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{{Infobox Individual|
{{wikipediainfo}}
individual name= Marco Polo |
{{Infobox Individual
alias=|
|image      = MarcoPolo.jpg
image=[[Image:MarcoPolo.jpg|250px]] |
|species    = Human
race= [[Human]] |
|origin      = [[Venice]]
home planet=[[Earth]] |
|first      = Marco Polo (TV story)
home era= [[13th century]], [[1254]]-[[1324]] |
|appearances = {{il|[[PROSE]]: ''[[From Wildthyme with Love (novel)|From Wildthyme with Love]]''|[[PROSE]]: {{cs|Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse (reference book)}}}}
appearances= [[DW]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' |
|actor      = Mark Eden
actor= [[Mark Eden]] |}}
}}{{dab page|Marco Polo (disambiguation)}}
:''This article concerns Marco Polo, the [[Venice|Venetian]] explorer. For the television story see [[Marco Polo (TV story)|the page of a similar name]]. You may also be looking for [[Marco]], a member of the Court of [[San Martino]]''.
'''Marco Polo''', [[born]] in [[1252]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Marco Polo (TV story)|namedep=The Roof of the World (1)}}) or [[1254]] ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Universal Databank (reference book)}}) and [[died]] in [[1324]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Universal Databank (reference book)}}) 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]]'')
'''Marco Polo''' ([[1254]]-[[1324]]) was a [[Venice|Venetian]] trader and explorer who, together with his father Niccolò and his uncle Maffeo, was one of the first Westerners to travel the Silk Road to [[China]] (which he called Cathay) and visited the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, [[Kublai Khan]] (grandson of [[Genghis Khan]]). His travels are written down in ''Il Milione'' ("The Million" or ''The Travels of 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 ==
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]], [[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]]'')
 
=== 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]]'')
 
=== 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]]'')
 
[[Astrolabus]] claimed he had an appointment in Cathay with Marco Polo. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Voyager (comic story)|Voyager]]'')


He was encountered by [[First Doctor|the Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]], [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] and [[Susan Foreman|Susan]]. He intended to give [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] as a gift to the Emperor. ([[DW]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'')
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]]'')
==Alternative timelines==
*In the parallel earth seen in [[D:]]:[[The Big Bang]] a museum plaque explains that he was once in possession of the [[Pandorica]] before he sold it to the vatican


{{wikipediainfo}}
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)}})


{{character stub}}
== Behind the scenes ==
[[Category:People from the real world|Polo, Marco]]
* ''[[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]].
[[Category:13th century individuals|Polo, Marco]]
* 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.
[[Category:Human adventurers|Polo, Marco]]
* 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.
[[Category:Allies of the First Doctor|Polo, Marco]]
* Marco Polo was the first real person to be depicted in ''Doctor Who''.
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:13th century individuals]]
[[Category:Human merchants and traders]]
[[Category:Explorers from the real world]]
[[Category:Writers from the real world]]
[[Category:People from the real world encountered by the First Doctor]]

Latest revision as of 00:38, 22 October 2024

Marco Polo
You may wish to consult Marco Polo (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

Marco Polo, born in 1252 (TV: "The Roof of the World" [+]Part of Marco Polo, Loading...{"namedep":"The Roof of the World (1)","1":"Marco Polo (TV story)"}) or 1254 (PROSE: The Universal Databank [+]Loading...["The Universal Databank (reference book)"]) and died in 1324, (PROSE: The Universal Databank [+]Loading...["The Universal Databank (reference book)"]) 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 the first real person to be depicted in Doctor Who.
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