Lot 3729

Description

Rhodes, Knights of the Hostpital of St John, AR gigliato (gros), Helion de Villeneuve, grand master (1319-1346) obv. +.FR.ELIOn.D'VILENOVA.D'I.GRA.mR, grand master kneeling before patriachal cross on steps, rev. +OSPITAL'S'IOh'IS.IRL'MI.QT'.RODI, floriated cross, imitating that of Naples, but with shield of knights at each arm of cross (Metcalf 1172-1183 [Pls 45,6]). Good very fine.

After the expulsion of the crusaders from Palestine and Syria in 1291, the knights of the Hostpital, along with the Templars and others, retreated to Cyprus. They needed their own territory and the pope awarded them the island of Rhodes, but they had to take it from the Byzantines, which they did under Fulk of Vilaret in 1310. Fulk's coins are very rare, but those of his successor Helion are more common.