Europe in the Middle Ages. 41 



which had at one time threatened to exhaust the 

 wealth of the West, ultimately dwindled into obscurity. 



Europe in the Middle Ages. 



Throughout the early part of the Middle Ages, 

 the city of Constantinople, or the ancient Byzantium, 

 the capital of the Eastern Empire, was the centre of 

 all culture and art. This city was especially rich in 

 Pearls. The crowns and diadems of the Eastern 

 Emperors were wrought in the richest gold, decorated 

 with Pearls, precious stones, and enamel. The most 

 ancient crown known to us, — the Hungarian crown 

 of St. Stephen, presented to him by the Pope in 

 the year lOOi A.D., when Hungary became an 

 empire — was obtained from Byzantium. This crown 

 is richly ornamented with Pearls and jewels. When 

 it was pledged by Queen Elizabeth of Hungary 

 to the Emperor Frederic IV, it was described as 

 containing 320 Pearls. 



The German Imperial crown which dates from the 

 time of Charlemagne, is ornamented with numerous 

 Pearls, strung upon gold wire, and round it is 

 written, in Pearls, "Chonradus Dei Gratia Romanorum 

 Imperator Augustus." 



In the time of Charlemagne, (born 742 ; died 

 814 A.D.), a favourite decoration consisted of large 



