John McCormack - 1980 - ‎Snippet view 

 

Evolution of the Fief of Cotentin Translated from French

 

 

Treizieme is the feudal due payable to the Crown 1/13th or 2% in Guernsey. It is payable to the Royal Court when the land is alienated.  The Feudal Dues (Guernsey) Law of 1980 abolished Conge except in the case of alienating fiefs where the payment is still made in the royal courts to the Crown. 

"congé" means a document issued by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Receiver General attesting receipt of the proper amount generally payable in accordance with the customary law in lieu of the treizième, and of agreement by the Seigneur of a fief to a transfer of realty included therein; 

"feudal dues" includes treizième, chef-rentes, escheat, varech (or wreck of the sea), poulage, quarantaine and any other incidents of feudal tenure payable in money or money's worth,

  http://www.guernseylegalresources.gg/article/98044/Feudal-Dues-General-Abolition-of-Conge-Guernsey-Law-2002  

"private fief" means a fief other than a fief belonging to Her Majesty. 

Homage and fealty,, in European society, solemn acts of ritual by which a person became a vassal of a lord in feudal society. Homage was essentially the acknowledgment of the bond of tenure that existed between the two. It consisted of the vassal surrendering himself to the lord, symbolized by his kneeling and giving his joined hands to the lord, who clasped them in his own, thus accepting the surrender.
Fealty was an oath of fidelity made by the vassal. In it he promised not to harm his lord or to do damage to his property. Although homage had to be rendered directly to the lord, fealty could be given to a bailiff or steward. The lord then performed a symbolic investiture of the new vassal, handing over to him some object representing his fief. The whole procedure was a recognition of both the assistance owed by the tenant to his lord and the protection owed by the lord to the tenant. 

 

 

 

The 1980 Feudal Laws Act permanently extinguished the private character of the remaining seigneurial royalties by transferring them to the Crown. In 2002, a complementary law provided for the abolition in 2003 of the "thirteenth" right (transfer tax) for private lords, because of the exemption enjoyed by the farms held in strongholds and the fiefs (seigneuries) . This tax is now returned to the Crown.

The lords and ladies of the most important fiefs Guernesiais traditionally sit in the Court of Chief pleas, with the lawyers practicing on the island and the constables elected parishes, during his solemn sessions "in body" (or full court) three times per year. To sit, the lords and ladies must have paid tribute to their fief to the Crown or his representative, the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey. However, even if the presence of the lords and ladies is mandatory at these three sessions, they no longer participate in the debate but answer only to their name. This survival, however, indicates that the Guernsey seigneuries have retained their moral and legal personalities.

Having become owners of several seigneuries (English: manors), a number of stately homes have been converted into a luxury hotel (hotel La Barbarie, for the fief of Blanchelande, or the manor of Longueville, Saint-Sauveur), or simply sold, which allows customary law. Some lords have maintained the area rich in rare botanicals, and open to visit, like the manor of Sausmarez (Sausmarez Manor). It still belongs to the family of Sausmarez, one of the oldest on the island with that of De Carteret.

A similar situation exists in Jersey.
 

TITLES OF GUERNESEY

In 1020, Duke Richard II divides Guernsey diagonally from two halves, granting from south-east to Néel, Viscount of Cotentin and west to Anchetel, Vicomte du Bessin. The Clos du Valle was apparently wasteland. The two initial fiefs had some vicissitudes, but at the time of the conquest of England both returned to the families of the original

 

 

 

Below from"  Fiefs of the Islands of Guernsey

Transactions lists.xls [Compatibility Mode] (societe.org.gg)  by Ewen, A H

 

 

Fief Blondel appears to be older than the Seigneurs of Monaco as the Grimaldi family settled in Monaco in 1297 and Fief Blondel is also older than ancient Sheikhdom of Kuwait,  Kingdom of Moscovy Russia 1362, Kingdom of Spain 1479, Kingdom of Bohemia, Kingdom of Belgium. Fief Blondel may also be older than the Ottomon Empire, Habsburg Empire, and the Kingdom of Lithuania.

