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Origin and history

The commissionory of Lacapelle-Livron was founded by the Templars in the 13th century, thanks to major donations such as that of Grimals, lord of Livron (1225), and Raymond VII of Toulouse (1227). These gifts transformed a simple Templar Barn into an influential Commandery, becoming even the capital of a Templar bailie in 1260, replacing Cahors. In 1268 it housed a commander, three knights, three priests, and eight brothers, illustrating its regional importance.

From the 14th century, the commandary passed to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, dependent on the great priory of Saint-Gilles (language of Provence). It sometimes became masterly commanding, managed directly by the master of the order. The Hospitallers retained the Templar possessions, such as the seigneuries of Saint-Peyronis (1230), Pech d'Auzon (1231), or Lagarde (1233), and added goods such as the castle of Trebaix. The visit of 1762 included 18 members and annexes, testifying to its extent before the Revolution.

Today, the chapel and its fortified bell tower (classified in 1901), as well as the dovecote (registered in 1971), are the only visible remains of this medieval complex. The site, marked by later added machicolis, reflects its dual religious and defensive role. The wars of Religion and time erased a large part of the ancillary buildings, leaving only these protected elements as Historical Monuments.

The archives mention local tensions, such as the sedition of 1562, and subsequent studies (including those of Louis d'Alauzier in 1964) have specified the list of commanders. The command office thus illustrates the evolution of military orders in Occitanie, from Templars to Hospitallers, and their impact on rural heritage.

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