The Travels of Marco Polo

Polo relates how the title of Kublai Khan translates into English as “Lord of Lords” (1844) and says that the Great Khan deserves that title “for in respect to number of subjects, extent of territory, and amount of revenue, he surpasses every sovereign that has ever been or now is in the world” (1844-46). Then Polo promises to prove his assertion.

Polo traces the Khan lineage from Genghis to Kublai. Kublai “obtained the sovereignty by his valor, virtues, and prudence, in opposition to his brothers, who were supported by many of the great officers and members of his own family” (1851-52), even as “the succession was his in law and right” (1853). He has been on the throne for forty-two years and is now 85 years old. In his earlier days, he was an enterprising, successful soldier: “Not only was he brave and daring in action, but in judgment and military skill he was considered the most able and successful commander that ever led the Tartars to battle” (1855-56).

The previous chapter included the detail that Nayan had an army of 300,000 horsemen and that Kaidu, the Great Khan's nephew, had promised 100,000 more.