Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who famously travelled through Asia in the 13th century and served at the court of Kublai Khan (Beijing), the Mongol emperor of China. His detailed accounts of the East—compiled in The Travels of Marco Polo—introduced Europeans to the vast wealth, culture, and complexity of the Mongol Empire and its territories.
Who Was Marco Polo?
- Born in Venice in 1254, Marco Polo journeyed to Asia with his father and uncle.
- He spent over two decades in the Mongol Empire, including time as an envoy for Kublai Khan.
- His writings became one of the most influential travelogues in history, shaping European perceptions of Asia for centuries.
His Connection to a Chinese Princess
Marco Polo’s most intimate brush with royal affairs came through Princess Kököchin (also spelled Cocachin, Kokechin, or Kukachin):
- After the death of Arghun Khan’s favourite wife, Kublai Khan agreed to send a noblewoman from the same Mongol tribe—the Bayaut—as a replacement.
- Kököchin, a 17-year-old princess, was chosen for this diplomatic marriage.
- Marco Polo was entrusted with escorting her from China to Persia, along with a fleet of ships and imperial envoys.
- The journey took about two years, passing through Sumatra, Sri Lanka, and India before reaching Persia in 1293.
- By the time they arrived, Arghun had died, and Kököchin married his son, Ghazan Khan, instead.
Romance or Duty?
While historical records emphasise Marco Polo’s role as an escort, some modern retellings and fictionalised accounts—like The Red Silk Thread opera—suggest a romantic tension between Marco and the princess. These interpretations weave in themes of forbidden love, destiny, and sacrifice, but they’re speculative and not supported by Polo’s own writings.