L’information comme instrument de combat Le consulat de Jacob van Dam à Smyrne (1668-1688)

The Dutch Republic developed a consular network in the Mediterranean in the seventeenth century in parallel to their economic influence in the region. Jacob van Dam, at the head of the Dutch nation of Smyrne between 1668 and 1688, used and controlled information in order to update the administrative authorities and fight off the attacks of his adversaries. By doing this, he helped make Dutch political interests part of the consular function.