< The Travels of Marco Polo < Appendix

Genealogy of the Family of Marco Polo the Traveller

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Andrea Polo
of S. Felice
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marco
made will in 1280
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nicolo
of S. Giov. Grisostomo
married twice
died before 1300
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maffeo
made will Feb. 1309
died before 1318
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Antonio
(Illegitimate)
 
Nicolo
 
Maroca
 
 
 
 
 
1.
Marco's Mother
(name unknown)
 
2.
Mother of Maffeo
Fiordelisa Trevisan?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marco
 
 
 
 
 
Donata
died between
1333 and 1336
 
Marco
of S. Giov. Grisostomo
1254-1324
 
Maffeo
made will in 1300
 
Catarina
daughter of
Nic. Sagredo
 
Stefano
(Illegitimate)
alive in 1321
 
Giovannino
(Illegitimate)
alive in 1321
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matteo
 
Agnesina
 
Fantina
married bef. 1324
died bef. 1333
 
Bellella
married before 1324,
alive in 1336
 
Moreta
married after 1324,
alive in 1336
 
Pasqua
(Illegitimate)
 
Fiordelisa
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Caterina
daughter of
Giandomenico
 
 
 
 
 
Marco Bragadin
of S. Geminiano
 
Pietro Bragadin
of S. Giov. Grisostomo
alive in 1388
 
Renuzzo Delfio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Polos of San Geremia

The preceding Table gives the Family of our Traveller as far as I have seen sound data for tracing it, either upwards or downwards.

I have expressed, in the introductory notices, my doubts about the Venetian genealogies, which continue the family down to 1418 or 19, because it seems to me certain that all of them do more or less confound with our Polos of S. Giovanni Grisostomo, members of the other Polo Family of S. Geremia. It will help to disentangle the subject if we put down what is ascertained regarding the S. Geremia family.

To the latter with tolerable certainty belonged the following:--

  • 1302. MARCO Polo of Cannareggio, see vol. i. pp. 64-67. (The Church of S. Geremia stands on the canal called Cannareggio.) Already in 1224, we find a Marco Polo of S. Geremia and Cannareggio. (See Liber Plegiorum, published with Archivio Veneto, 1872 pp. 32, 36).
  • 1319. (Bianca, widow of GIOVANNI Polo?)[1]
  • 1332. 24th March. Concession, apparently of some privilege in connection with the State Lake in San Basilio, to DONATO and HERMORAO (= Hermolaus or Almoro) Paulo (Document partially illegible).[2]
  • 1333. 23rd October. Will of Marchesina Corner, wife of Marino Gradenigo of S. Apollinare, who chooses for her executors "my mother Dona Fiordelisa Cornaro, and my uncle (Barba) Ser Marco Polo."[3] Another extract apparently of the same will mentions "mia cusina MARIA Polo," and "mio cusin MARCO Polo" three times.[4]
  • 1349. MARINO Polo and Brothers.[5]
  • 1348. About this time died NICOLO Polo of S. Geremia,[6] who seems to have been a Member of the Great Council.[7] He had a brother MARCO, and this Marco had a daughter AGNESINA. Nicolo also leaves a sister BARBARA (a nun), a son GIOVANNINO (apparently illegitimate[7]), of age in 1351,[6] a nephew GHERARDO, and a niece FILIPPA,[6] Abbess of Sta. Catarina in Mazzorbo. The executors of Nicolo are GIOVANNI and DONATO Polo.[6] We have not their relationship stated. DONATO must have been the richest Polo we hear of, for in the Estimo or forced Loan of 1379 for the Genoese War, he is assessed at 23,000 Lire.[8] A history of that war also states that he ("Donado Polo del Canareggio") presented the Government with 1000 ducats, besides maintaining in arms himself, his son, and seven others.[9] Under 1388 we find Donato still living, and mention of CATARUZZA, d. of Donato*[10] and under 1390 of Elena, widow of Donato.[10] The Testamentary Papers of Nicolo also speak of GIACOMO [or Jacopo] Polo. He is down in the Estimo of 1379 for 1000 Lire;[11] and in 1371 an inscription in Cicogna shows him establishing a family burial-place in Sta. Maria de' Servi*[12] [M deg.CCC deg.LXXI. Die primo mensis ... S. Dni IACHOBI. PAVLI. DE CFINIO. SANCTI. IEREMIE. ET. SVOR. HEREDVM.]
  • (1353. 2nd June. Viriola, widow of ANDREA or Andrinolo Polo of Sta. Maria Nuova ?)[13]
  • 1379. In addition to those already mentioned we have NICOLO assessed at 4000 lire.[11]
  • 1381. And apparently this is the NICOLO, son of Almoro (Hermolaus), who was raised to the Great Council, for public service rendered, among 30 elected to that honour after the war of Chioggia.[14] Under 1410 we find ANNA, relict of Nicolo Polo.[15]
  • 1379. In this year also, ALMORO, whether father or brother of the last, contributes 4000 lire to the Estimo.[11]
  • 1390. CLEMENTE Polo (died before 1397)[15] and his wife MADDALUZIA.[15] Also in this year PAOLO Polo, son of Nicolo, gave his daughter in marriage to Giov. Vitturi.[16]
  • 1408 and 1411. CHIARA, daughter of Francesco Balbi, and widow of ERMOLAO (or Almoro) Polo, called of Sta. Trinita.[15]
  • 1416. GIOVANNI, perhaps the Giovannino mentioned above.[15]
  • 1420. 22nd November. BARTOLO, son of Ser ALMORO and of the Nobil Donna CHIARA Orio.(?)[17] This couple probably the same as in the penultimate entry.
  • 1474, seqq. Accounts belonging to the Trust Estate of BARTOLOMEO Polo of S. Geremia.[15]

