Marco Polo

Birth

Sep 15, 1254

Marco Polo was born around the year of 1254 in Venice, Italy

Father and uncle leave on a trading journey

Jan 1, 1260

Marco's father and uncle set sail to Crimea for a trading journey. They eventually travel to China when they receive an invitaion to meet Kublai Khan

Father and Uncle Return

Jan 1, 1269

Marco Polo's father and uncle return from there nine year trip to China.

Polo Brothers Return to China

Jan 1, 1271

In 1271 the Polo brothers, in search of further profit and adventure, set out to return to China. It was this second trip that gave Marco Polo the opportunity to make his debut as a world traveler. Three and one-half years after leaving Venice in 1271, when Marco was about 21 years old, they finally reached China, and Khan welcomed the Polos into his palace.

Appointed Envoy

Jan 1, 1275

When Marco Polo was around the age of twenty-one Kublai Khan sent him on very important business to a distant part of China. He did the work well and from then on often worked as an envoy of the Chinese monarch. He sometimes travelled to lands never before visited by Europeans and Marco Polo had many strange adventures among the almost unknown tribes of Asia.

Appointed Governor

Jan 1, 1280

Marco Polo travelled through Asia working with the Kublai Khan. Marco was especially liked by Khan and he enlisted him into service for the Empire. Marco served in several high-level government positions, including the governor of the city of Yangzhou.

Set Sail to Europe

Jan 1, 1292

A Mongol princess was going to be sent to Persia to become the spouse of Arghun Khan, and the Polos offered to go with her. Marco wrote that Kublai did not want to let them go but finally granted permission. They were eager to leave and return home.

Return to Europe

Jan 1, 1295

They finally reach Venice in 1295 after accompanying the Mongol princess to Persia.

Gentleman Commander

Sep 1, 1298

Marco Polo never returned to Asia. However, entered the service of Venice in its war against Genoa. In 1298 Marco served as a gentleman-commander of a galley in the Venetian navy. During September 1298 Marco was captured and imprisoned in Genoa. His fame as an adventurer had preceded him, and he was treated with politeness. He was released within a year. During them time he when he was imprisoned he wrote his very famous book Marco Polo's Travels (Il Milione)

Marriage

Jan 1, 1300

When Marco Polo was finally released in August 1299, he returned home to Venice, where his father and uncle had bought a large house in the central quarter named contrada San Giovanni Crisostomo. Polo financed other journeys, but never again left Venice. In 1300, he married a woman named Donata Badoer. They had three daughters, named Fantina, Bellela and Moreta.

Internationaly Famous

Jan 1, 1307

A copy of his book reaches France and Switzerland and Marco Polo becomes internationaly famous.

Death

Jan 9, 1324

In 1323, Polo was confined to bed, due to illness. On January 9, 1324 Marco Polo died. His most famous last words were "I have not told half of what I saw."

Video

Jan 1, 1340

Video