 

 

 

 

 

Description of the Lords of The European Fief of Blondel and Eperons - Est. 1179

Commissioner George Mentz is the Seigneur of the Fief Blondel & Eperons of Normandy which is an 800 year old territory on the Norman Islands. From the great Viking Rollo to the present day of the rule of King Charles, these islands have allowed feudal law and courts on the fiefs and island shores. The Fief Blondel and Eperons and its Seigneur are registered directly with the Royal Courts of the Crown and The Duke of Normandy and King Charles. Much like the Seigneurs of Monaco, the lords of French Andorra, Sovereign Gozo of Malta, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), The Papal Monarch of the Vatican City, and The Lord of Sark, The ancient Fiefs in the Channel islands are recognized by both nobility law and international law.

Commissioner Dr. George Mentz was elevated as the 26th Free Lord & Seigneur of Fief of Blondel et L'Epersons) on the island of (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) in Dec. 2017. Mentz also registered the fief direct with the courts using the feudal legal system of Conge and Tresieme which is the official way to transfer a fief from one noble leader or peer to another owner. The Fief of Thom. Blondel is One of the Last Great Private Fiefs in Europe to be privately owned where the lord owns the Beaches, Water, Foreshores and Seasteds including international Waters. In other local cultures, the free-lord Seigneur is known as a Frhr. Friherre in Sweden, a Frhr. Vrijheer in Dutch, and a Frhr. Friherre in Denmark.

The Lords of Fief Blondel et Eperons appear to be older than the Seigneurs of Monaco as the Grimaldi family settled in Monaco in 1297 and Fief Blondel is also older than ancient Sheikhdom of Kuwait, Kingdom of Moscovy Russia 1362, Kingdom of Spain 1479, Kingdom of Bohemia, Kingdom of Belgium. Fief Blondel may also be older than the Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Empire, and the Kingdom of Lithuania.

French: Le commissaire George Mentz est le seigneur du fief Blondel & Eperons de Normandie, un territoire vieux de 800 ans situé sur les îles normandes. Du grand Viking Rollo jusqu'à l'époque actuelle du règne du roi Charles, ces îles ont permis l'application du droit féodal et des tribunaux sur les fiefs et les côtes des îles. Le fief Blondel et Eperons ainsi que son seigneur sont enregistrés directement auprès des Cours Royales de la Couronne, du Duc de Normandie et du Roi Charles. Tout comme les seigneurs de Monaco, les seigneurs de la France, Andorre, le Souverain Gozo de Malte, l'Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte (SMOM), le Monarque Papal de la Cité du Vatican et le Seigneur de Sark, les anciens fiefs des îles de la Manche sont reconnus à la fois par le droit de la noblesse et par le droit international.

Le commissaire George Mentz a été élevé au rang de 26ème Seigneur Libre et Seigneur du fief de Blondel et L'Epersons) sur l'île de (Dgèrnésiais - français de Guernesey) en décembre 2017. Mentz a également enregistré le fief directement auprès des tribunaux en utilisant le système juridique féodal de Conge et Tresieme, qui est la manière officielle de transférer un fief d'un noble leader ou pair à un autre propriétaire. Le fief de Thom. Blondel est l'un des derniers grands fiefs privés en Europe à être la propriété privée où le seigneur possède les plages, l'eau, les rivages et les estrades maritimes, y compris les eaux internationales. Dans d'autres cultures locales, le seigneur libre Seigneur est connu sous le nom de Frhr. Friherre en Suède, un Frhr. Vrijheer en néerlandais, et un Frhr. Friherre au Danemark.

Les seigneurs du fief Blondel et Eperons semblent être plus anciens que les seigneurs de Monaco car la famille Grimaldi s'est installée à Monaco en 1297 et le fief Blondel est également plus ancien que l'ancien émirat du Koweït, le royaume de Moscovy Russie 1362, le royaume d'Espagne 1479, le royaume de Bohème, le royaume de Belgique. Le fief Blondel pourrait également être plus ancien que l'Empire ottoman, l'Empire des Habsbourg et le royaume de Lituanie.

German: Kommissar George Mentz ist der Seigneur des Fiefs Blondel & Eperons der Normandie, das ein 800 Jahre altes Territorium auf den Normanneninseln ist. Von dem großen Wikinger Rollo bis zur heutigen Zeit unter der Herrschaft von König Charles haben diese Inseln feudales Recht und Gerichte auf den Lehen und Inselküsten ermöglicht. Das Fief Blondel und Eperons sowie sein Seigneur sind direkt bei den Königlichen Gerichten der Krone, dem Herzog der Normandie und König Charles registriert. Ganz ähnlich wie die Seigneurs von Monaco, die Herren von Frankreich, Andorra, dem Souveränen Gozo von Malta, dem Souveränen Militärorden von Malta (SMOM), dem päpstlichen Monarchen des Vatikanstaats und dem Herrn von Sark werden die alten Lehen auf den Kanalinseln sowohl vom Adelsrecht als auch vom Völkerrecht anerkannt.

