Stephen of Bohemia was a Franciscan friar and a member of the Papal mission to the Mongol Empire in 1245–1247. [1] [2]
Stephen set out from Lyon with John of Pian del Carpine on 16 April 1245. [1] They travelled through Bohemia to the territory of Duke Bolesław II of Silesia, where they were joined by Benedict of Poland at Wrocław. [1] [2] A certain Ceslaus, also from Bohemia, is mentioned once in the Tartar Relation, but this may be the same person as Stephen. [2] Stephen fell ill not far beyond Kiev. [3] As a consequence, he was left behind in Mongol-occupied Cumania, possibly as a hostage. Ill health prevented him from ever going further. He did not visit the court of Batu, khan of the Golden Horde, or that of the Great Khan Güyük. [2]
Stephen seems to have been picked up by the mission on its return. He was used as a source by the author of the Tartar Relation. [4]