Jehan de Mandeville also known as Sir John Mandeville complied a book of travels in circa 1350. Being translated into numerous languages increased its popularity. Even though the book has a fantastical nature it was still used as a reference source by Columbus. The author claims to have been in Paris, Constantinople, aided the Sultan of Egypt in the war against the Bedouin; he had seen Mount Sinai and visited the Holy Land. Mandeville further says that he visited Russia, Krakow, Livonia, and Lithuania. It is believed that the physician Liege was the author of part of The Travels of Sir John Mandeville.