"I understand your noble aspirations," said lek hd Pasha, the Ottoman Grand Vizier, adjusting his large white turban and straightening his posture. "However, our great Sultan has decided that our trade relations will align closely with Britain."
Talleyrand chuckled and shook his head.
"The lady you are so enchanted by may still be smiling sweetly at you. But you might not realize that she turns away to et your enemy in secret."
"Ah, I am, of course, referring to the one who stole the northern peninsula from your ho," he added, clearly referencing Russia and its annexation of Cria.
lek hd narrowed his eyes.
"Trade between Britain and Russia has always been significant, but this does not diminish the growing number of British rchant ships arriving in Constantinople.
"Moreover, Britain's extensive comrcial influence in Russia could, at tis, help us counterbalance Russian power."
Talleyrand laughed heartily.
"You would pin your hopes on a faithless woman?
"Oh, speaking of rchant ships," he continued with an amused tone, "I nearly forgot. My primary purpose in eting you today is to discuss those very ships."
A flash of irritation crossed the Grand Vizier's face.
"Though your nation has, through questionable ans, gained control of the ports in Tunis and Tripoli, British rchant ships can simply bypass those areas. They can refuel at Mitidja before heading straight to Constantinople."
Talleyrand responded with righteous indignation:
"We were rely clearing out pirates, many of whom ca from Anatolia. The Duke of Tunis was so grateful for our noble efforts that he decided to pledge allegiance to our King.
"But back to rchant ships," Talleyrand said, shifting into a businesslike tone. "You surely know that oarsn boarding ships at Mitidja barely have enough strength to reach Egypt. Once there, ships must either rest at Alexandria for days or recruit new oarsn.
"Either option significantly increases transport costs."
lek hd, visibly losing patience, said:
"These costs are acceptable, Talleyrand. If you intend to use this as leverage for negotiation, I'm afraid..."
Talleyrand took a long sip of his coffee, savoring the aroma with a smile.
"This coffee is so exquisite, we don't even get this quality at Versailles.
"Oh, if this cup of coffee could reach France in six days, I daresay it would sell for one franc."
"Six days?" The Grand Vizier shook his head. "Even in urgent voyages, that speed is unattainable. And such trips would make this coffee cost over eight francs per cup."
Coffee and Control Over Trade
Though coffee is closely associated with European culture, the Ottoman Empire was the true coffee powerhouse of the era. From Yen to Ethiopia, the Ottomans produced over a third of Europe's coffee supply, making it one of their most significant exports.
A century prior, the Ottomans controlled 90% of the coffee trade until large-scale cultivation in Indonesia and the Aricas disrupted their monopoly. Despite this, Yeni coffee remained unmatched in quality and price.
The "urgent voyages" hd referred to involved forcing oarsn to row at maximum speed, typically reserved for ergencies. In comrcial contexts, this was prohibitively expensive.
Talleyrand swirled his coffee cup and smiled.
"What if my rchant ships could maintain a speed of eight knots without oarsn?"
"That's impossible," hd dismissed. "Sailing alone cannot achieve such speed."
"You're right. But coal can." Talleyrand's tone brimd with confidence. "Steamships built in Brittany are already entering production. These vessels can reach Constantinople from France in just six days."
"And the cost?" hd asked warily.
"Only slightly higher than conventional oar-powered ships. In fact, if British ships stop at Algiers for refueling, their costs would surpass those of steamships."
The Promise of Steamships
Talleyrand was describing paddle steamships, which were revolutionizing river transport but could also navigate the relatively calm diterranean.
While the lack of coal deposits along the diterranean coast posed logistical challenges—forcing steamships to carry substantial coal reserves and reducing cargo capacity—Talleyrand strategically presented the technology's future potential to entice Ottoman cooperation.
Upon hearing about this breakthrough, hd's eyes widened in astonishnt.
"You're serious?"
"Of course. I'm nothing if not honest," Talleyrand said, gesturing westward. "In three days, a steamship will arrive at the port. You can see it for yourself.
"Oh, that ship left Nantes after I departed Marseille. It crossed much of France but will only arrive three days after ."
Revolutionizing diterranean Trade
The Grand Vizier's mind raced. If steamships required no oarsn and maintained high speeds, they would soon dominate diterranean shipping.
The biggest limitation of oar-powered ships wasn't even cost—it was the availability of oarsn.
Ports like Alexandria and Levantine harbors were crowded with ships waiting to hire oarsn. Wealthier rchants sotis resorted to purchasing slaves, but this was astronomically expensive and required resting the slaves frequently to prevent exhaustion.
Under such constraints, any rchant given the option of steam-powered vessels—unrestricted by labor shortages—would imdiately choose them. Furthermore, steamships' speed alone offered a clear competitive edge.
For example, a conventional oar-powered ship took 12–15 days to travel from Constantinople to Marseille. Steamships could cut this ti in half.
No wonder the Frenchman exuded such confidence when he claid France would beco the Ottomans' largest trading partner.
hd began to understand that while the French might not dominate all diterranean trade imdiately, their steamships would disrupt existing systems.
Even if Ottoman rchants attempted to restrict access to steamships, they would quickly realize that competitors using French vessels had a significant cost and efficiency advantage.
The Grand Vizier suddenly pressed his hand over Talleyrand's coffee cup, asking pointedly:
"The British won't sit idly by while you monopolize diterranean shipping. Their navy will take control of the Aegean and extend its reach to the Gulf of Sirte."
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