Rabban Sauma Nestorian monk, ambassador in the service of the Ilkhans of Iran. Country: Iran

1. Rabban Bar Sauma: The Chinese Marco Polo
2. Early Life and Pilgrimage
3. Envoy to Europe
4. Travels Across Europe
5. Return to Baghdad
6. Later Life and Legacy

Rabban Bar Sauma: The Chinese Marco Polo

Rabban Bar Sauma, a Nestorian monk, was a notable ambassador who served the Ilkhanate rulers of Persia. He is renowned as the only medieval Chinese to record his travels across Europe, earning him the title of "Chinese Marco Polo."

Early Life and Pilgrimage

Bar Sauma was born in the Yuan Dynasty capital of Khanbaliq (present-day Beijing) to a Nestorian clerical family. He took monastic vows by the age of 20. In 1278, Bar Sauma embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with his disciple, Mark. Their journey took them through Central Asia, across the Gobi Desert, and into Persia, which was then ruled by the Mongol Ilkhanate.

Envoy to Europe

In 1281, Arghun Khan, the Ilkhanate ruler, sought to forge an alliance with the Pope and European Christian rulers against the Mamluks in Syria. On the advice of the newly elected Patriarch, Mar Yaballaha III, he appointed the elderly Bar Sauma as his envoy to Rome. In 1287, accompanied by a Genoese translator and an entourage, Bar Sauma set out on his westward journey.

Travels Across Europe

Bar Sauma traveled via Trebizond, Constantinople, and Sicily, witnessing the eruption of Mount Etna. Upon arriving in Rome, he met with Pope Nicholas IV and presented him with a letter from Arghun Khan. He also visited Florence, Genoa, and Paris, where he held talks with King Philip IV of France.

Return to Baghdad

In 1288, Bar Sauma returned to Baghdad with the Pope's blessing and a precious tiara. He likely compiled an account of his travels during this period. Arghun Khan sent another diplomatic mission to Europe, while the Pope responded by dispatching John of Montecorvino as an envoy to China.

Later Life and Legacy

Towards the end of his life, Bar Sauma settled in Maragha, where he passed away in 1294. His remarkable travels and diplomatic efforts left a lasting legacy, fostering cultural exchange and political connections between East and West.