the sultan's personal ornaments, as it must be taken for
granted that a luxurious despot would not be surpassed in
magnificence by his vassals.
On state occasions, as is the oriental custom, he is surrounded by all the symbols of rank and power. When the
ambassador from the Dutch Republic, at the beginning of the
seventeenth century, was granted an audience, he found the
emperor seated upon a throne blazing with diamonds, rubies,
pearls, and other costly gems, under a sumptuous canopy
similarly adorned.
Tavernier, who visited the sultan's court, describes the
splendor and magnificence of the Grand Signor's royal palace
and equipage with the minuteness of detail characteristic of
this writer: —
Eight different coverings were used for the drapery of the
imperial throne,—one of black velvet embroidered with large
pearls, another of white velvet ornamented with rubies and
emeralds, a third of purple velvet decorated with turquoise and pearls, while the remaining five were embellished
with gold and other rich materials. Different draperies were
employed on different occasions ; for example, on the reception of ambassadors, the richest were used for the representatives of the most distinguished and powerful nations, while for
those of less consequence, in the estimation of the sultan, a
more simple cloth of state was displayed. On these public
occasions, the emperor's horses, consisting of a numerous
retinue, were paraded in caparisons bedecked with diamonds,
emeralds, rubies, and other precious stones. The magnificence
of the court was carried into all its amusements, which afforded
occasions for the display of the wealth of the Ottoman Empire
in these treasures. Every sporting hawk wore a hood embroidered with pearls, and a jewel ornamented with gems adorned his
