Marco Polo

In 1168, Marco Polo's great-uncle, Marco Polo 'the Elder', borrowed money and led a ship in Constantinople. This event is mentioned in the genealogy created by Giovanni Battista Ramusio, but its accuracy is disputed.

Marco Polo, one of the greatest explorers, was born on this date. He became famous for his travels to Cathay and Persia, which were later documented in 'The Travels of Marco Polo.'

Nicolo and Maffeo Polo, the father and uncle of Marco Polo, departed for Constantinople.

Nicolo and Maffeo Polo, father and uncle of Marco Polo, are invited by Kublai Khan, the Khan of all Mongols, during their trade route. This invitation would later lead to Marco Polo being appointed as an envoy by Khan.

Nicolo and Maffeo Polo are invited to Cathay to meet Kublai Khan, the khan of all the Mongols, and they arrive at his court in 1266.

In 1269, the Polo brothers arrived at Venice after being sent by Kublai Khan with a letter to the Pope requesting missionaries and oil from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The letter also contained a golden tablet authorizing them to receive food and lodging in Kublai Khan's domain.

On January 1, 1271, Marco Polo embarked on his famous travels that would later be documented in his book, introducing Europeans to the wonders of the East.

On October 7, 1271, Marco Polo set off on his journey to Asia, leaving Venice behind. This marked the beginning of his famous travels and exploration of the East.

The Book of Marvels claims that the Polo family provided technical advice on building mangonels during the Siege of Xiangyang in 1273, but historical evidence suggests that the claim is not accurate as the siege was already over before Marco Polo arrived in China for the first time.

On January 1, 1274, Marco Polo is warmly received by the Khan, marking a significant event during his travels in the Empire of China.

In 1274, the Polos, including Marco Polo, arrived in China after setting out with Maffeo and Nicolo Polo following a letter from Kublai Khan to Pope Gregory X. They carried letters for the Mongol emperor from the Pope.

Around 1275, Marco Polo and his family reached Kublai Khan's court after enduring significant hardships. Marco served as an envoy and possibly a tax collector for the Khan, embarking on journeys throughout Asia.

Marco Polo begins working for Kublai Khan.

The war between Genoa and Pisa, also known as the Battle of Meloria, resulted in Genoa's crushing defeat over Pisa, marking the beginning of Pisa's downfall. The battle concluded with destruction in Pisa.

Kublai Khan finally allowed the Polos to leave his company and entrusted them with the duty of accompanying the Mongol princess Kököchin to Persia to become the consort of Arghun Khan.

After spending seventeen years in China, Marco Polo was appointed as the governor of the city of Yangzhou by Kublai Khan. This appointment came after Kublai Khan took a liking to Marco and sent him on diplomatic missions throughout the empire.

During his return trip to the South China Sea, Marco Polo observed a star shaped like a sack with a big tail, most likely a comet. This observation was not included in his book of Travels, but astronomers agree that a comet was sighted in China and Indonesia in 1293.

The Polos, after requesting to return home, were denied by Kublai Khan. Instead, they were sent to escort a Mongol princess to her wedding in Persia. The Polos embarked on a journey from Quanzhou to Sumatra, Sri Lanka, India, and finally to Persia.

After finishing his journey in China and meeting Khan, Marco Polo returns home to Venice. His return is significant as it marks his involvement in conflicts. Additionally, he shared his stories, which were initially met with disbelief by the people of Venice.

In 1295, Marco Polo returned to Venice after his journey to the East, bringing back riches and stories from his travels.

In 1296, Marco Polo was captured by the Genoese during their war with Venice. While in prison, he met Rustichello of Pisa, who encouraged him to write about his adventures.

Marco Polo was captured during the Genoa-Italian War and imprisoned in Genoa. During his time in prison, he co-authored a book describing his adventures and innovations he encountered during his travels in Asia.

After being captured by Genoans during a skirmish, Marco Polo spent time in captivity where he dictated his travels to Rustichello da Pisa. He was released in August 1299.

In 1300, Marco Polo married Donata Badoèr, the daughter of merchant Vitale Badoèr. They had three daughters together.

The Dominican brother Francesco Pipino translated Marco Polo's memoirs into Latin in 1302, shortly after Marco's return to Venice. This translation into the authoritative language of culture at the time helped promote the book across Europe.

In 1307, Marco Polo was appointed as 'gentlemen commander' of a Venetian galley. This title signified his leadership role in the Venetian navy.

While in captivity, Marco Polo encountered a writer named Rustichello of Pisa. He shared his extensive travels and adventures with Rustichello.

A year after being taken prisoner, Marco Polo was finally released. This marked the end of his imprisonment and the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

The only Persian source that mentions the princess Kököchin was not completed until 1310-11, which suggests that Marco Polo could not have learned the information from any Persian book.

Marco Polo fell ill in 1323 and passed away on January 8, 1324. He left behind a will dividing his assets among family, religious institutions, and guilds. His death date is estimated to be between the sunsets of January 8 and 9, 1324.

Marco Polo, the famous traveler, passed away on this date.

Marco Polo's travels may have influenced European cartography, leading to the development of the 1453 Fra Mauro map, partially based on the map brought from Cathay by Marco Polo. This influence ultimately contributed to the European voyages of exploration in the following centuries.

John Frampton published the first English translation of Marco Polo's book in 1579, titled 'The most noble and famous travels of Marco Polo'. It was based on a Castilian translation from 1503.

In 1605, Bento de Góis, inspired by Marco Polo's writings of a Christian kingdom in the east, traveled 4,000 miles across Central Asia. Although he did not find the kingdom, his journey ended at the Great Wall of China, confirming that Cathay was what Matteo Ricci called 'China'.

In 1851, the three-masted clipper Marco Polo was built in Saint John, New Brunswick, becoming the first ship to sail around the world in under six months.

The 1938 English translation of Marco Polo's book by A. C. Moule and Paul Pelliot was based on a Latin manuscript discovered in the library of the Cathedral of Toledo in 1932. This version was 50% longer than other translations.

In 1958, R. E. Latham published a popular translation of Marco Polo's book, blending several texts together to create a coherent narrative. This version aimed to provide readers with a comprehensive view of European and Eurasian literary and commercial culture.

The television miniseries Marco Polo (1982) featuring Ken Marshall, Burt Lancaster, and Ruocheng Ying, directed by Giuliano Montaldo, won two Emmy Awards and was nominated for six more, depicting Polo's travels.

The television film Marco Polo (2007) stars Brian Dennehy as Kublai Khan and Ian Somerhalder as Marco Polo. It portrays Marco Polo being left alone in China while his uncle and father return to Venice, to be reunited with him many years later.

The PBS documentary In the Footsteps of Marco Polo (2009) follows two friends who retrace Marco Polo's journey from Venice to China via land and sea.

In 2012, Sinologist and historian Hans Ulrich Vogel released a detailed analysis of Marco Polo's description of currencies, salt production, and revenues in China. Vogel argued that Polo's inclusion of specific details, such as currency shapes and sizes, supported his presence in China due to the accuracy of the information.