The Voyage of Johannes de Plano Carpini

by Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, Alex Struik (Illustrations), Richard Hakluyt (Translation)

Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, or John of Plano Carpini or John of Pian de Carpine or Joannes de Plano (1182 - August 1, 1252) was one of the first Europeans to enter the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He is the author of the earliest important Western account of northern and central Asia, Rus, and other regions of the Mongol dominion. He was the Serbian Primate and Archbishop of Antivari from 1247 to 1252. "The voyage of Iohannes de Plano Carpini" is the report, compiled by Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, of his trip to the Mongol Empire and presented to Pope Innocent IV, and later translated by Richard Hakluyt from the original Latin. Written in the 1240s, it is the oldest European account of the Mongols. Carpine was the first European to try to chronicle Mongol history. The report gives a narrative of his journey, what he had learned about Mongol history, as well as Mongol customs of the time. Many scholars have speculated that Carpine was undoubtedly on a spy mission because the largest portion of the report consists of detailed descriptions of how well prepared the Mongols were for war and suggestions of how the various military leaders might resist them.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, Medieval, Asia

78 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1247

About the author

Giovanni da Pian del Carpine (or John of Plano Carpini or John of Pian de Carpine or Joannes de Plano) was one of the first Europeans to enter the court of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He is the author of the earliest important Western account of northern and central Asia, Rus, and other regions of the Mongol dominion. He was the Serbian Primate and Archbishop of Antivari from 1247 to 1252.

He appears to have been a native of Umbria, in modern-day Italy, where a place formerly called Pian del Carpine, but now Magione, stands near Perugia, on the road to Cortona. He was one of the companions and disciples of his countryman Saint Francis of Assisi, and from sundry indications can hardly have been younger than the latter. Joannes bore a high repute in the Franciscan order, and took a foremost part in the propagation of its teaching in northern Europe, holding successively the offices of warden (custos) in Saxony, and of provincial (minister) of Germany, and afterwards of Spain, perhaps of Barbary, and of Cologne.
He was in the last post at the time of the great Mongol invasion of eastern Europe and of the disastrous Battle of Legnica (9 April 1241), which threatened to cast European Christendom under the leadership of the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, Ögedei Khan. The dread of the Tatars was, however, still on people's mind four years later, when Pope Innocent IV dispatched the first formal Catholic mission to the Mongols, partly to protest against the latter's invasion of Christian lands, partly to gain trustworthy information regarding Mongol armies and their purposes. Behind these there may have lurked the beginnings of a policy much developed later—of opening diplomatic intercourse with a power whose alliance might be valuable against Islam.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mongol storm burst over eastern Europe in 1241, inflicting crushing defeats on European armies in both Poland and Hungary. The Mongol armies were led by Batu, a grandson of Genghis Khan, but despite the victories his armies quickly retreated back east. The author of this text, Friar Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, (or Carpini) attributes the retreat to the death of the Great Khan Ogedei, a claim often repeated in modern books. As always with historians though, other interpretations are available.

Four years later, Pope Innocent IV sent Carpini (as I will call him out of convenience) as an envoy to the court of the Great Khan. Carpini was 63 years of age and the journey took 5 months, with the party frequently sleeping in the open with no shelter. One imagines it was a gruelling experience.

I had to smile at the content of a letter from the Pope which Carpini was to deliver to the Great Khan, in which the Pope referred to the invasion of 1241 and said that “he was appalled at such a slaughter of men, mostly of Christians and principally of Hungarians, Moravians and Poles, who were subject to them, that the Tartars had done when these people had not hurt or tried to hurt them. And because God was seriously angered by this, the Pope warned them that they should avoid similar deeds and do penance for their actions.”

Well, that was him told!

Carpini’s account is significant as he was one of the first Europeans to see Mongol society first-hand. I was a little sceptical to begin with. The book is divided into chapters that each describe an aspect of Mongol society, and sometimes the account seemed a bit confused – the book’s Preface notes this was the case in his description of Mongol religion. He also credulously repeats various absurd stories that are told to him, such as the Mongols having encountered a race of dog-headed men, and another people who have no knees and who therefore cannot get up if they fall over (one might have thought it would be relatively easy for the Mongols to defeat and conquer such a people…)

However, as the book went on, I did warm to the good Friar. He paints a rather scary picture of life under “the Tartar Yoke”, and makes some interesting observations of their society and military tactics.

