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To the Larzac via the “Salagou”
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From Villeneuvette, Mourèze and Octon to “La Couvertoirade”.
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La Couvertoirade
About 1119, Hugues de Payns, knight originating in Champagne, melt with some companions a militia which will become the “Knights about the Temple”. At the same time monks and knights, monk and soldiers, Templiers aim at the defense of Jerusalem (then Latin States of the East) and the protection of the pilgrims going on the tomb of Christ. The order owes its name at the house which was allotted to him by the King of Jerusalem, Beaudoin II, close to the site of the Temple of Solomon. Templiers are seen granting many ground donations and rights; they quickly constitute in Occident a network of commanderies of which part of the incomes is transferred in the East. The Men who enter the order must pronounce wishes of obedience, poverty and chastity specific to all the religious orders. Fascination that exerted Templiers is especially related to their fall. In 1307, Templiers de France are stopped, the same day, on order of Philippe Beautiful, are shown secret rites, of idolatry and sodomy. The order east dissolves in 1312. After the lawsuit, the large Master Jacques de Molay as of other Templiers are sharp flarings on roughing-hew it. Their fall is probably related to the fact that after the loss of the Latin States, their existence did not take place any more to be.The Hospital ones of Midsummer's Day of JerusalemBefore the first crusade does not begin, a hospital is founded in Jerusalem near the Holy Sepulchre to lodge the Western pilgrims. These pilgrims come many with the crusade and in Occident, in the wearing of Italy or Provence where they embark, other hospitals are created. This is why in 1113, the Hospital of Midsummer's Day of Jerusalem is recognized like independent hospital order. It is only about 1140, well after the foundation about the Temple, that the Hospital is organized in military order. The Hospital ones preserve a vocation of charity however and develop an image of defenders of Christendom, thanks to their presence in the East. After the fall of Midsummer's Day d' Acre in 1291, they take refuge in Cyprus, then in Rhodos from which they are driven out by the Turks in 1522. In 1530, the emperor Charles Quint allows them to settle in Malta, from where them denomination of Knights about Malta.The heritage of Templiers and Hospital with CouvertoiradeThe name of Cubertoirata appears as of the XI ème century during the delimitation of the territories belonging to the abbey of Gellone, with Saint-Guilhem-the-Desert (Herault) today. Since XIIème century, Templiers are installed on Larzac and with Couvertoirade. Their establishment is due on the one hand in the vicinity of roads making it possible to go down towards the Mediterranean coast to embark towards the East and the Holy Land, on the other hand with donations. Couvertoirade right from the start constitutes for Templiers a center of farm. They cultivate on its grounds of corn, raise horses (for the war) and of the sheep (for the meat, the skins, milk). A village is created slowly around the castle, still visible nowadays. In 1312, the order of the Temple is dissolved. The whole of their goods returns to Hospital which become the new Masters of Couvertoirade. The village counts 135 fires in 1328, that is to say approximately 800 people. In the middle of XIVème century, the “Lorry drivers” (of the brigands of main road) plunder Larzac. By fear of these armed bands, the villagers end up strengthening Couvertoirade of 1439 to 1445. Unfortunately the village was already strongly depopulated. This century of plagues succeeds one century of repopulation and rebuilding of which testify to many houses having preserved elements of the end of XVème at the beginning of XVIème century. In 1562, at the beginning of the wars of religion, Huguenots try to take Couvertoirade - in vain. In 1702 the inhabitants arm and restore the doors by fear of Camisards, but the village will be attacked never again. In spite of the epidemics and the food shortages a certain prosperity is established. In 1768 Couvertoirade is set up in independent commandery, granted the knight Riquetti, baron de Mirabeau, already commander of Holy-Eulalie. But the Revolution confiscates soon all the hospital possessions. At the XIXème century, the village is touched by the rural migration. Since, Couvertoirade lives again thanks to its prestigious past.
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