Caves near Saint-Lizier make us suppose there used to be prehistoric habitat.The history of the town can be devided into three unequal historic periods.
The gallo-roman civitas.The revolt of the spanish governor Sertorius against Sylla, in 8 befor J.C., caused the rebellion of the southern Gaule nation. At his return in 72 before J.C., Pompei, who dispatched to pacify the peninsula, founded the town of the Convenae (Saint-Bertrand de Comminges) and probably organized the town of the Consorani (Saint-Lizier). By substitution of the n into u, the name became Couserans.
During the medevial period, vestiges were reemployed for construction of churches.By fear of invasions, the town was surrounded by 740 meters of ramparts.
A bishopric (4th century - 1801)From the second half of the 4th century, the history of Saint-Lizier can be closely tied to the history of the 79 bishops that reigned on the Couserans see. Until the 11th century, by lack of documentation, its history is not very well known.
Saint-Lizier, possessing relics of a Saint, venerated beyond the town, became a halt on a secondary pilgrimage route to Compostella. A brotherhood of Saint-James, who's statutes have been found again recently, was created in 1533.
The bishop Hector d'Ossun (16the century) founded the first hospital in the village.In 1670, the bishop Bernard Coignet de Marmiesse (1654-1680) enlarged the hospital and had the bishop's palace built.The bishop Joseph de Saint-André de Marnays de Vercel has been governing the bishopric during 28 years (1751-1779). In 1764, he had the existant hospital rebuilt. Its beautiful chemistry (pharmacy) can still be visited nowadays.
In spite of its long history, the Couserans bishopric was suppressed in 1801, a pejudicial measure depriving Saint-Lizier of an activity and its 16 centuries of prestige.
The episcopalian title of the Couserans was reestablished in 1910 and the bishop of Pamiers then became responsable for this area.

The first uncontestable text that mentions the Couserans bishopric, dates from 506 and concerns the council of Agde in which "Glycerius in Christ nomine episcopus Consoranicae" took part.This Glycerius, once canonized, became Saint-Lizier and gave his name to the town.
The construction of the cathedral of "Notre Dame de la Sède" was started at the end of the 11th century. It was consecrated in 1117 by Raymond Durban, bishop of Barbastro in Spain.
At the end of the third century, under Dioclecien and Constantin, the Consorani territory constituted, with 8 other towns, the province of Novempopulanie. Like the Gaule, the Couserans enjoyed the Pax Romana.

The cantonal seatTo compensate for the loss of its bishopric, St-Lizier hoped to become the seat of the canton with St-Girons, as in those days it was said that they were nearly one. Disappointment: the Couserans was joined to the county of Foix, to become the department of the Ariège and Saint-Girons was chosen instead.
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