I doubt that Carpini’s advice had much to do with it, but the Europeans seemed to learn from their defeats of 1241. Subsequent invasions in the 1280s were beaten back with heavy Mongol losses.

[Nyamka Ganni]

Плано Карпини зарим тохиолдолд хэтэрхий сайхан буудсан эсвэл нүдээр үзээгүй зүйлсээ үнэн мэт бичсэн бололтой. Чингис бол зэрлэг тонуулчид дундаас тодрон гарч ирсэн дээрэмчин. Цэргүүд нь удаан байлдаанд ядарч сульдан, хоол хүнсгүй болоход 10 цэргээс нэгнийх нь махаар бусдыг нь хооллох тушаал өгч байсан гэнэ. Хаанаас олж сонсчихоод жинхэнэ юм шиг бичсэн байдаг байна? Харваас худал зүйлд ч гэсэн итгэн бичсэн байх нь их. Дундад зууны үе гэхээр арга ч үгүй юм уу даа.

Ер нь тэгээд дайн хийхдээ тулбал юуг анхаарах талаар тандалт, судалгаа хийхээр ирсэн хүний бичээс яахын аргагүй мөн. Монголчуудаас нилээн эмээж, айсан нь илт мэдрэгдэнэ.

Нэг талаар, Монголчууд ч үнэн сүр хүчийг үзүүлж байжээ тэр 13-р зуунд. Нүүр улалзуулсан хэсэг ихтэй ч бахдал төрүүлсэн нь ч мөн багагүй олон байлаа. Бүгдээрээ уншаад авахад илүүдэхгүй.

Үнэлгээ өгөхгүй ээ энэ номонд. Ямар ч байсан бидний өвөг дээдсийн тухай бичээд үлдээсэнд нь баярлаж байна. Бид өөрсдийн түүхийг бичээд үлдсэн нь ховор болохоор харамсах сэтгэл улам бүр төрж буйг нуух юун. Бид өөрсдөө бичиж үлдээгээгүй цагт бусдын үлдээсэн сурвалжид найдахаас өөр арга замгүй нь гуниг төрүүлнэ. Гэлээ ч ингэж бичүүлж чадна гэдэг бас мөн их хүч ээ? ;-)

[Adam McPhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

They destroyed cities and castles and killed men and besieged Kiev, which is the greatest Russian city, and after a long siege they took Kiev and killed the townspeople, so when we went through that country we found countless human skulls and bones from the dead scattered over the field. Indeed Kiev had been a very great and populous city but now is reduced to almost nothing. In fact, there are hardly two hundred houses there now and the people are held in the strictest servitude. Carrying the war from there, the Tartars destroyed all of Russia.

Also known as the Ystoria Mongalorum, this is the report of a Franciscan who travelled as ambassador to the court of the Mongols. He has a sharp eye for detail, and reliably recounts the Mongols' customs, history and even their military arrangements. Though he's a bit too credulous of the things he's told by the Mongols, falling for a variation of the elk story Caesar reported from Gaul:

Occodai Khan, the son of Chingis Khan, built a city after he was enthroned as emperor, in the country of these Karakytai and he called it Emil. It is near a great wasteland where it is said that forest people live who are mute and do not have knees, so that if they fall they cannot get up without the help of others. But they have such skill that they make felt from the wool of camels by which they are clothed and which they use for tents. Whenever the Tartars attack them and wound them with arrows, they put grass in the wound and flee quickly from them.

Such were the report's charms that some of it was plundered for use in The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, conflating the Mongols with the legend Prester John, though Giovanni gets that the Mongols were no friends of Christendom. (It's an easy mistake to make though, as Ghengis Khan's mother was a Nestorian Christian and the Mongols were good at playing the religions off one another.) He understands the effectiveness of their military and suggests that Europe will need to mimic the Mongols in their organization, if not their barbarity. He also refused to take a Mongol ambassador back with him, for fear that the Mongols would find out how disorganized Europe was.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A História dos Mongóis aos Quais Chamamos Tártaros é o primeiro registo escrito na Europa sobre a cultura mongol. O italiano Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, frade franciscano, foi escolhido para liderar aquela que seria a primeira missão a chegar à Mongólia. Partiu em Abril de 1245 e, quinze meses mais tarde, em 1246, chegou à horda dourada onde iria assistir à coroação de Güyük Khan, neto de Genghis Khan. A viagem que atravessou grande parte da Eurásia ficou registada na Europa como a primeira descrição daquele povo nómada das estepes que no século XIII iniciou uma das maiores conquistas territoriais da História.

