The Travels of Marco Polo · Character
Peter the Tartar
Also known as Peter, the natural Venetian Peter the Tartar
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 11
Peter the Tartar is introduced through his place in a Venetian household, yet the sparse account leaves room to wonder about the person behind the designation. There is a muted dignity in the little we are told, and a sense that his life exceeds the few words preserved about him.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- Adult (active 1324)
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 11
- Books
- 1
Peter the Tartar is identified as a servant of Marco Polo, and Marco's will frees him from bondage and grants him one hundred lire. The text records this act but gives no further account of Peter's life, relationships, or what followed, leaving his brief appearance marked by a concrete gesture of emancipation.
Description
The text identifies Peter as a Tartar servant but gives no specific physical description. His height, build, skin tone, hair, eyes, facial features, and distinguishing marks are unspecified. No particular clothing is described; a depiction should use restrained, historically plausible attire without inventing ethnicized features.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
Marco Poloformer master
Peter was Marco’s servant. Marco freed him from bondage in his will, remitted his work-related obligations, and left him money.
Story so far
BOOK 1The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1
Appearances
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