Nicolo Polo

Maffeo and Nicolo are brothers who travelled together to the East and returned to Venice. They were both deeply worried when Marco was captured by the Genoese.

Nicolo is Marco’s father. He travelled east with his brother Maffeo before Marco joined them, and Marco later returned to Venice to find Nicolo had remarried and had three younger sons.

Nicolo left two illegitimate sons, Stefano and Zannino, who were still young according to the younger Maffeo’s will.

Andrea Polo was Nicolo’s father and one of the three sons of the Polo family identified in the family genealogy.

The author conjectures that Fiordelisa may have been Nicolo’s wife and the mother of Maffeo, while stressing that the evidence is uncertain.

Giovanni was one of the three sons born to Nicolo during Marco’s long imprisonment.

Zannino was one of Nicolo’s two illegitimate sons, mentioned alongside Stefano.

Kublai received Nicolo and Maffeo at court, questioned them about western rulers and customs, and later commissioned them as envoys to the Pope.

Kúblái recalls speaking with Nicolo and Maffeo Polo about Christianity and having sent them as envoys to the Pope. He describes a proposed mission of Christian teachers as a condition for his conversion.

After reaching Bukhara, the Polo brothers encountered envoys sent from Aláu’s court to Kublai’s court and joined their onward journey.

Barca welcomed Nicolo and Maffeo at his court, treated them with honour, and graciously accepted their jewels.

Nicolo and the other envoys protect Cocachin on the journey and treat her as a daughter.

Cogatai travelled with Nicolo as one of the three ambassadors until illness forced him to stop; he agreed that the brothers should continue without him.

Nicolo helped escort Kokáchin from China to Persia, where she wept as she parted from the Venetians.

As Pope and former Legate, Gregory receives Nicolo and his companions, appoints friars to accompany them, and provides credentials for their mission.

Appointed by Gregory X to accompany the Polo mission, Friar Nicolas abandons the journey when the invasion makes it too dangerous.

Kublai charged the brothers with delivering his letter to the Pope, requesting learned Christians and oil from the Holy Sepulchre.

Bendocquedar’s invasion of Hermenia places Nicolo and the other envoys in danger of capture or death.