É muito interessante. E lê-se muito bem. É um livro pequeno.
É um relato escrito por quem acompanhou os Mongóis por um tempo, que descreve as características físicas, alimentação, vestuário, crenças, costumes e hábitos dos que que viviam no trajeto da viagem e na Mongólia na altura, bem como o modo como faziam a guerra.
Gostei muito.

[Lari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more exciting and interesting that I could have ever imagined!

[Rex Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

John of Carpini was a Franciscan originally from Umbria, appointed by Pope Innocent IV as papal legate to the Mongols. At the time of his appointment, Carpini was "provincial" of Germany stationed at Cologne. Starting from Lyon, the then seat of the of the Holy See, in April, 1245 (26 years before Marco Polo travelled), he crossed Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and Russia, to the "Golden Horde" or camp, of the just elected Great Khan, Cuyuc, grandson of Genghis Khan, near what is today Karakorum in central Mongolia. He returned in June, 1247. This is the account of the trip. It perhaps goes without saying the Great Khan refused the Pope's invitation to convert to Christianity, and instead directed the Pope to come and submit to him. Carpini's description of the Mongols is straightforward and detailed. For example, he tells of their practice of plundering cities that did not surrender by mentioning the many thousands of skulls and bones still littering the site of Kiev, destroyed by the Mongols twelve years earlier. His account is comprehensive and fascinating, including everything from the apparent absence of vegetables from the Mongol diet to their military tactic of feigning retreat to draw the enemy into encirclement. To survive the trip, some 4,000 miles each way on horseback over difficult terrain, averaging at least 10 miles a day, and the encounter with any number of hostile kingdoms as well as the most fearsome empire in the world at the time was a stunning achievement, and a testament to his stamina, courage, and diplomatic skill.

[Pi. · Rating 3 out of 5]

No es propiamente un libro, es un documento histórico escrito en 1200 con una intención casi que burocrática. Así, no puede ser evaluado bajo los estándares que utilizo para obras de ficción contemporáneas. Puedo decir que se lee bien, que se aprenden varias cosas y que siempre es chévere mirar para otras épocas.

[C.B. Matson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astonishing first hand account of the 13th century Mongol civilization seen through the eyes of a Franciscan friar. However, footnotes and maps would make it easier to follow. Web edition published by eBooks@Adelaide.edu

[Yusuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bilgi verilen ilk bölümü biraz sıkıcı buldum. Seyahatname kısmı ise kısaydı. Yine de 1245 yılından kalan bir Moğolistan seyahatnamesi her türlü okunur (ya da dinlenir). Biraz beklentimin yüksekliği nedeniyle hayal kırıklığı oldu galiba. Ayrıca storytel'den dinlediğim ikinci kitap oldu. Son yıllarda bu kadar verim aldığım başka bir platform yok. Müthiş bir olay.

[Edip Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yamyamlık şaşırtmadı değil, ben olsam kendimden olmayan carpiniyi yerdim

[lila]

why am i taking this class and also what am i doing with my life why in fuck's sake did i read this

[Kadir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planı Carpini'nin Moğolistan gözlemlerini ve seyahatnamesini içeriyor. Önce Batu sonra Güyük'ün ordasına giden Carpini, oldukça sürükleyici bir şekilde gördüklerini anlatmış. Yayına hazırlayan dipnotlar ile zenginleştirilmiş.

[ΑΝΝΑ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all been lost, we all been called
Everyone rise to a brethren code
We got your back, we all been low
Let's all rise to the brethren code

https://youtu.be/KyfpjGs859E

Και νομίζω καλύτερο τραγούδι δεν θα μπορούσα να βρω την ώρα της ανάγνωσης.