Kommissar Dr. George Mentz wurde im Dezember 2017 zum 26. Freien Herrn & Seigneur des Fiefs von Blondel et L'Epersons) auf der Insel (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) erhoben. Mentz registrierte das Lehen auch direkt bei den Gerichten unter Verwendung des feudalen Rechtssystems von Conge und Tresieme, das die offizielle Art und Weise ist, ein Lehen von einem adligen Führer oder Peer auf einen anderen Eigentümer zu übertragen. Das Fief von Thom. Blondel ist eines der letzten großen privaten Lehens in Europa, das privat besessen ist, wo der Herr die Strände, das Wasser, die Küsten und die Meeresstädte einschließlich der internationalen Gewässer besitzt. In anderen lokalen Kulturen ist der freie Herr Seigneur als Frhr. Friherre in Schweden, ein Frhr. Vrijheer im Niederländischen und ein Frhr. Friherre in Dänemark bekannt.

Die Herren des Fiefs Blondel et Eperons scheinen älter zu sein als die Seigneurs von Monaco, da sich die Familie Grimaldi 1297 in Monaco niederließ und das Fief Blondel auch älter ist als das alte Scheichtum Kuwait, das Königreich Moscovy Russland 1362, das Königreich Spanien 1479, das Königreich Böhmen, das Königreich Belgien. Das Fief Blondel könnte auch älter sein als das Osmanische Reich, das Habsburgerreich und das Königreich Litauen.

Italian: Il commissario George Mentz è il signore del Feudo Blondel & Eperons della Normandia, un territorio di 800 anni situato nelle isole normanne. Dal grande vichingo Rollo ai giorni nostri sotto il regno di Re Carlo, queste isole hanno permesso l'applicazione della legge feudale e dei tribunali sui feudi e sulle coste delle isole. Il Feudo Blondel ed Eperons e il suo signore sono registrati direttamente presso i Tribunali Reali della Corona, il Duca di Normandia e Re Carlo. Molto simili ai signori di Monaco, i signori della Francia, Andorra, il Sovrano Gozo di Malta, il Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta (SMOM), il Monarca Papale della Città del Vaticano e il Signore di Sark, gli antichi Feudi delle isole del Canale sono riconosciuti sia dalla legge nobiliare che dal diritto internazionale.

Il commissario Dr. George Mentz è stato elevato al rango di 26° Signore Libero & Signore del Feudo di Blondel et L'Epersons) nell'isola di (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) nel dicembre 2017. Mentz ha anche registrato il feudo direttamente presso i tribunali utilizzando il sistema giuridico feudale di Conge e Tresieme, che è il modo ufficiale per trasferire un feudo da un nobile leader o pari a un altro proprietario. Il Feudo di Thom. Blondel è uno degli ultimi grandi feudi privati in Europa a essere di proprietà privata, dove il signore possiede le spiagge, l'acqua, le rive e le città marittime, comprese le acque internazionali. In altre culture locali, il Signore libero Seigneur è conosciuto come Frhr. Friherre in Svezia, un Frhr. Vrijheer in olandese e un Frhr. Friherre in Danimarca.

I Signori del Feudo Blondel et Eperons sembrano essere più antichi dei Signori di Monaco, poiché la famiglia Grimaldi si stabilì a Monaco nel 1297 e il Feudo Blondel è anche più antico dell'antico sceicco del Kuwait, del Regno di Moscovia Russia 1362, del Regno di Spagna 1479, del Regno di Boemia, del Regno del Belgio. Il Feudo Blondel potrebbe anche essere più antico dell'Impero Ottomano, dell'Impero degli Asburgo e del Regno di Lituania.

