Paolino Veneto on the “Georgian Sea”

Abstract

This article explores the work of the 14th-century Franciscan historian, geographer, and diplomat Paolino Veneto, also known as Paolino Minorita, focusing on a fascinating detail found in his universal chronicle Chronologia magna, where the Caspian Sea is referred to by several names, including the “Georgian Sea.” Born around 1270, most likely in Venice, Paolino pursued a successful career within the Franciscan Order. He quickly rose through the ranks, holding positions such as lector of theology, inquisitor, provincial minister, and ultimately bishop of Pozzuoli in 1324. Throughout his life, he was deeply involved in political and religious affairs, carrying out diplomatic missions for both the Papacy and the Venetian Republic, negotiating political conflicts across Italy. His intellectual activities mirrored his political involvement, producing works that merged theology, history, politics, geography, and classical learning. Among his most important contributions are three universal chronicles: Notabilium historiarum epithoma, Chronologia magna, and Satirica historia. Of these, the Chronologia magna stands out for its integration of historical narrative with rich visual materials, including maps and diagrams. This encyclopedic work covers the history of the world from the creation up to the early 14th century. In one of its maps, the Caspian Sea is referred to by several names, including “Mare de Sara” (after the city of Sarai, capital of the Golden Horde), and, significantly, the “Georgian Sea.” In the text, Paolino explains this name by referring to the sea’s proximity to the Caucasus Mountains and the Georgian territories, noting that the area is largely sandy and impassable. He estimates the sea’s circumference at about 2,500 miles. The reference to the Caspian as the “Georgian Sea” is especially significant. It reflects a broader pattern in which European scholars of the Middle Ages integrated geographic and political knowledge gathered from travelers like Marco Polo. While Paolino likely used Polo’s descriptions, such as referring to the Caspian as the Sea of Sarai, he also diverged from Polo in key aspects, like the sea’s circumference, implying the use of additional sources. The explicit reference to the term “Georgian Sea” in Paolino Veneto’s work indicates that he, and perhaps his sources, did not perceive Georgia merely as a distant Christian kingdom on the fringes of the known world. Instead, this designation implies a recognition of Georgia as a prominent and influential political entity within the broader regional context. By associating the Caspian Sea with Georgia, Paolino and his intellectual milieu acknowledged the country’s geographical presence, strategic relevance, and cultural or political impact in the Caucasus and surrounding areas. The article emphasizes that Paolino’s choice of terminology provides valuable insight into how medieval European intellectuals viewed the Caucasus. The reference to the “Georgian Sea” implies that Georgia’s political and cultural presence was significant enough to be acknowledged on maps and in historical texts. It signals an awareness of the Georgian kingdom’s role within Eurasian geopolitics, an awareness that filtered into cartographic and historical traditions of the time. The label “Georgian Sea” is a small but telling detail that reveals much about medieval European knowledge, curiosity, and recognition of Georgia’s place on the geopolitical map.