diff --git a/commands/event.go b/commands/event.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..baf9ecda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/event.go
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2025 Tulir Asokan
+//
+// This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+// License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+// file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
+
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/event"
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/format"
+)
+
+// Event contains the data of a single command event.
+// It also provides some helper methods for responding to the command.
+type Event[MetaType any] struct {
+	*event.Event
+	// RawInput is the entire message before splitting into command and arguments.
+	RawInput string
+	// Command is the lowercased first word of the message.
+	Command string
+	// Args are the rest of the message split by whitespace ([strings.Fields]).
+	Args []string
+	// RawArgs is the same as args, but without the splitting by whitespace.
+	RawArgs string
+
+	Ctx     context.Context
+	Proc    *Processor[MetaType]
+	Handler *Handler[MetaType]
+	Meta    MetaType
+}
+
+var IDHTMLParser = &format.HTMLParser{
+	PillConverter: func(displayname, mxid, eventID string, ctx format.Context) string {
+		if len(mxid) == 0 {
+			return displayname
+		}
+		if eventID != "" {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("https://matrix.to/#/%s/%s", mxid, eventID)
+		}
+		return mxid
+	},
+	ItalicConverter: func(s string, c format.Context) string {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("*%s*", s)
+	},
+	Newline: "\n",
+}
+
+// ParseEvent parses a message into a command event struct.
+func ParseEvent[MetaType any](ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) *Event[MetaType] {
+	content := evt.Content.Parsed.(*event.MessageEventContent)
+	text := content.Body
+	if content.Format == event.FormatHTML {
+		text = IDHTMLParser.Parse(content.FormattedBody, format.NewContext(ctx))
+	}
+	parts := strings.Fields(text)
+	return &Event[MetaType]{
+		Event:    evt,
+		RawInput: text,
+		Command:  strings.ToLower(parts[0]),
+		Args:     parts[1:],
+		RawArgs:  strings.TrimLeft(strings.TrimPrefix(text, parts[0]), " "),
+		Ctx:      ctx,
+	}
+}
+
+type ReplyOpts struct {
+	AllowHTML     bool
+	AllowMarkdown bool
+	Reply         bool
+	Thread        bool
+	SendAsText    bool
+}
+
+func (evt *Event[MetaType]) Reply(msg string, args ...any) {
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		msg = fmt.Sprintf(msg, args...)
+	}
+	evt.Respond(msg, ReplyOpts{AllowMarkdown: true, Reply: true})
+}
+
+func (evt *Event[MetaType]) Respond(msg string, opts ReplyOpts) {
+	content := format.RenderMarkdown(msg, opts.AllowMarkdown, opts.AllowHTML)
+	if opts.Thread {
+		content.SetThread(evt.Event)
+	}
+	if opts.Reply {
+		content.SetReply(evt.Event)
+	}
+	if !opts.SendAsText {
+		content.MsgType = event.MsgNotice
+	}
+	_, err := evt.Proc.Client.SendMessageEvent(evt.Ctx, evt.RoomID, event.EventMessage, content)
+	if err != nil {
+		zerolog.Ctx(evt.Ctx).Err(err).Msg("Failed to send reply")
+	}
+}
+
+func (evt *Event[MetaType]) React(emoji string) {
+	_, err := evt.Proc.Client.SendReaction(evt.Ctx, evt.RoomID, evt.ID, emoji)
+	if err != nil {
+		zerolog.Ctx(evt.Ctx).Err(err).Msg("Failed to send reaction")
+	}
+}
+
+func (evt *Event[MetaType]) Redact() {
+	_, err := evt.Proc.Client.RedactEvent(evt.Ctx, evt.RoomID, evt.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		zerolog.Ctx(evt.Ctx).Err(err).Msg("Failed to redact command")
+	}
+}
+
+func (evt *Event[MetaType]) MarkRead() {
+	err := evt.Proc.Client.MarkRead(evt.Ctx, evt.RoomID, evt.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		zerolog.Ctx(evt.Ctx).Err(err).Msg("Failed to send read receipt")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/commands/prevalidate.go b/commands/prevalidate.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..95bbcc97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/prevalidate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2025 Tulir Asokan
+//
+// This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+// License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+// file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// A PreValidator contains a function that takes an Event and returns true if the event should be processed further.
