Andrea di Robilant - The Zeno Map and Narrative

Mr. di Robilant was born in Italy and educated at Le Rosey and Columbia University. He specializes in international affairs and is a correspondent for the Italian newspaper La Stampa. His first book, A Venetian Affair, was published by Knopf in 2003. It is a biography of his ancestor in 18th century Venice based on their correspondence; and a sequel entitled Lucia: A Venetian Life in the Age of Napoleon (2008).

At the Atlantic Conference, Mr. di Robilant will begin to discuss the research driving his next book on the Zeno voyage. He'll cover the Zeno Map and Narrative, the historical perspective and other parts of the story which will leave fans of the Prince Henry Sinclair story very glad they attend the conference. 

In 1967, Fredrick J. Pohl published "Prince Henry Sinclair, His Expedition to the New World in 1398." According to Polh, Jarl Henry set sail with 200-300 men in twelve tiny ships. According to a website to commemorate the 600th Anniversary of Prince Henry’s arrival, he “had commissioned Antonio and Nicolo Zeno, the brothers of Carlo Zeno "the Lion" of Venice, to draw a map of the north Atlantic region…. They had harmonious contacts with the Micmac Indians throughout at least one year. Several archaeological artifacts remain to validate their miraculous adventure. They are the Zeno Narratives and Zeno Map, a Venician cannon in Nova Scotia, the Micmac Indian legends, and a rock carving in Westford, Massachusetts. Some researchers believe that Sinclair and his group built the Newport Tower in Rhode Island.” 

Despite the above, there is little solid evidence to prove the story. The Westford Knight is much contested. It clearly shows a midieval shord, broken to indicate a fallen comrade, but one has to look very hard and believe very storngly to see the details of the Clan Gunn shield spoken of by those who see it. The Mi'kmaq flag is held up as evidence, but there is no proof of its origins. The Venecian cannon is hotly contested. The Newport Tower is now dated to 1450 +/-- 30 years, missing the stated date of 1398 for Sinclair's voyage. 

In fact, the only real evidence is the Zeno Map and narrative. The main weakness in the story, by Pohl and modern proponents, is using the Zeno Narrative and map as a primary sources. To many scholars, this narrative has serious problems and the map is far worse. It doesn’t even show the Orkney Islands, home of the story’s hero. It invents entire islands, like Frislanda, which cannot be explained. And it, like the narrative, was re-created by a man named Nicolo Zeno, descendant of the voyager, in 1558 who “regretted” tearing it and the documents up when he was a small child. 

Niven Sinclair, long a proponent of the story, has compiled a list of proofs. Click here.  Many of these make good sense, enough to at least consider the story further. We hope that Mr. di Robilant will help us make more sense of it all, whether for or against the story.

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