THE SCENE: In the medieval mind, the attainment of power and land was considered the most noble goal someone could strive for. The accumulation of wealth through commerce, however, was considered somewhat shameful, as the passage below demonstrates.
THE TEXT: Once when he was looking down, out to sea, from the palace wall for the sake of diversion, he saw a merchant vessel of large tonnage, running before the wind in full sail, a ship of unrivalled size and unsurpassable beauty – at the sight of which he was very much taken aback. He enquired whose this merchantman might be and what kind of cargo it was carrying. On learning that it belonged to [his wife], he kept his counsel for the time being and bided his time until the day on which he was accustomed to go to the sacred church at Blachernae. When Sunday came round and he knew where the ship had docked (he had request that information from somebody), he took the route which passed that way. He approached the vessel and stationed himself at the prow. Then he asked those present several times of what part of the cargo they stood in need: grain, wine or some other commodity. After he had asked many times, they finished by replying, somewhat reluctantly: “Those who are under the protection of your rule and reign lack nothing.” “But are you not aware,” said the emperor, “that while, at God’s behest, I have become emperor, my augousta and wife is turning me into a merchant shipping magnate?” Then he added bitterly: “Who ever saw a Roman emperor or his spouse indulging in commerce?” With these words, he gave orders that at that very hour, merely allowing time for the crew to disembark, the ship was to be given to the flames together with all its rigging and everything she was carrying.
– John Skylitzes, Synopsis of Histories, 11th Century AD
