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Djovanny da Plano KarpiniFranciscan monk who was the first Western European to find himself in the capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakorum
Country:
 France |
Content:
Biography of Giovanni da Pian del Carpine
Giovanni da Pian del Carpine was a Franciscan monk who became the first Western European to reach the capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakorum. He embarked on this journey to Mongolia on the orders of Pope Innocent IV. When the Italian monk arrived in Karakorum, he learned that the great Khan Ogedei had passed away four and a half years earlier. The Europeans had the fortunate opportunity to witness the selection of the new Khan, who turned out to be Guyuk, the eldest son of Ogedei.
The Mongol Capital in the 13th Century
During their stay in Karakorum, Carpine and his companions spent several months and left behind invaluable records of what the Mongol capital looked like in the 13th century. The city resembled a large and disorderly nomadic camp, which was just beginning to develop into a proper city. According to some accounts, Karakorum was founded in 755 by the Mongol prince Buku. The ancient ruins later transformed into a massive encampment, which Khan Ogedei chose as his residence. Another version suggests that Karakorum was established by Genghis Khan himself as the capital of his empire.
Over time, earthworks were built around the encampment, and workshops for craftsmen and artists emerged inside, with artisans brought by the Khans from their campaigns, including Russians. Carpine encountered a young Russian captive named Kozma "the clever" in the Horde. According to the Italian monk, it was Kozma who crafted the Khan's throne and seal. The city consisted of two main streets: the Saracen Street, where trading took place, and the Chinese Street, where artisans resided. This international city already boasted twelve temples of different sects, two mosques, and one Christian church. In the center of the city stood the Khan's palace, which was a bright purple tent on gold leaf-adorned pillars, surrounded by a painted wooden fence.
Carpine described the palace tent as so large that it could accommodate more than two thousand people. A balustrade encircled it, adorned with various paintings and statues. The fence surrounding the "palace" had two gates, one of which was exclusively used by the Khan himself. Even his personal bodyguards were forbidden from entering there. All others who were deemed worthy of crossing the Khan's dwelling boundary passed through different gates, guarded by warriors armed with swords and bows. Carpine noted that if an ordinary person approached the gate, they would be beaten or even shot with arrows.