Την ημέρα του Πάσχα του έτους 1245 ο μοναχός Ιωάννης του τάγματος των μικρότερων Φραγκισκανών ξεκινάει από την Λυών της Γαλλίας με μια αποστολή : να μεταφέρει μια επιστολή του πάπα με αιτήματα προς τους τατάρους.
Μαζί με ένας άλλο καλόγερο του ίδιου τάγματος,παίρνουν από την Πολωνία έναν τρίτο καλόγερο,επίσης του ίδιου τάγματος,τον Βενέδικτο σαν σύντροφό και διερμηνέα.
Ένα οδοιπορικό στα ενδότερα της χώρας των Τατάρων.
Καταγράφοντας όσο μπορούσαν λεπτομεροτερα και πιστότερα αυτά που είδαν και έζησαν,μας μεταφέρουν για τα ήθη τους,τα έθιμα τους,την ιστορία τους,τον οπλισμό,το πώς διεξήγαγαν τους πολέμους και πολλά,πολλά ακόμα.
Αν και γραμμένο σε υπεραπλουστευμενη γλώσσα,οι σημειώσεις του μεταφραστή (για να αποσαφηνιστούν κάποια ονόματα που τα άκουσαν λάθος ή κάποια ιστορικά γεγονότα που ήταν λίγο διαφοροποιημένα),με έκανε να πηγαίνω μπρος πίσω αρκετά συχνά και να γίνει το μυαλό πουρές.
Ενδεικτικά μόνο ο Τζένγκις Χαν ή Τζινγκισκαν ή Τεμουτζιν δεν αναφερόταν με ένα συγκεκριμένο από αυτά τα τρία. Φανταστείτε τώρα να έχει τέσσερις γιους και πόσους στρατηγούς. Ένιωσα λίγο σαν να είχα να κάνω με το σόι από την Κρήτη 😁
Ωστόσο το βρήκα τρομερά ενδιαφέρον. Και δεν του φαινόταν να πω το κρίμα μου!

[Meltem Sağlam · Rating 4 out of 5]

İlginç bir kitap. Bir seyahatname, günlük tarzında yazılmış. Ancak biraz dağınık, okuma zorluğu yaratıyor. Bazı ifadeler, ikinci ağızdan anlatıldığı için hatalar içerdiği anlaşılıyor. Bununla birlikte temel bazı bilgilere ulaşma anlamında yararlı.

Kitabın sonunda yer alan Cengiz Han’ın Büyük Yasası çok ilginç. Tarihin en acımasız hükümdarının, kendi halkının ve yönetimi altına girmeyi kabul etmiş olan diğer halkların haklarının korunması konusundaki talimatlarını ve her şeyin bu kadar kirlenmemiş ve tüketilmemiş olduğu tarihlerde, çevre konusunda ne kadar duyarlı olduğunu görmek şaşırtıcı. Keşke günümüzde de aynı duyarlılık düzeyine ulaşabilsek.

[formosante · Rating 5 out of 5]

moğolların yaşayışı, inançları, yemek kültürleri, savaş taktikleri vb. birçok konu üzerine bilgi veren gerçekten önemli bir kaynak ve okuması da gayet keyifliydi. yalnızca gördüğünü iddia ettiği bazı efsanevi durumlar gerçekliği bozmuş, komik noktalar oluşturmuş.

[Mert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bir solukta okuyup bitirdim. Yazarın ilave notları ve kimi yerlerdeki düzeltmeleri kitabın değerini daha da arttırıyor.

[Hakan Fıçıcı · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carpine, Moğol hükümdarına eli boş gönderildiği için Papa'ya sürekli laf çaktığı bu seyahatnamesinde, çok güvenilir kaynaklardan aldığını iddia ettiği kimi olağanüstü hikayelere de yer veriyor.

[António Vasconcellos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Se estiverem a tentar saber mais sobre os Mongois, Genghis khan ou o seu império não vale a pena perderem tempo neste livro, mesmo tendo só 120 páginas em folhas A5, não vale mesmo.
Nada contra o livro, só que é necessário perceber que se trata de um relato escrito por uma testemunha visual que acompanhou os mongois por um tempo, e não um livro para aprender sobre a sua história, conquistas ou império.
Quem escreve é um frade franciscano enviado pelo papa à corte do Grande Cã (khan) Guyuk (neto de genghis khan e khan na altura). O relato é muito arcaico, simplório, pouco ou nada fala da história, está mais preocupado em contar sobre as caracteristicas fisicas, costumes e hábitos de civis que viviam no trajeto da viagem e na mongólia na altura.

