Departing from Lyon on Easter day in 1245, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine led a critical papal mission to the Mongol Empire. Tasked by Pope Innocent IV, he traveled across vast stretches of Asia to observe the military strength and intentions of a force that had recently devastated large parts of Eastern Europe.
Background and Early Clerical Life
Born in 1182 in the Umbrian village of Magione, Giovanni was an early follower of Saint Francis of Assisi. He achieved significant status within the Franciscan order, overseeing provincial operations in Germany and Saxony. His fluency in Latin became a vital asset when the Church sought to establish diplomatic contact with the Mongols following the Battle of Legnica.
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Accompanied initially by Friar Benedict of Poland, Giovanni rode approximately 3,000 miles to reach the Mongol imperial camp near Karakorum. The trek required extreme physical endurance, with the friars surviving on a limited diet of millet and snow water while crossing the Ural and Syr Darya rivers. They reached the Golden Ordu in August 1246 to witness the enthronement of Güyük Khan.
Documentation and Historical Impact
Upon returning to Lyon in 1247, Giovanni delivered the Khan’s blunt demand for submission to the Pope. He compiled his experiences into the Historia Mongalorum, which remains the earliest substantial Western account of the Mongol Empire. This work offered detailed observations on Mongol administration, census practices, and the strategic concerns of the Great Khan, while providing the first European names for major regional rivers.
Final Years
Following his return, Giovanni was appointed Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bar in 1248 and performed diplomatic duties for Louis IX of France. The physical toll of his long-distance travel persisted, and he lived only five years after concluding his journey. He died on 1 August 1252.
Fast facts
- Born: 1182, Magione, Italy
- Died: 1 August 1252, Bar
- Religious Order: Franciscan
- Notable Work: Historia Mongalorum
- Role: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bar (1248)
- Primary Languages: Latin
Questions readers ask
Why did the Pope send Giovanni da Pian del Carpine to the Mongols?
He was sent as a papal legate to protest the Mongol invasions of Christendom and to gather intelligence on the Khan's military capabilities.
What was the result of the meeting with Güyük Khan?
The Khan refused to convert to Christianity and instead issued a formal demand that the Pope and European leaders acknowledge his authority.
Achievements
- Recorded as explorer, Catholic priest and diplomat