Marco Polo: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Marco was born in Venice in 1254, and raised by his mother there. His father, [[Niccolò Polo]], was a merchant, primarily trading with the [[Middle East]], who had gone on a voyage with his brother [[Maffeo Polo|Maffeo]]. | Marco was born in Venice in 1254, and raised by his mother there. When she died only a few weeks after his birth, he was left in the care of his aunt, Flora, and paternal grandfather, Andrea.<ref name="EoH BtL Ep8">''[[Echoes of History|Echoes of History: Behind the Legends]]'' – Episode 8: Niccolo and Maffeo Polo</ref> His father, [[Niccolò Polo]], was a merchant, primarily trading with the [[Middle East]], who had gone on a voyage with his brother [[Maffeo Polo|Maffeo]]. | ||
In the | In 1257, Niccolò and Maffeo resided in [[Masyaf]], [[Syria]] - the home of the [[Levantine Assassins]]—at the invitation of their [[Mentor]], Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. When the Mongols [[Fall of Masyaf|attacked]] Masyaf, Altaïr entrusted the Polo brothers with the codex he had written about his life, and five [[Masyaf Keys|ancient keys]]. Though the codex was lost to the Mongols, the Polo brothers managed to successfully hide the keys in their home of [[Constantinople]] as requested, and founded an [[Assassins Guilds|Assassins Guild]] in the city.<ref name="ACTSC">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref> | ||
In 1269, the Polo brothers returned to Venice, and Marco met his father for the first time. They founded another Assassins Guild in Italy,<ref name="ACTSC"/> and Marco himself was raised to become an Assassin.<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref> | |||
===Retrieving the Codex=== | ===Retrieving the Codex=== | ||
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In Venice, Marco became the patron of a fellow member of the Assassin Order and his son, who would later take on the name [[Domenico Auditore]]. One afternoon in the summer of 1296, Marco called Domenico into his study, at which point Domenico's father revealed that he was an Assassin. Marco told Domenico that he would start his apprenticeship with [[Dante Alighieri]], and that he would carry Dante across the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] to [[Spain]]; unbeknownst to Domenico at that point, to bring the codex to safety.<ref name="AC2"/> | In Venice, Marco became the patron of a fellow member of the Assassin Order and his son, who would later take on the name [[Domenico Auditore]]. One afternoon in the summer of 1296, Marco called Domenico into his study, at which point Domenico's father revealed that he was an Assassin. Marco told Domenico that he would start his apprenticeship with [[Dante Alighieri]], and that he would carry Dante across the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] to [[Spain]]; unbeknownst to Domenico at that point, to bring the codex to safety.<ref name="AC2"/> | ||
===Dictating his travels=== | |||
In 1298,<ref name="WP">{{WP|Marco Polo}}</ref> Marco found himself imprisoned in a [[Genoa|Genoese]] prison. While there, he fascinated his cellmate, the poet {{Wiki|Rustichello da Pisa}}, with tales of his adventures. While initially skeptical, Rustichello would transcribe the tales Marco told him. Together, they co-authored ''[[The Travels of Marco Polo]]''. Published around 1300, a year after Marco was released from prison,<ref name="WP"/> the travelogue was met with equal amount praise and skepticism. One Florentine scribe, Adeo Bonaguidi, annotated the manuscript, calling out Marco for his outlandish lies.<ref name="EoH BtL Ep8"/> | |||
===Later life=== | ===Later life=== | ||
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In late 1323, Marco became ill. Marco died on 8 or 9 January 1324, killed by the Templars. After Marco's death, Domenico used Marco's funds to resettle in [[Florence]], becoming a nobleman and taking the name "Auditore".<ref name="AC2"/> | In late 1323, Marco became ill. Marco died on 8 or 9 January 1324, killed by the Templars. After Marco's death, Domenico used Marco's funds to resettle in [[Florence]], becoming a nobleman and taking the name "Auditore".<ref name="AC2"/> | ||
Marco Polo's legacy greatly outlived that of his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, thanks to the book he wrote of his journey across [[Asia]] | ===Legacy=== | ||
Marco Polo's legacy greatly outlived that of his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, thanks to the book he co-wrote of his journey across [[Asia]]. Polo's tale was one of the very first glimpses the Western world had of Asian culture.<ref name="ACM"/><ref name="ACR">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[The Polo Symbols: Hippodrome]]</ref> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
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*''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' {{Mdat}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' {{Mdat}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice]]'' {{Mo}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice]]'' {{Mo}} | ||
*''[[Echoes of History]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 12:14, 17 January 2024
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- "There is little doubt that our world is filled with wonder and curiosity."
