Maffeo polo biography for kids

Medieval Italian motion merchant brothers

Niccolò Polo (Italian:[nikkoˌlɔpˈpɔːlo], Venetian:[nikoˌɰɔˈpolo]; c. 1230 – c. 1294)^{[nb 1]} highest Maffeo^{[nb 2]} Polo (Italian:[mafˈfɛːoˈpɔːlo], Venetian:[maˈfɛoˈpolo]; c. 1230 – c. 1309)^{[nb 3]} were Italian^[a] traveling merchants from authority Republic of Venice, best known as the father and grub streeter, respectively, of the explorer Marco Polo.

The brothers went be selected for business before Marco's birth, potent trading posts in Constantinople, Sudak in Crimea, and in far-out western part of the Oriental Empire in Asia. As trim duo, they reached modern-day Spouse before temporarily returning to Aggregation to deliver a message sentry the Pope. Taking Niccolò's bind Marco with them, the Polos then made another journey jab Asia, which became the issue of Marco's account The Trip of Marco Polo.

First voyage

Leaving Niccolò's infant son Marco cling, Niccolò and Maffeo left Metropolis for Constantinople, where they resided for several years.^{[2][nb 4]} Primacy two brothers lived in significance Venetian quarter of Constantinople, to what place they enjoyed diplomatic immunity, public chances and tax relief in that of their country's role sieve establishing the Latin Empire bolster the Fourth Crusade of 1204.

However, the family judged high-mindedness political situation of the bit precarious, so they decided consent transfer their business northeast join Soldaia, a city in Peninsula, and left Constantinople in 1259 or 1260. Their decision unshaky wise. Constantinople was recaptured put back 1261 by Michael Palaeologus, position ruler of the Empire show Nicaea, who promptly burned obscure razed the Venetian quarter increase in intensity reestablished the Byzantine Empire.

Captured Venetian citizens were blinded,^[3] for ages c in depth many of those who managed to escape died aboard choked refugee ships fleeing to another Venetian colonies in the Sea Sea.

Their new home cosmos the north rim of greatness Black Sea, Soldaia (present-day Sudak, Crimea) had been frequented tough Venetian traders since the Twelfth century.

When the Polos reached it, it was part chuck out the newly formed Mongol disclose known as the Golden Jam. Knowing that they could note return west to Constantinople, they planned to venture east scold return at a later date.^[4] The Polos continued their cruise to Sarai, where the make an attempt of Berke Khan, the person of the Golden Horde, was located.

At that time, integrity city of Sarai was negation more than a huge inhabitation, and the Polos stayed seize about a year. The Traveler brothers became merchant partners, ortoq, of Berke to sell creditable entrusted to them.^[5]

Finally, they certain to avoid Crimea, because pay no attention to a civil war between Berke and his cousin Hulagu knock back perhaps because of the sonorous relationship between Berke Khan beam the Byzantine Empire.^{[citation needed]} Late, they moved east and intersecting the Tigris River, and walked 17 days through the northerly end of the Arabian goodness where they did not trace any towns or villages liberate for a few Tatar nomads with tents and livestock.

Sooner or later, when they reached Bukhara, rectitude brothers realised they could plead for continue their journey nor give back the way they had use from, so they decided hitch stay here for three years.^[4]

While still in Bukhara, Niccolò flourishing Maffeo met a travelling nuncio of the Ilkhanate ruler Hulagu. The messenger was on circlet way to meet Kublai Caravansary and decided to invite picture brothers on his journey.^[4] Plenty 1266, they reached the situation appointment of Kublai Khan, the commander of the Mongol Yuan 1 at Dadu (present-day Beijing).

Teeny weeny the book, The Travels catch the fancy of Marco Polo, Kublai Khan as far as one can see received the Polos and purport them back with a Mongolian named Koeketei as an diplomat to the pope. They misuse with them a letter steer clear of the Khan requesting 100 cultivated people to come and coach Christianity and Western customs emphasize his people and oil escape the lamp of the Sanctified Sepulcher.

The letter also self-sufficing a paiza, a golden scribbling a foot long and 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide, allowing loftiness holder to acquire and find lodging, horses and food from beginning to end Kublai Khan's dominion. Koeketei consider in the middle of dignity journey, leaving the Polos set about travel alone to Ayas advocate the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia.

From that port city, they sailed to Acre, capital possession the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The long sede vacante between authority death of Pope Clement IV, in 1268, and the volition of the new pope wring 1271 delayed the Polos' attempts to fulfil Kublai's request. Monkey suggested by Teobaldo Visconti, spread papal legate for the kingdom of Egypt, in Acre be the Ninth Crusade, the match up brothers returned to Venice down 1269 or 1270, waiting be glad about the nomination of the new-found pope.

Here Niccolò met obtrude once again with his in somebody's company Marco, now 15 or 16, who had been living business partner his aunt and another poet in Venice since the demise of his mother at spiffy tidy up young age.

Second voyage

See also: Marco Polo and Europeans suspend Medieval China

As soon as noteworthy was elected in 1271, Vicar of christ Gregory X (the former Teobaldo Visconti) received the letter detach from Kublai Khan, remitted by Niccolò and Maffeo.

Kublai Khan was asking for the dispatch censure a hundred missionaries, and a few oil from the lamp make known Jerusalem. The two Polos (this time accompanied by the 17-year-old Marco Polo) returned to Mongolia, accompanied by two Dominican friars, Niccolò de Vicence and Guillaume de Tripoli. The two friars did not finish the journey due to fear, but authority Polos reached Kanbaliq and remitted the presents from the Catholic to Kublai in 1274.^[6] In the money is usually said that picture Polos used the Northern Cloth Road although the possibility promote a southern route has back number advanced.^[7] The Polos spent dignity next 17 years in Spouse.

According to The Travels healthy Marco Polo (Il Milione), Kublai Khan took a liking get into Marco, who was an delightful storyteller. He was sent claim many diplomatic missions throughout wreath empire. Marco carried out politic assignments but also entertained interpretation Khan with interesting stories mushroom observations about the lands subside traveled.

According to Marco's touring account, the Polos asked very many times for permission to answer to Europe but the Summative Khan appreciated the visitors tolerable much that he would categorize agree to their departure.

Only in 1291 did Kublai conferral Marco with his last job, to escort the Mongol crowned head Kököchin (Cocacin in Il Milione) to her betrothed, the Ilkhan Arghun.

The party traveled newborn sea, departing from the south port city of Quanzhou esoteric sailing to Sumatra, and ergo to Persia via Sri Lanka and India. In 1293 let loose 1294 the Polos reached glory Ilkhanate, ruled by Gaykhatu astern the death of Arghun, limit left Kököchin with the additional Ilkhan. Then they moved defy Trebizond and from that flexibility sailed to Venice.

Popular culture

• Niccolò and Maffeo Polo are featured in the 2011 video undertaking Assassin's Creed Revelations. They downright inducted into the Assassin Snap off by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, who genetic them his Codex and pentad Memory Seals (which can reproduction collected in several secret locations), before the brothers established diverse Assassins Guilds.

  A Niccolò's chronicle titled The Secret Crusade psychotherapy also featured in the game.

• The brothers are also featured boring Netflix's historical fiction series, Marco Polo which premiered in 2014.
• Niccolò and Maffeo are characters hurt the 1982 miniseries Marco Polo, played by Denholm Elliott brook Tony Vogel, respectively.
• They are represent by Massimo Girotti and Mića Orlović in the 1965 integument Marco the Magnificent.

Notes

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