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Astrologers predict that your capital will rebel against you? Just build a new capital next door and force everyone to move there. Problem solved!

posted by Skyrock on HistoryAnecdotes

Now there was on that spot in old times a great and noble city called Cambaluc [Beijing], which is as much as to say in our tongue "The city of the Emperor." But the Great Kaan was informed by his Astrologers that this city would prove rebellious, and raise great disorders against his imperial authority. So he caused the present city to be built close beside the old one, with only a river between them. And he caused the people of the old city to be removed to the new town that he had founded; and this is called Taidu.

Source:

Polo, Marco: The Travels of Marco Polo. Book 2, Chapter 11: Concerning the city of Cambaluc.

Further Reading:

>Now there was on that spot in old times a great and noble city called Cambaluc **[Beijing]**, which is as much as to say in our tongue "The city of the Emperor." But the Great Kaan was informed by his Astrologers that this city would prove rebellious, and raise great disorders against his imperial authority. So he caused the present city to be built close beside the old one, with only a river between them. And he caused the people of the old city to be removed to the new town that he had founded; and this is called Taidu. --- **Source:** [Polo, Marco: The Travels of Marco Polo. Book 2, Chapter 11: Concerning the city of Cambaluc.](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Travels_of_Marco_Polo/Book_2/Chapter_11) --- **Further Reading:** * [Kublai-Khan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kublai_Khan) * [Yuan dynasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_dynasty) * [History of Beijing under the Yuan dynasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Beijing#Yuan_dynasty)

7 comments

[–] PMYA 1 points (+1|-0)

I should have phrased that better.

Do we know the reason given by the astrologers? What sign prompted the belief that a rebellion was about to occur?

[–] Skyrock [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

I have no idea. Marco Polo didn't go into more detail on that, and he has been the only European primary source on the area in that time. Maybe there are Chinese records on the details of the prediction.

[–] PMYA 1 points (+1|-0)

When exactly did this all happen?

The reason I ask is because I am wondering if it is related to a comet sighting. Various civilisations throughout history have considered comet sightings as a sign that something bad is going to happen. I am thinking the reasoning could be the appearance of the Great Comet of 1264, which was visible in China.

[–] Skyrock [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

The construction of Daidu started in 1267. The Chinese astrologers (some of the most advanced of their time) must have seen the comet, so it's possible that it influenced their prediction.