ANCIENT NORMANDY FIEF BLONDEL 

A LEGAL FIEF OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS - BAILIWICK OF  GUERNSEY - A CROWN DEPENDENCY OF THE DUKE OF NORMANDY !   A 1,000 Year Old Fief Tradition !

" THE SEIGNEUR OF FIEF THOMAS BLONDEL  ET FIEF DE L'EPERONS  "Est. 1020AD

The Right Honourable Dr./Jur. George Mentz, JD MBA DSS, Lord Chancellor, Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel - Normandy (Datuk Seri)

Greetings from the Ancient Lords, Dames and Seigneurs of Private Fief Blondel - "Le Seigneurs de la Fief Thomas Blondel & Fief de L'Eperons including Fief Bouvée Duquemin in Torteval

On July 16th 2024 - The Guernsey Feudal Lords paid homage to  King Charles III in French. We thank His majesty King Charles III for the Crown's  mutual recognitions.  We would like to thank Lord Seigneur de Sausmarez for paying official homage for all of the fiefs and Seigneurs and Dames of Guernsey in July 2024. This effectively allowed the  Seigneurs and the King to acknowledge each others ancient legal rights officially receiving or maintaining their Land Tenure Titles and Styles Directly from the King.  Sgr. De Sausmarez said: "I’ve been very privileged to be chosen to represent all the Seigneurs en Chefs to do homage to His Majesty King Charles.

The Seigneur of Fief Blondel wishes King Charles III  "The Duke of Normandy" and the Queen a Great Thanks for visiting the people and Seigneurs and Dames of Guernsey. King and Queen visit Guernsey July 2024 | Guernsey Press 

The Fief of Thom. Blondel is One of the Last Great Private Fiefs [“a territorial fief held  by feudal tenure”]  of Normandy registered directly with the Crown's Royal Courts in Her Majesty's Crown Dependencies.  This is one of the last Fiefs in Europe to be privately owned with Beaches and Foreshores and Seasteds including international anchorage and Waters.

Fiefs became well known during the Kingdom of the Franks with Carl the Great also known as Charlemagne (crowned Emperor in 800 AD) With the partition of the Frankish Kingdom, West Francia became the home to Normandy and Guernsey Channel Islands or "Îles de Normandie".

Fiefdom  In feudalism, a fiefdom (also called a fief, feud, feoff, or fee) was a property or right that an overlord, seigneur or Lehnsherr (sometimes granted directly from a King or Queen) gave a vassal in exchange for fealty or service. This property, of whatever size, could be inherited by the Lord's heirs.

Some Fiefs are Free Fiefs registered directly from the Sovereign such as this ancient Norman Fief. The Lords of the Guernsey fiefs were originally all:  " liberi homines " and " franc-tenans ", free men, or free tenants.  In other parts of Scandanivia, Frankonia, Germania, the name is Free Lord, Free Tenant, or  Feudal Lord.

The Fief of Thomas Blondel, held of the Crown in chief (in capite), belongs to the older Norman tradition of fiefs and seigneurial lordship, which predates hereditary baronial titles; its Seigneur’s standing derives from that direct Crown tenure rather than from a later baronial grant. A fief seigneur is a free lord which translates to Fri-herre in Norman and Scandanavian history and nations.

Before the word Seigneur was used by the Norman Vikings of Normandy a 1000 years ago, they were using the terminology of Chief/hersir, Höfðingi or Chief Lord, Lendr Maðr (landed man or high ranking man endowed with royal territory) , frjáls herra, or later Free Lord or Freherre, which then became Seigneur. By the 12th century, Seigneur or seigneurie increasingly denotes the territory plus estate-plus-rights of a lord.

The Feif Blondel et L'Eperons is a fief tenu du Roi or Fief Direct of the King with defined land, territory and beaches. Fief Blondel et l’Éperon is a Crown fief—held directly of the Sovereign. That makes its Seigneur a direct Crown feudatory or tenant-in-chief. It is legally analogous in its directness of tenure to the relationship claimed by imperial free lords in the Holy Roman Empire such as a Reichsfreiherrschaft or a Reichsfreiherr dignity.

Friherre af Fief Blondel, Kanaløyer Est. 1179 - "R.Frhr." or "RFrhr."

