An Italian Monk’s Epic Journey to the Mongol Court

Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel 🎉. Get up to 65% OFF your subscription ➜ Here: In 1246 an Italian monk journeyed 5,000 miles from France to Mongolia carrying a letter from the Pope to the Great Khan of the Mongols. After the Mongol Invasion of Europe, Pope Innocent IV sent Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (often called John of Plano Carpini by English speakers) on a mission to request peace and to find out whether the terrifying horsemen of the Mongol Empire were about to return. This Franciscan Friar would journey from Christendom across the Pontic Steppe to Batu Khan of the Golden Horde and on eastwards all the way to the Mongol Court near Karakorum where the Kurultai would elect a new ruler; Güyük Khan, son of Ögedei and gra