'Commandry' (
British English), or 'commandery' (
American English), was the smallest division of the
European
landed estate or
manor under the control of a commendator, or
commander, of an
order of
knights. The word is also applied to the emoluments granted to a commander in a
military order of knights.
The word came from French ''commanderie'', from medieval
Latin ''commendaria'', meaning "a trust or charge". It is also called "commendæ" in Latin.
Originally, commandries only existed for the
Order of Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, but later also for the
Order of Teutonic Knights and other orders. Commandries of the Teutonic Knights were known as ''
Komturei''. Equivalents for
Knights Templars were
preceptor and preceptory. In 1540, the possessions in
England of the
Knights Hospitaller were seized as crown property.