Marco Polo: Difference between revisions
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|origin = [[Venice]] | |origin = [[Venice]] | ||
|first = Marco Polo (TV story) | |first = Marco Polo (TV story) | ||
|appearances = [[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love]]'' | |appearances = {{il|[[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love]]''|[[PROSE]]: {{cs|Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse (reference book)}}}} | ||
|actor = Mark Eden | |actor = Mark Eden | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{dab page|Marco Polo (disambiguation)}} | {{dab page|Marco Polo (disambiguation)}} | ||
'''Marco Polo''' | '''Marco Polo''', born in [[1252]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'') and living until the early [[14th century]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A History of Humankind (novel)|A History of Humankind]]'') was a [[Venice|Venetian]] [[trader]] and [[explorer]] whom the [[First Doctor]] and his [[companion]]s travelled with across [[Asia]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'') | ||
Although he was not the first [[European]] to visit [[China]], he was the first to write a detailed account of his experiences there, publishing it under the title ''[[The Travels of Marco Polo]]'' circa [[1300]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A History of Humankind (novel)|A History of Humankind]]'') | |||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Polo, with his father and uncle, left for [[Cathay]] in the year [[1271]]. By his twenty-fifth [[birthday]] in [[1277]], he had come into the service of [[Kublai Khan]]. In [[1287]], Marco, his father and uncle asked the Khan to be permitted to return home. The Khan refused. | Polo, with his [[Marco Polo's father|father]] and [[Marco Polo's uncle|uncle]], left for [[Cathay]] in the year [[1271]]. By his twenty-fifth [[birthday]] in [[1277]], he had come into the service of [[Kublai Khan]]. In [[1287]], Marco, his father and uncle asked the Khan to be permitted to return home. The Khan refused. | ||
Polo encountered the [[First Doctor]], [[ | Polo encountered the [[First Doctor]], [[Susan Foreman|Susan]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] on the [[Plain of Pamir]] in [[1289]] and promptly seized [[the TARDIS]] as a gift for the Khan. He hoped it would be sufficiently impressive to buy his way out of the Khan's service so he could return home. The Doctor and his [[companion]]s were forced to make a long overland journey with Polo, during which time they got to know him well. Eventually, Polo was forced to admit to the Khan that his reasons for seizing the TARDIS were unjust and selfish. He helped prevent an [[assassination]] attempt on the Khan's life by the [[Mongol]] warlord [[Tegana]]. Following this, Marco returned the [[TARDIS key]]s to their owners to allow their escape as Tegana's body was removed. | ||
Barbara claimed that she knew that Polo would see Venice again, ([[TV]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'') although not before being captured by the [[Genoa|Genoese]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Marco Polo (novelisation)|Marco Polo]]'') Marco Polo did indeed return to Venice after 24 years of travelling to find the city at [[War of Curzola|war]] with [[Genoa]]. Joining the war, Marco's ship was indeed captured by the Genoese and he was imprisoned. While in prison he dictated his stories to his cellmate who, the [[Twelfth Doctor]] noted, gave them some embellishment. ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' was published circa [[1300]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A History of Humankind (novel)|A History of Humankind]]'') | |||
[[Iris Wildthyme]] once held a party in [[Hobbe's End]] in [[1972]] which Marco Polo attended. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love | [[Iris Wildthyme]] once held a party in [[Hobbe's End]] in [[1972]], which Marco Polo attended. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love]]'') | ||
=== Alternate timeline === | === Alternate timeline === | ||
In an [[alternate timeline]], Polo purchased the [[Pandorica]]. As always, an [[Auton]] reconstruction of [[Amy Pond]]'s [[fiancé]], [[Rory Williams]], accompanied the box. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') | In an [[alternate timeline]], Polo purchased the [[Pandorica]]. As always, an [[Auton]] reconstruction of [[Amy Pond]]'s [[fiancé]], [[Rory Williams]], accompanied the box. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Big Bang (TV story)|The Big Bang]]'') | ||
== | === Legacy === | ||
The Doctor remarked to Susan once that they had saved Polo's life numerous times. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Alchemists (audio story)|The Alchemists]]'') | |||
The [[Second Doctor]] recalled having met him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') | The [[Second Doctor]] recalled having met him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'') | ||
[[Astrolabus]] claimed he had an appointment in Cathay with Marco Polo. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Voyager (comic story)|Voyager]]'') | [[Astrolabus]] claimed he had an appointment in Cathay with Marco Polo. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Voyager (comic story)|Voyager]]'') | ||
By [[1937]], [[Marco Polo Bridge|a bridge]] in northern China was named after him. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Shadow of Weng-Chiang (novel)|The Shadow of Weng-Chiang]]'') | |||
The [[Thirteenth Doctor]] mentioned her previous journey with Marco Polo to [[Yasmin Khan]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The White Dragon (comic story)|The White Dragon]]'') | |||
Sometime after [[2022]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}) [[Ian Chesterton]] told the [[companion support group]] of his adventure with Marco Polo. After Ian's passing, the group reminsced about Ian and his tales. [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]] wished she could have met Marco Polo. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Loose Ends 5: Ian Memoriam (short story)}}) | |||
== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
* ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' offers a clear example of how [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]] history differs from real-world history. According to real-world history, Polo was born in 1254. However, the first episode of ''Marco Polo'' explicitly tells us that he turned twenty-five in 1277, meaning that in the ''Doctor Who'' universe Marco Polo was born in [[1252]]. | * ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' offers a clear example of how [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]] history differs from real-world history. According to real-world history, Polo was born in 1254. However, the first episode of ''Marco Polo'' explicitly tells us that he turned twenty-five in 1277, meaning that in the ''Doctor Who'' universe Marco Polo was born in [[1252]]. | ||
