 Dalon Abbey was founded in 1114 by Gerald of Salles (or Salis) under the Rule of Saint Benedict thanks to donations by Gerald of Lastours and his brother Gouffier, who attended the abbey's foundation day alongside Eustorge, the Bishop of Limoges, and several local lords.The successor of Gerald of Salles, the hermit Roger, developed the abbey and established several monasteries and priories (Aubignac, Bœuil, Loc-Dieu, the Palais Notre-Dame, Prébenoît), thereby forming the Order of Dalon.In 1142, Dalon was not a Cistercian community, but several other abbeys had already adopted the Cistercian Rule.