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By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, July 27, 2025

Giovanni da Pian del Carpini dies – Aug. 1, 1252

Giovanni da Pian del Carpini (c.1180-1252), sometimes known as John of Plano Carpini, a 13th century papal emissary to the Mongol Empire known for his pioneering writings on Central Asia. He is depicted in this 20th century mural located in the Council Hall of Magione, Italy, meeting with the khan of Mongolia. | Wikimedia Commons/ChrisDomi

This week marks the anniversary of the death of Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, a notable papal emissary to the Mongol Empire known for his pioneering writings on Central Asia.

A Franciscan friar and native of Italy, sometimes known as John of Plano Carpini, Giovanni was sent by Pope Innocent IV to formally protest the Mongolian invasion of Christian territory.

Giovanni and his travel companions traveled from Europe to the imperial camp in Mongolia, a journey of 3,000 miles that took 106 days.

The friar was best known for his lengthy work Historia Mongalorum quos nos Tartaros appellamus (“History of the Mongols Whom We Call the Tartars”) and Liber Tartarorum (“Book of the Tartars”).

“His Historia discredited the many fables concerning the Mongols current in Western Christendom. Its account of Mongol customs and history is probably the best treatment of the subject by any medieval Christian writer,” explained Britannica.

“… only on geographical and personal detail is it inferior to one written a few years later by the papal envoy to the Mongols William of Rubruquis, or Rubrouck.”