FIEF BLONDEL - ARMS MOTTO & FLOWER

Flower - Mentzelia L.  – blazingstar

Mentzelia sp. Stick-leaf

Photographer: Charles Webber Organization: California Academy of Sciences Collection: CalAcademy ID: 1335 3153 0219 0130 (2002-11-25)  Copyright © 2002 California Academy of Sciences

Blondel Arms from 1392

Description:

[SCRIPT_ion style=] 

Attribution:

Derivitive: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
English: A Heraldic Lion in Rampant Coward Attitude
Date 14 April 2009
Source Own work
Author Sodacan   

Jurisdictional Arms, Seals, Crests, and Banners of a Guernsey Fief

Sovereign Rights of the Seigneur

In the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a Fief remains one of the oldest functioning feudal jurisdictions in the world, governed under Norman customary law and under the Crown in right of the Duchy of Normandy. The Seigneur or Dame of a Fief holds not a mere honorific title, but a recognized legal dignity that includes certain enduring jurisdictional rights within the limits of Guernsey law.

Among these ancient prerogatives is the jurisdictional right to the arms, seals, crests, and banners of the Fief itself. These are not personal heraldic grants, but the emblems of a territorial jurisdiction—in essence, the legal and symbolic insignia of the manorial court, known as the Court Leet.

Jurisdictional Emblems, Not Heraldic Grants

The arms and crests of a Fief arise from the inherent authority of the Fief as a juridical entity, not from the personal lineage or petition of the Seigneur.
A Seigneur need not seek permission, license, or petition any external heraldic authority for the adoption or continuation of the Fief’s arms or seal.

This principle is grounded in Norman law and supported by centuries of customary practice:

• The arms and seals represent the juridical person of the Fief, not the private person of its holder.

• The Court Leet—the local court of record historically convened by the Seigneur—was empowered to authenticate documents under the seal of the Fief.

• The crest and banner of the Fief serve as visible symbols of jurisdiction, ownership, and stewardship over its lands and tenants.

Accordingly, the use of arms, seals, and standards is a matter of jurisdictional right, not heraldic privilege.

The Court Leet and Seal of Jurisdiction

Historically, each Fief in Guernsey maintained its Court Leet, a manorial court with limited administrative, policing, and ceremonial powers.
Documents issued under the authority of this court—including land transfers, declarations, and rolls—were authenticated with the seal of the Fief.

That seal, often engraved with the arms or device of the estate, served as the mark of legal jurisdiction and manorial sovereignty. Even in modern times, the seal may be used ceremonially on official correspondence, charters of recognition, or certificates of feudal ownership pertaining to the Fief.

Banners and Standards

Each Fief traditionally displayed its banner or gonfalon, bearing the Fief’s crest or symbol, during court sessions, parish events, or royal visits.
These banners are the rightful insignia of the Fief itself, symbolizing its enduring recognition as a feudal jurisdiction under the Crown, and not a mere private estate.

Continuity Under Norman Law

The modern legal continuity of Guernsey’s Fiefs ensures that these rights—though now ceremonial—are legally preserved. The Royal Court of Guernsey recognizes the registration and conveyance of Fiefs as real property, maintaining a feudal roll that records ownership, transfers, and dignities associated with each estate.

Thus, the arms, seals, crests, and banners of a Guernsey Fief remain part of the island’s living legal and cultural heritage: enduring symbols of local sovereignty, lawful jurisdiction, and feudal stewardship under the ancient customs of the Duchy of Normandy.