A própria tradução limitou-se a traduzir a obra e a não tentar minimamente localizar o leitor, nem nos nomes que aparecem, nem própriamente nas localizações, de maneira que quem não tiver bases da história dos mongois nesta altura, ou um google à frente para perceber de quem estão a falar ou de onde, facilmente se perde e percebe pouco, fraco trabalho.
A única parte boa deste livro é em determinados detalhes descritos por Carpini que servem de uma boa fonte histórica para conflito de acontecimentos e pela perspectiva europeia pós primeira invasão.

[Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trata-se de um documento interessante, datado do século XIII, que entrelaça factos com fantasia e relatos duvidosos. Descreve a experiência de um missionário enviado para viver entre os mongóis, com o objetivo de compreender o seu modo de vida, a sua mentalidade, a sua organização social e, sobretudo, as suas estratégias militares. É importante considerar que Carpine viveu numa época com um nível científico limitado, onde crenças em mitos, monstros e outros seres fantásticos, bem como práticas que hoje consideramos improváveis, eram comuns. Um exemplo notável é o relato de um povo que se refugiou no subsolo devido ao som ensurdecedor emitido pelo sol ao nascer, que supostamente era mortal.
Existem mais alguns contos fantásticos como este no relato de Carpine, fruto do desconhecido e da crença arreigada no sobrenatural.
É um livro interessante, nem sempre entusiasmante, mas também não era esse o objetivo. De qualquer forma, vale a pena conhecê-lo.

[Tudor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. After the Mongol invasion of Europe that led them all the way into Poland and Hungary around 1240, the Papacy decided to find out who are these people, what are their desires and if they will return.
For this, they picked a Franciscan monk from Lyon who together with another monk should go visit the Mongol leaders, deliver them a message and find out as many details possible about them, their country, religion, customs and most importantly military strength and tactics.
Presumably the first western European to take on such a journey, for sure the first documented one, the friar delivered on his task, returning back after a two year journey and putting together this book of his encounters, experiences, the stories he heard, all this through the lens of a 13th century person.

[Mikko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tässä suomalaisessa painoksessa on Carpinin alkuperäisen kirjan lisäksi Antti Ruotsalan esipuhe ja alaviitteet, jotka auttavat lukijaa ymmärtämään tapahtumia ja kerrontaa huomattavasti paremmin. Lisäksi mukana on alkuperäinen paavin ja mongolien kaanin kirjeenvaihto, hurjat kolme kirjettä. Tällaista aikalaishistoriaa on hauska lukea, sillä siinä tarkka historiankerronta ja aivan älyttömät legendat kietoutuvat hienosti yhteen.

[Cobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. When you read this book in the context that people who were reading it at the time knew nothing of the Mongols, it is incredible. It is like reading a book of a spaceman who has encountered an alien race who is on the way to Earth and will 100% destroy everyone human on the planet. It also has some funny moments, like the people with no knees lol

[Bruno Salgueiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

"(...) é muito cruel que os outros desacreditem um homem pelo bem que este faz"

Relato na primeira pessoa de uma viagem fascinante a uma terra (quase) proibida. Excelente trabalho de tradução e contextualização dos factos.

[Gennadiy Leyfman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece of medieval history

What a great pleasure it was to read this great book! Thank you for such an opportunity! All the best!

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.worldhistory.biz/download...

[Ebru Kantoglu]

13. Yy bakış acısıyla okumak lazım sanırım
Moğolları şeytan ve canavar olarak tasvir etmiş

[Nomin Byambaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Гүюг haanii ued Mongold irsen PlanoKarpiniin bichij uldeesen etnografikiin sudalgaany ajil gej helj boloh ug nomiig unshaad ih setgeleer unalaa...Odoony mongolchuudad baidag zarim negen muu zan chanaruud 800aad jiliin umnu ch baisaaaar l baij. Muu zan zasarna gej baidaggui um bndoo l gsen bodliig minii dotor gun bat suurishuulchihlaa. :(

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great period historical account