* In [[Mags L. Halliday]]'s ''The Silk Road'', published in the fanzine ''Myth Makers Presents: Essentials'' in 2003, the [[Eighth Doctor]], [[Fitz Kreiner]], and [[Anji Kapoor]] accidentally spur Kublai Khan's decision to keep the younger Polo in his service in the first place. The story gives Polo a prior familiarity with the Doctor's "magic box," and shows the Doctor and Fitz undergoing a similar journey that the First Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbra would later experience with Polo. | * In [[Mags L. Halliday]]'s ''The Silk Road'', published in the fanzine ''Myth Makers Presents: Essentials'' in 2003, the [[Eighth Doctor]], [[Fitz Kreiner]], and [[Anji Kapoor]] accidentally spur Kublai Khan's decision to keep the younger Polo in his service in the first place. The story gives Polo a prior familiarity with the Doctor's "magic box," and shows the Doctor and Fitz undergoing a similar journey that the First Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbra would later experience with Polo. | ||
* In the story of ''[[Legacy (video game)|Doctor Who: Legacy]]'', the [[Seventh Doctor]], stressing the importance of preventing the [[Sontaran]]s' interference in the [[timeline]], cites Marco Polo as an example of an important person in [[human]] [[history]] whose existence is endangered. | |||
* Marco Polo was first real person to be depicted in ''Doctor Who''. | |||
{{NameSort}} | {{NameSort}} | ||
[[Category:13th century individuals]] | [[Category:13th century individuals]] | ||
[[Category:Human merchants and traders]] | [[Category:Human merchants and traders]] | ||
[[Category:Explorers from the real world]] | [[Category:Explorers from the real world]] | ||
[[Category:Writers from the real world]] | |||
[[Category:People from the real world encountered by the First Doctor]] | [[Category:People from the real world encountered by the First Doctor]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:55, 12 August 2024
- You may wish to consult
Marco Polo (disambiguation)for other, similarly-named pages.
Marco Polo, born in 1252 (TV: Marco Polo) and living until the early 14th century, (PROSE: A History of Humankind) was a Venetian trader and explorer whom the First Doctor and his companions travelled with across Asia. (TV: Marco Polo)
Although he was not the first European to visit China, he was the first to write a detailed account of his experiences there, publishing it under the title The Travels of Marco Polo circa 1300. (PROSE: A History of Humankind)
Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]
Polo, with his father and uncle, left for Cathay in the year 1271. By his twenty-fifth birthday in 1277, he had come into the service of Kublai Khan. In 1287, Marco, his father and uncle asked the Khan to be permitted to return home. The Khan refused.
Polo encountered the First Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara on the Plain of Pamir in 1289 and promptly seized the TARDIS as a gift for the Khan. He hoped it would be sufficiently impressive to buy his way out of the Khan's service so he could return home. The Doctor and his companions were forced to make a long overland journey with Polo, during which time they got to know him well. Eventually, Polo was forced to admit to the Khan that his reasons for seizing the TARDIS were unjust and selfish. He helped prevent an assassination attempt on the Khan's life by the Mongol warlord Tegana. Following this, Marco returned the TARDIS keys to their owners to allow their escape as Tegana's body was removed.
Barbara claimed that she knew that Polo would see Venice again, (TV: Marco Polo) although not before being captured by the Genoese. (PROSE: Marco Polo) Marco Polo did indeed return to Venice after 24 years of travelling to find the city at war with Genoa. Joining the war, Marco's ship was indeed captured by the Genoese and he was imprisoned. While in prison he dictated his stories to his cellmate who, the Twelfth Doctor noted, gave them some embellishment. The Travels of Marco Polo was published circa 1300. (PROSE: A History of Humankind)
Iris Wildthyme once held a party in Hobbe's End in 1972, which Marco Polo attended. (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love)
Alternate timeline[[edit] | [edit source]]
In an alternate timeline, Polo purchased the Pandorica. As always, an Auton reconstruction of Amy Pond's fiancé, Rory Williams, accompanied the box. (TV: The Big Bang)
Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor remarked to Susan once that they had saved Polo's life numerous times. (AUDIO: The Alchemists)
The Second Doctor recalled having met him. (TV: The Power of the Daleks)
Astrolabus claimed he had an appointment in Cathay with Marco Polo. (COMIC: Voyager)
By 1937, a bridge in northern China was named after him. (PROSE: The Shadow of Weng-Chiang)
The Thirteenth Doctor mentioned her previous journey with Marco Polo to Yasmin Khan. (COMIC: The White Dragon)
Sometime after 2022, (TV: The Power of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"]) Ian Chesterton told the companion support group of his adventure with Marco Polo. After Ian's passing, the group reminsced about Ian and his tales. Tegan wished she could have met Marco Polo. (PROSE: Loose Ends 5: Ian Memoriam [+]Loading...["Loose Ends 5: Ian Memoriam (short story)"])
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Marco Polo offers a clear example of how Doctor Who universe history differs from real-world history. According to real-world history, Polo was born in 1254. However, the first episode of Marco Polo explicitly tells us that he turned twenty-five in 1277, meaning that in the Doctor Who universe Marco Polo was born in 1252.
- In Mags L. Halliday's The Silk Road, published in the fanzine Myth Makers Presents: Essentials in 2003, the Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner, and Anji Kapoor accidentally spur Kublai Khan's decision to keep the younger Polo in his service in the first place. The story gives Polo a prior familiarity with the Doctor's "magic box," and shows the Doctor and Fitz undergoing a similar journey that the First Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbra would later experience with Polo.
- In the story of Doctor Who: Legacy, the Seventh Doctor, stressing the importance of preventing the Sontarans' interference in the timeline, cites Marco Polo as an example of an important person in human history whose existence is endangered.
- Marco Polo was first real person to be depicted in Doctor Who.