History of the Viking Norman Seigneur & Fiefdoms

481–843 Kingdom of the Franks (Latin: Regnum Francorum), Frankish Kingdom, Frankland or Frankish Empire - Merovingian rise and decline, 481–687; Clovis's sons; Chlothar; Francia split into Neustria, Austrasia, and Burgundy; Rule of Chlothar II; Dagobert I; Dominance of the mayors of the palace, 687–751; Death of Pepin; Umayyad invasion; Carolingian empire, 751–840; Divided empire, after 840

843–987AD - Kingdom of the West Franks - The Channel Islands were held by Frankish Kings until Rollo the Viking conquered Normandy in 911AD

911AD - ROLLO the VIKING - The Norse Channel Islands of France's Normandy were conquered by the Vikings before 911AD. As a concession to the invaders, Fiefs of the Channel Islands begin with the Grants by King Charles the Simple. In 912, Charles the Simple, King of France, ceded to Rollo, the great Norwegian Viking Chieftain, the province of Neustria, now called Normandy, and Rollo became the first duke of that province. On his baptism and marriage with Gisele, daughter of Charles, he also received Brittany, for which Juhael Berengier, Earl of Rennes, did him homage.

The Original Free Lords or FRHR of Normandy - The earliest Norman lords were originally called Frhr. or Frjáls Herra, a Norse‑Germanic expression meaning “free lord,” and as Normandy became Latinized under Christian and ducal administration between c. 880 and 950 AD, Frjáls Herra evolved into the Latin legal formula Dominus Liber, meaning “free lord,” which over time—once Latin gave way to Old Norman French in the period c. 950–1000 AD—further developed into the feudal rank of Seigneur, defined not by patent but by tenure, specifically holding land directly of the Duke or Crown. The title of Seigneur pre-dated a baronial title in Normandy, and thus the Seigneur of a Fief of a landed Territory or Tenure (Direct from the Crown) is equivalent in rank to a baron today in diplomatic protocols. Some fiefs today are effectively a “territory-less” fief without real tenure and thus not the same rank as a Seigneur of a Fief Territory direct from the Crown.

911AD. The Great Viking Chief Rollo Göngu-Hrólfr or Gaange Rolf is first Seigneur of Normandy.  Chief Rollo was a Viking Warrior who became the first ruler of Normandy, a region of France. He is sometimes called the 1st Duke of Normandy and speculations point to Denmark as Rollo's birth place. Guernsey, second largest of the Channel Islands. It is 30 miles (48 km) west of Normandy, France, and roughly triangular in shape. With Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, and associated islets, it forms the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The reigning Queen or King of England is still known as the "Duke of Normandy" to all those in the Channel Islands.  This fief was held directly from the Crown which would imply that the title applying to the Fief Blondel during the Norman Age was Reichsfriherre. The common Holy Roman acronym for "Reichsfreiherr" is "R.Frhr." or "RFrhr." for short.

During the 9th century A.D., Norman invaders hailing from Scandinavia descended upon the northwestern shores of France. Settling primarily along the lower reaches of the River Seine, they bestowed upon the region its enduring moniker: Normandy, aptly named as the land of the Northmen. Through a series of conquests and raids, they gradually expanded their sway, seizing Rouen in 841 and conducting further incursions along the Seine valley up to Paris. The indigenous Franks found it challenging to stem the Norman tide, leading to a pivotal agreement in 911 between Charles the  Simple, King of the West Franks, and Rollo, the Norman leader. This accord saw the King relinquishing territory around Rouen to the Normans, recognizing Rollo as Duke of Normandy in exchange for fealty. However, the Cotentin peninsula and the Channel Islands remained beyond Norman control until Rollo's successor, William Longsword, integrated them into his domain in 933. Thereafter, the Channel Islands became an integral part of the Duchy of Normandy, evidencing Norman administrative and legal influence that endured through the ages. Ecclesiastically, the islands fell under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Coutances, while legally, they constituted the domain of the Norman Dukes, who granted estates as fiefs to monasteries and nobles.

933AD the islands were granted to William I Longsword by Rudolph, also known as Rudolph of France or Rudolph I. He reigned from 923 to 936, the King of West Francia, and annexed to the Duchy of Normandy

1020AD - The Fief de Blondel or Fiefdom of Thomas Blondel came about through the medieval fragmentation of Fief Au Canelly and consequently, of the initial half of Guernésiais or Guernsey given by Duke Richard II in 1020 to Neel, Vicomte of the Cotentin. ( Nigel de  Saint - Sauveur , who held the   fief  of de   Bessin  in   Guernsey which includes Torteval and St. Peter in the Wood which Fief Blondel is in both)

Fief Blondel was part of Fief Canelly and Fief of the Cotentin of Torteval and Fief of Bessin ( or Bayeux ) which was in St. Pierre-du-Bois, and Blondel was part of the Fief of Ansquetil.. Thus, Blondel is one of the only fiefs which has territory in all of the great fiefs.

