# Commandery > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Commandery > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Commandery.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandery > Source revision: 1343029329 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Administrative land division of a military order For other uses, see [Commandery (disambiguation)](/source/Commandery_(disambiguation)). In the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages), a **commandery** (rarely **commandry**) was the smallest administrative division of the [European](/source/Europe) [landed properties](/source/Landed_estate) of a [military order](/source/Military_order_(religious_society)). It was also the name of the house where the knights of the commandery lived.[1] The word is also applied to the [emoluments](/source/Emolument) granted to a commander. They were the equivalent for those orders to a [monastic grange](/source/Monastic_grange). The knight in charge of a commandery was a [commander](/source/Commander_(order)). ## Etymology The word derives from French *commanderie* or *commenderie*, from mediaeval [Latin](/source/Latin) *commendaria* or *commenda*, meaning 'a trust or charge', originally one held *[in commendam](/source/In_commendam)*.[2][3] Originally, commanderies were benefices, particularly in the Church, held *in commendam*. Mediaeval [military orders](/source/Military_order_(religious_society)) adopted monastic organizational structures and commanderies were divisions of the [Order of Knights of St. John of Jerusalem](/source/Order_of_Knights_of_St._John_of_Jerusalem), and later the [Order of Teutonic Knights](/source/Order_of_Teutonic_Knights) and other knightly orders were organized along similar lines.[3] The property of the order was divided into *priorates* (or [priories](/source/Priory)), subdivided into *bailiwicks*, which in turn were divided into *commanderies* or *commendæ*; these were placed in charge of a *commendator* or [commander](/source/Commander_(order)). The word is also applied to the emoluments granted to a commander of a military order of knights.[2] A commandery of the Teutonic Knights, each headed by a *Komtur*, was known as a *Komturei* or *Kommende*. The equivalents among the [Knights Templar](/source/Knights_Templar) were *[preceptor](/source/Preceptor)* and *preceptory*.[*[dubious](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement) – [discuss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Commandery#Dubious)*] In 1540, the possessions in [England](/source/England) of the [Knights Hospitaller](/source/Knights_Hospitaller) — the commanderies to which the English term first referred — were [seized as crown property](/source/Dissolution_of_the_monasteries).[3] ## Usage ### Modern - A territory of the [Venerable Order of Saint John](/source/Venerable_Order_of_Saint_John#Priories_and_Commanderies) - A division of the [Knights Templar](/source/Knights_Templar_(Freemasonry)), found within the [York Rite](/source/York_Rite) of [Freemasonry](/source/Freemasonry). - A chapter of the [Military Order of Foreign Wars](/source/Military_Order_of_Foreign_Wars). ### Medieval In the Near East and throughout Europe: - A territory of [the Order of St John of Jerusalem](/source/List_of_the_priors_of_St_John_of_Jerusalem_in_England), the [Knights Hospitallers](/source/Knights_Hospitallers) - A territory of the [Order of Teutonic Knights](/source/Order_of_Teutonic_Knights) and other orders - [The Commandery](/source/The_Commandery), an historic building in the city of [Worcester](/source/Worcester%2C_England), England probably built by Knights Hospitallers ## See also - [Commandaria](/source/Commandaria) - [In Commendam](/source/In_Commendam) - [Encomienda](/source/Encomienda) ## References ### Citations 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Anthony Luttrell and Greg O'Malley (eds.), *The Countryside Of Hospitaller Rhodes 1306–1423: Original Texts And English Summaries* (Routledge, 2019), p. 27. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911765_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911765_2-1) [Chisholm 1911](#CITEREFChisholm1911), p. 765. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_3-2) "commandery | commandry, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, December 2018, [https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/36962](https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/36962). Accessed 9 December 2018. ### Sources - This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). "[Commandery](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Commandery)". *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 765. v t e Phaleristics Auxiliary science of history and numismatics about orders, decorations, and medals Distinctions (Lists) By conferee Founts of honour* States and their national/public/official authorities Dynasties heads of currently or formerly sovereign royal families Private Ecclesiastical Organisations Commercial (Self-styled order) By type Orders Order of chivalry Military order Order of merit Royal family order Titles (Styles, Post-nominal) By function Grand master Chancellor Treasurer Assessor Bailiff Prior Chaplain Master of ceremonies Grand Cross / Grand Cordon Commander Officer Hospitaller Knight/Dame Postulant Squire Page Jurisdictions Charter Bailiwick Chapter Commandery Obedience Grand Lodge Lodge Others, by field Military (List) List of highest Campaign medal Law enforcement Civilian (List) Society Peace Intellectual freedom Human rights Law Humanitarianism Politics Volunteer Culture Architecture Art Film History Literature Music Philosophy Poetry Theatre Science Religion-related Ecclesiastical Sports Scouting Beauty By insignia (Named after people) For wearing (decorations) Formal Chelengk Collar Livery collar Grand Cross / Grand Cordon with sash Medal Necklet Medal bar Medal ribbon Robe of honour Tiraz Other Rosette Award pin Lapel pin Collar pin Tie pin Badge Heraldic Pilgrim Championship belt Embroidered patch Epaulette Ribbon Ring Championship ring Button Campaign Service Shoulder mark Tie clip Prizes Booby prize Wooden spoon Deal toy Plaquette Prize book Prize money Prize of war War trophy Human trophy Rosette Trophy Acrylic Participation Prizes known as the Nobel of a field Ceremonies and events Accolade Vigil Feoffment Passage fee Festival Vow Collar day Related organisations Family history society Family association Nobility association Fraternity Confraternity Fraternal order Fraternities and sororities Secret society Guild Syndicate Learned society Fellowship Honor society Hereditary society Club Gentlemen's club International Commission for Orders of Chivalry Magical organization Religious order Related concepts Chivalry Numismatics Heraldry Vexillology Service flag Battle honour Campaign streamer Nobility Order of precedence Taonga Honorary degree Devotional medal Awareness ribbon Code of conduct Code of honor High society * = Direct or indirect reference to fount of honour is the accepted criterion for official distinctions Category:Orders, decorations, and medals Wikipedia:WikiProject Orders, decorations, and medals Wikipedia:WikiProject Awards Authority control databases International GND National Czech Republic --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Commandery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandery) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandery?action=history)). 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