"The Khan lives in tents and in a great palace, which is portable, made of fine linen cloth from Cathay. Inside it will hold a great number of people, and on the outside it shines so brightly it dazzles the eyes... We were led before the great Khan sitting upon a lofty throne with one of his wives. His nobles were seated with him on his left, and on his right was he who had been made chief after him... All others sat on the ground, the men on his right, the women on his left."

John of Plano Carpini, History of the Mongols (Ystoria Mongalorum), 1247. Carpini was a Franciscan friar sent by Pope Innocent IV as an envoy to the Mongol court. He was the first Western European to visit and describe the Mongol court.