The holders of the property title of the Fief Blondel territory were Feudal Counts or Viscounts of Contentin and Bessin of which the title was connected to the Land. The definition of a vicomte is a French nobleperson, ranked just above a baron. This fief Blondel was held directly from the Crown which would imply that the title appying to the Fief Blondel during the Norman Age was Reichsfriherre. The common Dane/Germanic acronym for "Reichsfreiherr" is "R.Frhr." or "RFrhr." for short.

In 1066, William the Conqueror mandated Norman Feudal Tenure into England and the Channel Islands and divided it up into 700+ baronies or fiefs. The Lord Barons were called Seigneurs Normands who were part of the new Kingdom of William the Conqueror.

In 12th Century Kingdom of France, the term baronnie or Baron was generally applied to all lords or seigneurs possessing an important fief from the King, but later in the  13th century the title of Baron meant that the holder held his Fief directly from the Crown and was thus more important than a Graf/Comte/Count since counts were typically vassals.

Several Knightly Orders were created - Order of the Genet 726AD - Order of the Star 1022AD - Order of the Thistle of Bourbon 1370AD. These three ancient Baronial Orders are still maintained by the Seigneur of Fief Blondel

AD 1179 - We find Legal Reference of Lord Seigneur of Thomas Blondel, a noble fief, in a charter of 1179AD when he is witnessing a grant to St. Michael's Mount. He is Robert Malmarchie (Thomas Blondel).

1204 AD - Fief Blondel and other Ancient Fiefs were Forfeited to the Crown with separation of Guernsey from France and Normandy and given to loyal Seigneurs and Dames who were Feudal Lords to the Sovereign of the UK Crown.

1200's AD - The Parish of St. Andrew in which Thomas Blondel lies contained a group of four late 12 century ecclesiastical Fiefs, one held by the Bishop of Countances, the second held by the Abbot of Cormery, Tours, the third held by the Abbot of La Croix St. Lewfroy, Evreux, and the fourth held by the Abbess of Trinity, Caen. The Fief Thomas Blondel derives its name, as we have already observed from the family of Malmarcher or Malmarchy who are recorded in the charters as existing in Guernsey in the 12th Century. Today, The region of The Fief de Thomas Blondel lies in both St Pierre du Bois (St. Peter of the Wood) and of the Parish of Notre Dame de Torteval along with the Blondel Dependency Fief de l'Eperon of Torteval Parish of the Island of Guernsey.

In 1270, on the death of Sir Henry Le Canelly, the great Guernsey fief Fief Au Canelly was divided between his daughters. Guilemette, the wife of Henry de Saint Martin obtained a considerable part of the island originating the Fiefs of Janin Besnard, Jean du Gaillard, Guillot Justice and Fief Thomas Blondel. This was confirmed by the tenants and officers of the Fief in letters patent issued by Guernsey's Royal Court under the Bailiwick Seal in 1463. The original noble, Thomas Blondel was a jurat of Guernsey’s Royal Court from 1421-45. The Blondel family has given several jurats to the island. Later the Columbines and Fiotts were the holders of the title. For a time, the rights over the Fief were divided in two.

In 12th Century Kingdom of France, the term baronnie or Baron was generally applied to all lords or seigneurs possessing an important fief, but later in the  13th century the title of Baron meant that the holder held his Fief directly from the Crown and was thus more important than a count since counts were typically vassals.

A 1440 Record of the Fiefdom Deed of the Fief of Thomas Blondel which the deed is still at University Leeds, shows the parishes of St Peter of the Wood and Torteval, Guernsey, made by Janet Blondel to Thomas de la Court. attested by Jean Bonamy and Jacques Guille, jurats. According to the Deed, the Fief Blondel further includes the: Fief Blondel territory in the parishes of St Pierre du Bois (St. Peter of the Wood) and of Notre Dame de Torteval along with the Fief de l'Eperon of Torteval, the Bouvée Phlipot Pain, lying in the said parish of St Pierre duBois, and the Bouvée Torquetil and Bouvée Bourgeon lying in the said parish of Torteval. SEE DIGITAL FIEF MAP

1848 - French Nobility and Titles are eliminated while the Fief Seigneurs of Guernsey continue to exist under Ancient British Norman Laws.

1919 - Nobility eliminated in Germany and Austria. Since 1919 nobility is no longer legally recognized in Germany. Under the Law on the Abolition of Nobility, Austria eliminated its noble classes in 1919. However in Guernsey, the ancient property titles of Fief Seigneur or Free Lord of a Fief continued to exist.

A few of these Guernsey fiefs are still registered directly with the Crown where a treizième or conge was paid in Royal Court to Her Majesty. A lawyer must be hired to register the fief in French. Conge is part of the feudal past when a due (representing one thirteenth of the property price) was charged on the property changing hands and was paid to the Seigneur of the fief upon which the property sat. It remains due and payable to the Receiver General in respect of the conveyance of fiefs. The owners of Fiefs maintain the legal right to be styled with the ancient title of: Seigneur or Dame.

