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May 5, 1254
Marco Polo is Born
Polo was born in 1254. The exact place of birth is unknown, and most biographers refer to Venice itself as the home town of Marco Polo. Even though he was born into a wealthy merchant family, most of Polo's childhood was spent without his parents, and he was raised by his extended family. Polo's mother died when he was young, and for most of Polo's youth, his father and uncle had been in Asia.
( https://www.biography.com/explorer/marco-polo ) -
May 5, 1271
Journey to Asia
In 1271, Marco Polo at the age of seventeen, his father and uncle, set off for Asia on a series of adventures that later was documented in Marco's journal. They sailed to Acre, then to the Persian port of Hormuz on camels. They decided to go to China, but the ships were not seaworthy there, so they went overland until they reached the summer palace of Khan at Shangdu.
(https://www.biography.com/explorer/marco-polo ) -
Jun 2, 1275
An envoy for Kublai Khan
When Marco Polo was about twenty-one, Kublai Khan sent him to a distant part of China in very important business. He did the job well and was also working as the Chinese monarch's ambassador from that time on. His journeys were often in lands that Europeans never saw before, and Marco Polo had several odd adventures with the almost unknown Asian tribes. They finally wanted to go back to Venice.
(https://worldhistoryproject.org/topics/marco-polo ) -
Aug 5, 1280
Marco Polo appointed governor
Marco worked in a variety of high-level government positions, such as an ambassador. Although the Great Khan loved getting the Polos as his subordinates and diplomats, Khan finally chose to let them leave the Empire.
(https://worldhistoryproject.org/topics/marco-polo ) -
May 4, 1295
Marco Polo returns to Venice
A Mongol princess was to be sent to Persia sometime around 1292 ( according to Otago), to become Arghun Khan's consort, and the Polos offered to accompany her. In particular, they were eager to go, because Kublai was almost 80 years old, and his death would have been dangerous for a small number of isolated travelers. They were still, of course, hoping to see their families again.
(https://www.businessinsider.com/10-historical-figures-you-dont-know-enough-about-2014-5 ) -
Aug 8, 1299
Prisoner of war in Genoa
Venice was at war with Genoa upon their return, and Marco Polo was taken a prisoner. He spent the last months of his imprisonment dictating a thorough account of his journeys to his fellow prisoner, who incorporated his own stories as well as other stories gathered from China and current events.
(https://www.businessinsider.com/10-historical-figures-you-dont-know-enough-about-2014-5 ) -
Apr 2, 1300
Marco polo's marriage
Marco Polo was eventually freed from captivity in August 1299 and returned home to Venice, where his father and uncle had bought a large property. The company resumed its activities and eventually, Marco became a wealthy merchant and never left Venice again. In 1300, he married Donata Badoer, the daughter of a merchant and they had three daughters.
(https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/marco-polo) -
Jan 8, 1324
Marco Polo Dies
On January 8, 1324, Polo was on his deathbed with the presence of his father, wife, and his three daughters. By law, the church was entitled to a portion of his property; he approved this and ordered the convent of San Lorenzo, the place where he wished to be buried, to pay a further sum. He also set free a "Tartar slave" who may have followed him from Asia.
(https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/marco-polo)