+//
+// The [PreValidator] field in [Processor] is called before the handler of the command is checked.
+// It can be used to modify the command or arguments, or to skip the command entirely.
+//
+// The primary use case is removing a static command prefix, such as requiring all commands start with `!`.
+type PreValidator[MetaType any] interface {
+	Validate(*Event[MetaType]) bool
+}
+
+// FuncPreValidator is a simple function that implements the PreValidator interface.
+type FuncPreValidator[MetaType any] func(*Event[MetaType]) bool
+
+func (f FuncPreValidator[MetaType]) Validate(ce *Event[MetaType]) bool {
+	return f(ce)
+}
+
+// AllPreValidator can be used to combine multiple PreValidators, such that
+// all of them must return true for the command to be processed further.
+type AllPreValidator[MetaType any] []PreValidator[MetaType]
+
+func (f AllPreValidator[MetaType]) Validate(ce *Event[MetaType]) bool {
+	for _, validator := range f {
+		if !validator.Validate(ce) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// AnyPreValidator can be used to combine multiple PreValidators, such that
+// at least one of them must return true for the command to be processed further.
+type AnyPreValidator[MetaType any] []PreValidator[MetaType]
+
+func (f AnyPreValidator[MetaType]) Validate(ce *Event[MetaType]) bool {
+	for _, validator := range f {
+		if validator.Validate(ce) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// ValidatePrefixCommand checks that the first word in the input is exactly the given string,
+// and if so, removes it from the command and sets the command to the next word.
+//
+// For example, `ValidateCommandPrefix("!mybot")` would only allow commands in the form `!mybot foo`,
+// where `foo` would be used to look up the command handler.
+func ValidatePrefixCommand[MetaType any](prefix string) PreValidator[MetaType] {
+	return FuncPreValidator[MetaType](func(ce *Event[MetaType]) bool {
+		if ce.Command == prefix && len(ce.Args) > 0 {
+			ce.Command = strings.ToLower(ce.Args[0])
+			ce.RawArgs = strings.TrimLeft(strings.TrimPrefix(ce.RawArgs, ce.Args[0]), " ")
+			ce.Args = ce.Args[1:]
+			return true
+		}
+		return false
+	})
+}
+
+// ValidatePrefixSubstring checks that the command starts with the given prefix,
+// and if so, removes it from the command.
+//
+// For example, `ValidatePrefixSubstring("!")` would only allow commands in the form `!foo`,
+// where `foo` would be used to look up the command handler.
+func ValidatePrefixSubstring[MetaType any](prefix string) PreValidator[MetaType] {
+	return FuncPreValidator[MetaType](func(ce *Event[MetaType]) bool {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(ce.Command, prefix) {
+			ce.Command = ce.Command[len(prefix):]
+			return true
+		}
+		return false
+	})
+}
diff --git a/commands/processor.go b/commands/processor.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d4a29690
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/processor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2025 Tulir Asokan
+//
+// This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+// License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+// file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"runtime/debug"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
+
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix"
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix/event"
+)
+
+// Processor implements boilerplate code for splitting messages into a command and arguments,
+// and finding the appropriate handler for the command.
+type Processor[MetaType any] struct {
+	Client       *mautrix.Client
+	LogArgs      bool
+	PreValidator PreValidator[MetaType]
+	Meta         MetaType
+	commands     map[string]*Handler[MetaType]
+	aliases      map[string]string
+	lock         sync.RWMutex
+}
+
+type Handler[MetaType any] struct {
+	Func func(ce *Event[MetaType])
+
+	// Name is the primary name of the command. It must be lowercase.
+	Name string
+	// Aliases are alternative names for the command. They must be lowercase.