Today,  there are  roughly only 24 private lords left in Guernsey totaling 46 fief lordships surviving in this ancient feudal system , except that two of these 46 seigneuries are indivision between several owners. It appears that only 15 or so Private Fiefs own Beachfront, Foreshore and Maritime Rights. These may be the last privately owned maritime port Fiefs in the world.

In the case of the Fief Blondel, the fee was paid by the Seigneur of Fief Blondel directly to the Crown of the United Kingdom. There may be only a few legally recognized feudal fiefs in the world left at this time which are legally allowed or directly registered with a Sovereign King or Queen.

The Noble Fief of Blondel is one of the island's few "private fiefs" or" feudal titles" not held by the King and Queen.

The Feudal Lord's of Blondel - Approx. Chronology of Free-Lords who Held the Norman Title.

2nd Seigneur - 933AD - Seigneur Ranulf Fitz Anhetil & Duke Robert the Magnificent  -As far as Guernsey is concerned, Seigneur Ranulf Fitz Anhetil, Viscount of Bessin, was part of the Norman Court of Duke Robert the Magnificent [an heir of Rollo] when the latter took possession of the Channel Islands in 933. Anhetil was appointed to rule over the northern fief in Guernsey comprising the parishes of the Vale, Catel, St. Saviour and St. Pierre du Bois.

3rd Seigneur 1032 AD - Seigneur Monastery of Mont St. Michel  - In 1032 this fief was passed over to the Monastery of Mont St. Michel but was restored to the

4th Seigneur 1042 - Viscount Ranulf de Briquessart, in 1042.

26th Free Lord & Seigneur - Commissioner & Counselor Dr./Jur George Mentz JD MBA, KSG, D.M.S.M.K.D., Seigneur of  Fief of Blondel et L'Eperons ) on the island of  (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) in Dec. 2017, the rights of the Private Fief of Thomas Blondel were acquired by George Mentz, Esq of the United States. Acquired by conveyance and payment of: Duty, Treizième & Congé, and Jurats fee, and Fief Permission Fees to the HM/Crown and Receiver General, HM Clerk Greffier and Courts **   Mentz is an international advocate lawyer who studied  Common, Civil and French/Latin Law who has a keen interest in maintaining the Feudal Courts of the Fief Blondel because it is one of the oldest feudal courts in the world. Mentz is also the titular feudal Lord Baron of Ancient Longford-Westmeath in Ireland through acquisition from the original sale from Earl and Lord Westmeath.  The Seigneur of the Fief of Thomas Blondel also holds the ancient Fief of Spurs or The Fief à Eperon as a dependency. George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief de Blondel (A Norman Fief) is a direct descendant of William the Conqueror and Rollo the Viking, 1st Duke of Normandy. Mentz traces his roots from the McConnells to the Flemings, Ker, Drummond Campbell and Stewart Families. From there up to the Kings and Queens of England to the Plantagenets.  George Mentz is also a direct descendent of  Henry V The Blondell (1216 – 24 December 1281) The Count of Luxembourg -  The Counts of Luxembourg are descendents of the Count of Arlon and Dukes of Limburg  which was a dynasty in present day Belgium and Luxembourg.  Sgr. Mentz presently serves 2025 as the The Right Honourable George Mentz, Lord Chancellor of the Anglican Orthodox Church of Africa (WAC)

Commissioner Mentz, Seigneur of Fief Blondel et Eperons at the Steps of the Fief Court at the Church of St. Pierre Du Bois or St. Peter in the Wood - Mentz is the Lord Chancellor of the WAC Worldwide Anglican Church ( Anglican Orthodox Church )

2017 to Present Day - The Government's Court of Chief Pleas is an ancient Court and is constituted in the same way as a Full Court. Nowadays it will typically sit only once per year. It is attended by the Full Court, the Law Officers of the Crown, Advocates and the Fief Seigneurs and Bordiers owing suit to the Court. The Feudal Lords of the Fief are recognized directly by registration with the crown and royal courts. Many esteemed lawyers and officers are in attendance each year at Michaelmas which is a Christian festival observed in some Western liturgical calendars on 29 September. In some denominations a reference to a fourth angel, usually Uriel, is also added. Michaelmas has been one of the four quarter days of the financial, judicial, and academic year. Michaelmas annual Court in Guernsey is usually on the first Monday of October accompanied by government meetings, roll calls, traditional march parade, and dinner of legal, governmental, and feudal dignitaries. Mentz has attended the Court of Chief Pleas as an International Dignatary.

Knights of the Genet KG