim II .
Draft of the 1536 treaty or capitulations negotiated between French ambassador Jean de La Forêt and Ibrahim Pasha , a few days before his assassination, expanding to the whole Ottoman Empire the privileges received in Egypt from the Mamluks before 1518.
Capitulation reopening trade between Venice and the Ottoman Empire signed 2 October 1540, following the Battle of Preveza .
1 piaster overprint on 25-centime Type Sage , used at the French Post Office , Beirut in December 1885