+	Aliases []string
+}
+
+// UnknownCommandName is the name of the fallback handler which is used if no other handler is found.
+// If even the unknown command handler is not found, the command is ignored.
+const UnknownCommandName = "unknown-command"
+
+func NewProcessor[MetaType any](cli *mautrix.Client) *Processor[MetaType] {
+	proc := &Processor[MetaType]{
+		Client:       cli,
+		PreValidator: ValidatePrefixSubstring[MetaType]("!"),
+		commands:     make(map[string]*Handler[MetaType]),
+		aliases:      make(map[string]string),
+	}
+	proc.Register(&Handler[MetaType]{
+		Name: UnknownCommandName,
+		Func: func(ce *Event[MetaType]) {
+			ce.Reply("Unknown command")
+		},
+	})
+	return proc
+}
+
+// Register registers the given command handlers.
+func (proc *Processor[MetaType]) Register(handlers ...*Handler[MetaType]) {
+	proc.lock.Lock()
+	defer proc.lock.Unlock()
+	for _, handler := range handlers {
+		proc.registerOne(handler)
+	}
+}
+
+func (proc *Processor[MetaType]) registerOne(handler *Handler[MetaType]) {
+	if strings.ToLower(handler.Name) != handler.Name {
+		panic(fmt.Errorf("command %q is not lowercase", handler.Name))
+	}
+	proc.commands[handler.Name] = handler
+	for _, alias := range handler.Aliases {
+		if strings.ToLower(alias) != alias {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("alias %q is not lowercase", alias))
+		}
+		proc.aliases[alias] = handler.Name
+	}
+}
+
+func (proc *Processor[MetaType]) Unregister(handlers ...*Handler[MetaType]) {
+	proc.lock.Lock()
+	defer proc.lock.Unlock()
+	for _, handler := range handlers {
+		proc.unregisterOne(handler)
+	}
+}
+
+func (proc *Processor[MetaType]) unregisterOne(handler *Handler[MetaType]) {
+	delete(proc.commands, handler.Name)
+	for _, alias := range handler.Aliases {
+		if proc.aliases[alias] == handler.Name {
+			delete(proc.aliases, alias)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (proc *Processor[MetaType]) Process(ctx context.Context, evt *event.Event) {
+	log := *zerolog.Ctx(ctx)
+	defer func() {
+		panicErr := recover()
+		if panicErr != nil {
+			logEvt := log.Error().
+				Bytes(zerolog.ErrorStackFieldName, debug.Stack())
+			if realErr, ok := panicErr.(error); ok {
+				logEvt = logEvt.Err(realErr)
+			} else {
+				logEvt = logEvt.Any(zerolog.ErrorFieldName, panicErr)
+			}
+			logEvt.Msg("Panic in command handler")
+			_, err := proc.Client.SendReaction(ctx, evt.RoomID, evt.ID, "💥")
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Err(err).Msg("Failed to send reaction after panic")
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	parsed := ParseEvent[MetaType](ctx, evt)
+	if !proc.PreValidator.Validate(parsed) {
+		return
+	}
+
+	realCommand := parsed.Command
+	proc.lock.RLock()
+	alias, ok := proc.aliases[realCommand]
+	if ok {
+		realCommand = alias
+	}
+	handler, ok := proc.commands[realCommand]
+	if !ok {
+		handler, ok = proc.commands[UnknownCommandName]
+	}
+	proc.lock.RUnlock()
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	logWith := log.With().
+		Str("command", realCommand).
+		Stringer("sender", evt.Sender).
+		Stringer("room_id", evt.RoomID)
+	if proc.LogArgs {
+		logWith = logWith.Strs("args", parsed.Args)
+	}
+	log = logWith.Logger()
+	parsed.Ctx = log.WithContext(ctx)
+	parsed.Handler = handler
+	parsed.Proc = proc
+	parsed.Meta = proc.Meta
+
+	log.Debug().Msg("Processing command")
+	handler.Func(parsed)
+}