Jean de Villiers (Grand Master)

Fra ' Jean de Villiers, also John Villiers, Ioannes Villiersius, John de Villers († 1294 in Cyprus ) was from 1284/85 until his death in the 22nd Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller.

Jean De Villiers came from the noble family from the neighborhood of Beauvais in Picardy.

The Order had already in 1271 the fortresses of Krak des Chevaliers and 1285 Margat lost and then relocated his headquarters in the town of Acre, the last Crusader stronghold in Palestine.

1291 Acre was besieged by the troops of the Egyptian Mamluk Sultan al -Ashraf under their Khalil. Jean commanded during the siege of the troops of the Order. After seven weeks of siege, the city fell on May 18, 1291st Jean was severely wounded on that day, but he succeeded and some members of the Order to escape on a ship. Decimated the Teutonic Knights were in Cyprus, down near Limassol.

On his sickbed in Cyprus, he wrote to the later Grand Master William of Villaret (at that time Prior of St. Gilles) and described the fall of Acre.

Jean began to attach the new headquarters of the Order in Cyprus, and promoted the expansion of the convent's fleet. He died in 1294, his successor Odon de Pins has been selected.