Spanish: El comisionado George Mentz es el Señor del Feudo Blondel & Eperons de Normandía, un territorio de 800 años en las Islas Normandas. Desde el gran vikingo Rollo hasta la actualidad bajo el reinado del Rey Carlos, estas islas han permitido la aplicación de la ley feudal y los tribunales en los feudos y las costas de las islas. El Feudo Blondel y Eperons y su Señor están registrados directamente en los Tribunales Reales de la Corona, el Duque de Normandía y el Rey Carlos. Al igual que los Señores de Mónaco, los señores de Francia, Andorra, el Soberano Gozo de Malta, la Orden Militar Soberana de Malta (SMOM), el Monarca Papal de la Ciudad del Vaticano y el Señor de Sark, los antiguos Feudos de las Islas del Canal son reconocidos tanto por la ley nobiliaria como por el derecho internacional.

El comisionado Dr. George Mentz fue elevado al rango de 26º Señor Libre y Señor del Feudo de Blondel et L'Epersons) en la isla de (Dgèrnésiais - Guernsey French) en diciembre de 2017. Mentz también registró el feudo directamente en los tribunales utilizando el sistema legal feudal de Conge y Tresieme, que es la forma oficial de transferir un feudo de un líder noble o par a otro propietario. El Feudo de Thom. Blondel es uno de los últimos grandes feudos privados en Europa en ser de propiedad privada, donde el señor posee las playas, el agua, las costas y las ciudades marítimas, incluidas las aguas internacionales. En otras culturas locales, el Señor libre Señor se conoce como Frhr. Friherre en Suecia, un Frhr. Vrijheer en holandés y un Frhr. Friherre en Dinamarca.

Los Señores del Feudo Blondel et Eperons parecen ser más antiguos que los Señores de Mónaco, ya que la familia Grimaldi se estableció en Mónaco en 1297 y el Feudo Blondel también es más antiguo que el antiguo jeque del Kuwait, el Reino de Moscovia Rusia 1362, el Reino de España 1479, el Reino de Bohemia, el Reino de Bélgica. El Feudo Blondel también podría ser más antiguo que el Imperio Otomano, el Imperio de los Habsburgo y el Reino de Lituania.

 

In the context of Jersey, a Crown dependency and self-governing territory of the British Crown, the ownership of the foreshore can indeed be unique due to its feudal legal system. The concept of the Lords Seigneurs owning the foreshore in Jersey is a specific legal arrangement derived from a thousand years of  feudal law and customary law.

In the case of Les Pas Holdings v Les Pas Farm Ltd. [2007] JLR 54, the Royal Court of Jersey considered a dispute regarding the ownership of certain foreshore areas. The case involved a claim by the Seigneur of St. Ouen that the foreshore in question belonged to the Fief of St. Ouen and was therefore part of his feudal rights as Seigneur.
The Royal Court's decision upheld the traditional ownership rights of the Seigneur, affirming that the foreshore in question was part of the Fief of St. Ouen and belonged to the Seigneur accordingly. This ruling highlighted the continuation of feudal rights and customs in Jersey's legal system, including the ownership of certain coastal areas by Seigneurs.

It's important to note that Jersey's legal system is distinct from that of England and Wales, and it retains elements of customary law and feudalism. As such, the ownership of the foreshore in Jersey may differ from other jurisdictions. This case underscores the importance of understanding the unique legal framework of Jersey when considering questions of property rights, including those related to coastal areas and the foreshore.

Historically, the Crown did have ownership over territorial waters around the Channel Islands, including Guernsey. Fishing rights have been owned by coastal Lords for over a 1000 years.  The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles (approximately 370.4 kilometers). Marinas and Fishing requires water and rights to boating and to fish in the water.  Coastal states have sovereign rights to explore and exploit natural resources on and beneath the seabed. The outer limit of the continental shelf can extend beyond 200 nautical miles if certain conditions are met.

Monaco was historically a fief before it achieved sovereignty. The House of Grimaldi, a noble family from Genoa, Italy, gained control of Monaco in the late 13th century. The Grimaldis established themselves as rulers of the area and obtained sovereignty over Monaco, but initially, they did so as vassals of various larger powers.

Monaco's status as a fiefdom meant that the rulers of Monaco owed allegiance to a more powerful lord or sovereign. Over the centuries, Monaco was at various times under the suzerainty of different entities, including the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of France, and the Kingdom of Sardinia.

However, in 1861, Monaco signed a treaty with France that established its full sovereignty, effectively ending its status as a fief. This treaty solidified Monaco's independence and recognized it as a sovereign state under the rule of the Grimaldi family. Since then, Monaco has maintained its sovereignty, although it has close ties with France, including agreements related to defense, currency, and other matters.