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Odoriko PordenoneOne of the most famous travelers of the Middle Ages
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Oderic of Pordenone: A Medieval Globetrotter
- Early Life and Pilgrimage
- Journey to the East
- Across the Indian Subcontinent
- Arrival in China and Return Journey
- Literary Legacy and Influence
Oderic of Pordenone: A Medieval Globetrotter
One of the most renowned travelers of the Middle Ages, Oderic of Pordenone embarked on an extraordinary journey that spanned three continents: India, Sumatra, and China. His adventures would later earn him sainthood in 1775.
Early Life and Pilgrimage
Born in the Friulian town of Pordenone to Bohemian parents, Oderic joined the Franciscan monastery in Udine as a young man. Inspired by tales of missionary success in China, he was dispatched with other clergy to assist John of Montecorvino in Beijing. The exact timeline of his journey remains uncertain, but it is estimated to have lasted nearly 15 years, from around 1316 or 1318 to 1329 or 1330.
Journey to the East
In his writings, Oderic vividly details his travels to China, commencing in Venice and traversing Constantinople, Trebizond, Erzurum, Tabriz, Yazd, and Hormuz. Upon arriving by ship near modern-day Mumbai, he sought out and exhumed the relics of three Italian and one Georgian martyr who had been slain by a local governor.
Across the Indian Subcontinent
Continuing along the Malabar coast to Ceylon, Oderic, like many Christian pilgrims before him, sought the shrine of St. Thomas in Mylapore, near Madras. After paying homage at the saint's tomb, he sailed through a string of islands likely corresponding to Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Vietnam.
Arrival in China and Return Journey
In southern China, Oderic established two Franciscan monasteries at Xiamen, where he interred the remains of Indian martyrs. He marveled at the grandeur of Hangzhou, which he believed to be the world's largest city. However, his ultimate destination was Khanbaliq (Beijing), where he spent three years meeting with John of Montecorvino.
Oderic's return route remains largely unknown, though he mentions passing through the lands of Prester John (likely referring to Mongolia or Tibet). Upon his arrival in Italy, he settled at the Minorite friary in the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, where he dictated his travelogue to a fellow monk in May 1330. He intended to visit the papal court in Avignon but fell ill in Pisa and died shortly after reaching his hometown of Udine.
Literary Legacy and Influence
Oderic's travelogue provides invaluable insights into Chinese life during the Ming dynasty, including details on footbinding, cormorant fishing, and the practice of growing long fingernails. While his accounts contain both accurate and fantastical elements, particularly regarding the islands of Indonesia, they remained a captivating source of medieval exploration. The highly embellished adventures of Oderic of Pordenone would later inspire the famous travel narratives of John Mandeville, which captivated generations of European readers.
