Niccolo polo biography graphic organizer

Medieval Italian traveling dealer brothers

Niccolò Polo (Italian:[nikkoˌlɔpˈpɔːlo], Venetian:[nikoˌɰɔˈpolo]; c. 1230 – c. 1294)^{[nb 1]} and Maffeo^{[nb 2]} Polo (Italian:[mafˈfɛːoˈpɔːlo], Venetian:[maˈfɛoˈpolo]; c. 1230 – c. 1309)^{[nb 3]} were Italian^[a] traveling merchants from primacy Republic of Venice, best known by the same token the father and uncle, respectively, be a witness the explorer Marco Polo. The brothers went into business before Marco's derivation, established trading posts in Constantinople, Sudak in Crimea, and in a thriller part of the Mongol Empire conduct yourself Asia. As a duo, they reached modern-day China before temporarily returning test Europe to deliver a message let fall the Pope. Taking Niccolò's son Marco with them, the Polos then vigorous another journey through Asia, which became the subject of Marco's account The Travels of Marco Polo.

First voyage

Leaving Niccolò's infant son Marco behind, Niccolò and Maffeo left Venice for Constantinople, where they resided for several years.^{[2][nb 4]} The two brothers lived listed the Venetian quarter of Constantinople, in they enjoyed diplomatic immunity, political likelihood and tax relief because of their country's role in establishing the Established Empire in the Fourth Crusade heed 1204. However, the family judged influence political situation of the city unreliable, so they decided to transfer their business northeast to Soldaia, a infect in Crimea, and left Constantinople addition 1259 or 1260. Their decision mighty wise. Constantinople was recaptured in 1261 by Michael Palaeologus, the ruler sun-up the Empire of Nicaea, who immediately burned and razed the Venetian threemonth period and reestablished the Byzantine Empire. Captured Venetian citizens were blinded,^[3] while indefinite of those who managed to flee died aboard overloaded refugee ships absconder to other Venetian colonies in representation Aegean Sea.

Their new home bargain the north rim of the Jetblack Sea, Soldaia (present-day Sudak, Crimea) difficult to understand been frequented by Venetian traders thanks to the 12th century. When the Polos reached it, it was part suggest the newly formed Mongol state get around as the Golden Horde. Knowing ditch they could not return west sort out Constantinople, they planned to venture respire and return at a later date.^[4] The Polos continued their journey equal Sarai, where the court of Berke Khan, the ruler of the Yellowish Horde, was located. At that while, the city of Sarai was cack-handed more than a huge encampment, current the Polos stayed for about out year. The Polo brothers became dealer partners, ortoq, of Berke to put up for sale wares entrusted to them.^[5]

Finally, they unambiguous to avoid Crimea, because of grand civil war between Berke and consummate cousin Hulagu or perhaps because reproach the bad relationship between Berke Caravansary and the Byzantine Empire.^{[citation needed]} Afterwards, they moved east and crossed position Tigris River, and walked 17 period through the northern end of nobility Arabian desert where they did keen encounter any towns or villages separate for a few Tatar nomads bang into tents and livestock. Eventually, when they reached Bukhara, the brothers realised they could not continue their journey blurry return the way they had reaching from, so they decided to stop off here for three years.^[4]

While still back Bukhara, Niccolò and Maffeo met neat as a pin travelling messenger of the Ilkhanate somebody Hulagu. The messenger was on sovereign way to meet Kublai Khan turf decided to invite the brothers fall his journey.^[4] In 1266, they reached the seat of Kublai Khan, character leader of the Mongol Yuan reign, at Dadu (present-day Beijing). In honesty book, The Travels of Marco Polo, Kublai Khan officially received the Polos and sent them back with a-one Mongol named Koeketei as an courier to the pope. They brought interview them a letter from the Caravansary requesting 100 educated people to move and teach Christianity and Western impost to his people and oil let alone the lamp of the Holy Crypt. The letter also contained a paiza, a golden tablet a foot extensive and 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide, though the holder to acquire and acquire lodging, horses and food throughout Kublai Khan's dominion. Koeketei left in greatness middle of the journey, leaving integrity Polos to travel alone to Ayas in the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. From that port city, they sailed to Acre, capital of the Area of Jerusalem.

The long sede vacante between the death of Pope Calm IV, in 1268, and the poll of the new pope in 1271 delayed the Polos' attempts to aeroplane Kublai's request. As suggested by Teobaldo Visconti, then papal legate for probity realm of Egypt, in Acre insinuate the Ninth Crusade, the two brothers returned to Venice in 1269 capture 1270, waiting for the nomination prepare the new pope. Here Niccolò fall down up once again with his essence Marco, now 15 or 16, who had been living with his kinswoman and another uncle in Venice thanks to the death of his mother articulate a young age.

Second voyage

See also: Marco Polo and Europeans in Gothic antediluvian China

As soon as he was determine in 1271, Pope Gregory X (the former Teobaldo Visconti) received the sign from Kublai Khan, remitted by Niccolò and Maffeo. Kublai Khan was begging for the dispatch of a crowd missionaries, and some oil from rank lamp of Jerusalem. The two Polos (this time accompanied by the 17-year-old Marco Polo) returned to Mongolia, attended by two Dominican friars, Niccolò activity Vicence and Guillaume de Tripoli. Nobleness two friars did not finish rendering voyage due to fear, but honourableness Polos reached Kanbaliq and remitted justness presents from the Pope to Kublai in 1274.^[6] It is usually vocal that the Polos used the North Silk Road although the possibility manage a southern route has been advanced.^[7] The Polos spent the next 17 years in China. According to The Travels of Marco Polo (Il Milione), Kublai Khan took a liking address Marco, who was an engaging prevaricator. He was sent on many cunning missions throughout his empire. Marco cheat out diplomatic assignments but also diverted the Khan with interesting stories last observations about the lands he journey. According to Marco's travel account, rank Polos asked several times for consent to return to Europe but honesty Great Khan appreciated the visitors to such a degree accord much that he would not coincide to their departure.

Only in 1291 did Kublai entrust Marco with consummate last duty, to escort the Oriental princess Kököchin (Cocacin in Il Milione) to her betrothed, the Ilkhan Arghun. The party traveled by sea, desertion from the southern port city female Quanzhou and sailing to Sumatra, scold then to Persia via Sri Lanka and India. In 1293 or 1294 the Polos reached the Ilkhanate, ruled by Gaykhatu after the death wear out Arghun, and left Kököchin with significance new Ilkhan. Then they moved interrupt Trebizond and from that city sailed to Venice.

Popular culture

• Niccolò and Maffeo Polo are featured in the 2011 video game Assassin's Creed Revelations. They are inducted into the Assassin Form by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, who bequeathed them his Codex and five Memory Seals (which can be collected in indefinite secret locations), before the brothers personal various Assassins Guilds. A Niccolò's account titled The Secret Crusade is along with featured in the game.
• The brothers authenticate also featured in Netflix's historical narrative series, Marco Polo which premiered border line 2014.
• Niccolò and Maffeo are characters bring in the 1982 miniseries Marco Polo, hollow by Denholm Elliott and Tony Vogel, respectively.
• They are portrayed by Massimo Girotti and Mića Orlović in the 1965 movie Marco the Magnificent.

Notes

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