In 1323, Polo was confined to bed, due to illness. On
January 8, 1324, despite physicians' efforts to treat him, Polo was on his
deathbed. To write and certify the will, his family requested Giovanni
Giustiniani, a priest of San Procolo. His wife, Donata, and his three daughters
were appointed by him as co-executrices. The church was entitled by law to a
portion of his estate; he approved of this and ordered that a further sum be
paid to the convent of San Lorenzo, the place where he wished to be buried. He
also set free a "Tartar slave" who may have accompanied him from Asia.
He divided up the rest of his assets, including several properties, between
individuals, religious institutions, and every guild and fraternity to which he
belonged. He also wrote-off multiple debts including 300 lire that his
sister-in-law owed him, and others for the convent of San Giovanni, San Paolo
of the Order of Preachers, and a cleric named Friar Benvenuto. He ordered 220
soldi be paid to Giovanni Giustiniani for his work as a notary and his prayers.
The will, which was not signed by Polo, but was validated by then relevant
"signum manus" rule, by which the testator only had to touch the
document to make it abide to the rule of law,[19] was dated January 9, 1324.
Due to the Venetian law stating that the day ends at sunset, the exact date of
Marco Polo's death cannot be determined, but it was between the sunsets of
January 8 and 9, 1324.Saturday, May 19, 2012
Death
In 1323, Polo was confined to bed, due to illness. On
January 8, 1324, despite physicians' efforts to treat him, Polo was on his
deathbed. To write and certify the will, his family requested Giovanni
Giustiniani, a priest of San Procolo. His wife, Donata, and his three daughters
were appointed by him as co-executrices. The church was entitled by law to a
portion of his estate; he approved of this and ordered that a further sum be
paid to the convent of San Lorenzo, the place where he wished to be buried. He
also set free a "Tartar slave" who may have accompanied him from Asia.
He divided up the rest of his assets, including several properties, between
individuals, religious institutions, and every guild and fraternity to which he
belonged. He also wrote-off multiple debts including 300 lire that his
sister-in-law owed him, and others for the convent of San Giovanni, San Paolo
of the Order of Preachers, and a cleric named Friar Benvenuto. He ordered 220
soldi be paid to Giovanni Giustiniani for his work as a notary and his prayers.
The will, which was not signed by Polo, but was validated by then relevant
"signum manus" rule, by which the testator only had to touch the
document to make it abide to the rule of law,[19] was dated January 9, 1324.
Due to the Venetian law stating that the day ends at sunset, the exact date of
Marco Polo's death cannot be determined, but it was between the sunsets of
January 8 and 9, 1324.
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