- ―Marco Polo.[src]
Marco Polo (1254 – 1324) was a Venetian explorer and merchant and a member of the Italian Brotherhood of Assassins. He was well educated, learning merchant subjects including foreign currency, appraising and the handling of cargo ships.
Marco served an important role in the Brotherhood as he ensured the recovery of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's codex from the Mongols. He also played a key role in the formation of the Auditore family, who would become the leading body of the Italian Assassins.
Biography
Early life
Marco was born in Venice in 1254, and raised by his mother there. When she died only a few weeks after his birth, he was left in the care of his aunt, Flora, and paternal grandfather, Andrea.[1] His father, Niccolò Polo, was a merchant, primarily trading with the Middle East, who had gone on a voyage with his brother Maffeo.
In 1257, Niccolò and Maffeo resided in Masyaf, Syria - the home of the Levantine Assassins—at the invitation of their Mentor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. When the Mongols attacked Masyaf, Altaïr entrusted the Polo brothers with the codex he had written about his life, and five ancient keys. Though the codex was lost to the Mongols, the Polo brothers managed to successfully hide the keys in their home of Constantinople as requested, and founded an Assassins Guild in the city.[2]
In 1269, the Polo brothers returned to Venice, and Marco met his father for the first time. They founded another Assassins Guild in Italy,[2] and Marco himself was raised to become an Assassin.[3]
Retrieving the Codex
In November 1271, he and his father and uncle started a journey to Asia. In May 1275, they visited the Mongol leader Kublai Khan in China and Marco became a member of the Khan's court.[4] Polo served the Khan during 17 years, traveling around China and performing errands. However he never forgot his Assassin roots, and when the time was right, he snuck into the Khan's vault in Shangdu and retrieved Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's lost codex,[5] taking it with him when he returned to Venice in 1295.[6]
In Venice, Marco became the patron of a fellow member of the Assassin Order and his son, who would later take on the name Domenico Auditore. One afternoon in the summer of 1296, Marco called Domenico into his study, at which point Domenico's father revealed that he was an Assassin. Marco told Domenico that he would start his apprenticeship with Dante Alighieri, and that he would carry Dante across the Mediterranean to Spain; unbeknownst to Domenico at that point, to bring the codex to safety.[4]
Dictating his travels
In 1298,[7] Marco found himself imprisoned in a Genoese prison. While there, he fascinated his cellmate, the poet Rustichello da Pisa, with tales of his adventures. While initially skeptical, Rustichello would transcribe the tales Marco told him. Together, they co-authored The Travels of Marco Polo. Published around 1300, a year after Marco was released from prison,[7] the travelogue was met with equal amount praise and skepticism. One Florentine scribe, Adeo Bonaguidi, annotated the manuscript, calling out Marco for his outlandish lies.[1]
Later life
In 1321, Dante was murdered by the lifelong enemies of the Assassins, the Templars, who had secretly proceeded to exist. When Domenico came to inform his father and Marco of Dante's death, he was rushed into the study and both of them informed Domenico of the Templars' existence. They told Domenico to quickly sail to Spain with the codex, and while ushering Domenico out the door, Marco gave Domenico a piece of paper with his own bank account number on it, telling him that he could draw on his credit at any bank in Italy.[4]
In late 1323, Marco became ill. Marco died on 8 or 9 January 1324, killed by the Templars. After Marco's death, Domenico used Marco's funds to resettle in Florence, becoming a nobleman and taking the name "Auditore".[4]
Legacy
Marco Polo's legacy greatly outlived that of his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, thanks to the book he co-wrote of his journey across Asia. Polo's tale was one of the very first glimpses the Western world had of Asian culture.[6][8]
Behind the scenes
In Watch Dogs, another Ubisoft game, Marco Polo and his Assassin affiliation are talked about during a phone conversation.[9]
Gallery
-
A drawing of Marco Polo's caravan
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed II (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Memories (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice (mentioned only)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Echoes of History: Behind the Legends – Episode 8: Niccolo and Maffeo Polo
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Assassin's Creed II
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Initiates - Database: Retrieving the Codex
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Assassin's Creed: Memories
- ↑ 7.0 7.1
Marco Polo on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – The Polo Symbols: Hippodrome
- ↑
marco polo in watch dogs? on the Gamer Kampong YouTube channel
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