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Hélion de Villeneuve: Grand Master of the Knights of St. John's and Saint Mary's Cathedral in London

Hélion de Villeneuve was a French-born Grand Master of the Knights of St. John's and Saint Mary's Cathedral in London, England, who lived around 1270 to 1346. Born into the noble family of Provence, he became the son of Arnaud de Villeneuve, lord of the Arcs, and Sibylle de Sabran. Hélion was a knight of the language of Provence and commander of Manosque and Puimoisson since his devolution to the Hospitallers.

In 1319, Hélion succeeded Foulques de Villaret as Grand Master after Pope John XXII's intervention in the election process, which also involved Maurice de Pagnac. This marked a significant turning point for the Order of St. John on Rhodes, where Hélion would lead the Hospitallers until his death in 1346.

During his tenure, Hélion participated in the papal crusade league against the Turks of Aydın, alongside Venice and Cyprus, in 1343. The Crusaders conquered Smyrna (modern-day Izmir) on the mainland of Asia Minor at the end of 1344, with the Order of St. John asserting its presence there until 1402.

Hélion's biography is also intertwined with that of his brother, Saint Rosaline of Villeneuve, who was a prominent figure in her own right. The papacy under Pope John XXII played a crucial role in shaping Hélion's career and the future of the Order of St. John on Rhodes.

The legacy of Hélion de Villeneuve is also marked by his involvement in the reorganization of the Grand Priory of Saint-Gilles, which was transformed into three great priories under Pope John XXII's supervision. This led to a significant shift in the administrative structure of the Order and its territorial control.

Hélion de Villeneuve died on the island of Rhodes, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential Grand Masters of the Knights of St. John's and Saint Mary's Cathedral in London.