There remains to be mentioned a MARCO POLO, member of the Greater Council, chosen Auditor Sententiarum, 7th March, 1350, and named among the electors of the Doges Marino Faliero (1354) and Giovanni Gradenigo (1355). The same person appears to have been sent as Provveditore to Dalmatia in 1355. As yet it is doubtful to what family he belonged, and it is possible that he may have belonged to our traveller's branch, and have continued that branch according to the tradition. But I suspect that he is identical with the Marco, brother of Nicolo Polo of S. Geremia, mentioned above, under 1348. (See also vol. i. p. 74.) Cappellari states distinctly that this Marco was the father of the Lady who married Azzo Trevisan. (See Introd. p. 78.)

We have intimated the probability that he was the Marco mentioned twice in connection with the Court of Sicily. (See vol. i. p. 79, note.)

A later Marco Polo, in 1537, distinguished himself against the Turks in command of a ship called the Giustiniana; forcing his way past the enemy's batteries into the Gulf of Prevesa, and cannonading that fortress. But he had to retire, being unsupported.

It may be added that a Francesco Paulo appears among the list of those condemned for participation in the conspiracy of Baiamonte Tiepolo in 1310. (Dandulo in Mur. XII. 410, 490.)

[I note from the MS. of Priuli, Genealogie delle famiglie nobili di Venesia, kept in the R'o. Archivio di Stato at Venice, some information, pp. 4376-4378, which permit me to draw up the following Genealogy which may throw some light on the Polos of San Geremia:--


 
 
 
 
 
 
Andrea of San Felice
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marco
 
Nicolo of S. Grisostomo
buried at S. Lorenzo
 
Maffio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marco (Milioni)
 
Steffano
 
Giovanni
 
Maffio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Almoro of San Geremia
 
Maffio
 
Marco
 
Nicolo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nicolo of San Geremia
made a nobleman 4th Sept. 1381
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maffio
 
