The abbey dates at least from the 10th century, and it was built by order of
Charlemagne on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman fortress called
Palatium Æmilianum ("Palace of Emilianus"). From no later than the time of the
Congregation of St. Maur, the abbey possessed a
coat of arms. According to
Pulci's poem
Il Morgante maggiore,
Roland, protagonist of the
Chanson de Roland was in the abbey at some point. In 841, the abbey was looted and burnt by the
Normans, and previously by the
Saracens. In 945, Count
Raymond I of Bigorre gave the abbey a generous endowment consisting of a territory known as the
Pascal de Saint-Savin , which was made of the eight villages of Saint-Savin (Sen Sabi),
Castet,
Lau (Laou),
Balagnas,
Adast (Adas), Nestalas,
Soulom and
Uz; the church of Saint-Jean-de-Saint-Savin became their communal church. In 1080 the abbey was united to the
Abbey of St. Victor, Marseille. In 1130
Bernard d'Arcizas and
Centule II, Count of Bigorre, confronted the abbot and the inhabitants of the Val d'Azun over a burial. Queen
Marguerite of Navarre (1492–1549) took refuge in the abbey from a flood. From the thirteenth century, the abbey still controlled the territory of seven villages. From the 16th century the abbey suffered due to the destruction associated with the
French Wars of Religion and relaxed its discipline, although there were attempts to restore it in the 17th century by the monks of the
Congregation of St. Maur. Only three monks remained living in the abbey in 1790. In the following year, the church and the monastic buildings were converted for the use of the parish. Part of the abbey was sold for a stone quarry and the
chapter house became a stable.
Prosper Mérimée took charge of its restoration in 1855. == Goods and tithes ==