Marco
 
Marin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Marco
 
+ 1418
Governor of Castel Vecchio at Verona
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Sir Henry Yule writes above (II. p. 507) that Nicolo Polo of S. Geremia had a brother Marco, and this Marco had a daughter Agnesina. I find in the Acts of the Notary Brutti, in the Will of Elisabetta Polo, dated 14th March, 1350:--


 
 
 
 
BETA=MARCO POLO
[MARCOLINO?]
of S. Grisostomo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Agnesia
 
Christina
 
Marina
in the monastery of S. Lorenzo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nicoloeto
 
Michaleto
 
 
 
 


The Maffio, son of Nicolo of S. Giov. Grisostomo, and father of Pasqua and Fiordelisa, married probably after his will (1300) and had his four sons: Almoro of S. Geremia, Maffio, Marco, Nicolo. Indeed, Cicogna writes (Insc. Ven. II. p. 390):--"Non apparisce che Maffeo abbia avuto figliuoli maschi da questo testamento [1300]; ma per altro non e cosa assurda il credere che posteriormente a questo testamento 1300 possa avere avuti figliuoli maschi; ed in effetto le Genealogie gliene danno quatro, cioe Ermolao, Maffio, Marco, Nicolo. Il Ramusio anzi glien da cinque, senza nominarli, uno de'quali Marco, e una femmina di nome Maria; e Marco Barbaro gliene da sei, cioe Nicolo, Maria, Pietro, Donado, Marco, Franceschino."--H.C.]

[Sig. Ab. Cav. Zanetti gives (Archivio Veneto, XVI. 1878, p. 110). See our Int., p. 78.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MATTEO
son of MARCOLINO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benedetto Cornaro
married in 1401
 
Maria?
 
Azzo Trevisan
 
Marco
died at Verona
in 1417, 1418, or 1425.
 
 


   


Footnotes

  1. 1 2 Document in Archivio of the Casa di Ricovero, Bundle LXXVII., No. 209.
  2. 1 2 Registro di Grazie, 4 deg. c. Comm. by Comm. Berchet.
  3. 1 2 Arch. Gen. dei Giudici del Proprio, Perg. No. 82, 1st July, 1342, cites this. (Comm. Berchet.)
  4. 1 2 Arch. dei Procuratori di San Marco, with Testam. 1327, January, marked "N.H. Ser Marco Gradenigo." (Comm. Berchet.)
  5. 1 2 Document in Archivio of the Casa di Ricovero, Bundle LXXIV., No. 651.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 List (extracted in 1868-9) of Documents in the above Archivio, but which seem to have been since mislaid.
  7. 1 2 3 Parchment in the possession of Cav. F. Stefani, containing a decision, dated 16th September, 1355, signed by the Doge and two Councillors, in favour of Giovannino Polo, natural son of the Noble Nicoletto of S. Geremia (qu. Nobilis Viri Nicoleti Paulo).
  8. 1 2 In Gallicciolli, Delle Mem. Ven. Antiche, Ven. 1795, II. p. 136. In the MS. of Cappellari Campidoglio Veneto, in the Marciana, the sum stated is 3000 only.
  9. 1 2 Della Presa di Chiozza in Muratori, Script. xv. 785.
  10. 1 2 3 Documents seen by the Editor in the Arch, of the Casa di Ricovero.
  11. 1 2 3 4 In Gallicciolli Delle Mem. Ven. Antiche, Ven. 1795, II. p. 136.
  12. 1 2 Cicogna, I. p. 77.
  13. 1 2 Arch. Gen. dei Giud. Perg. No. 120.
  14. 1 2 Cappellari, MS.; Sanuto, Vite de' Duchi di Ven. in Muratori, XXII. 730.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Documents seen by the Editor in the Arch, of the Casa di Ricovero.
  16. 1 2 Cappellari.
  17. 1 2 Libro d'Oro from 1414 to 1407 in Museo Correr. Comm. by Comm. Berchet.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.