Seigneur Fief Blondel Lord Blondel George Mentz Lord of Fiefdom Baron & Freiherr of Fief Thomas Blondel Feudal Lord of Baronnie - West Francia Fief Crown Dependency Freiherr GUERNESIAISE Duke Normandy Foreshore Seasted Rights - FiefSeigneur de la Fief of Blondel Fief Blondel L'Eperons Lord Baron Mentz of Fief Blondel Geurnsey Crown Dependency

The Right Honourable Dr./Jur. George Mentz, JD, MBA, DSS
Lord Chancellor and Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel et Fief de L’Eperons (Datuk Seri)

Overview

The Fief de Thomas Blondel is one of the last great privately held Norman fiefs in the world — an ancient legal seigneury registered directly with the Crown within the Royal Courts of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a dependency of the British Crown and the historical Duchy of Normandy.

This noble title represents an unbroken chain of feudal heritage spanning nearly a millennium. The fief, together with its dependencies Fief de L’Eperons and Fief Bouvée Duquemin in Torteval, includes foreshore and maritime rights that trace back to early Norman and Frankish sovereignty. FiefBlondelPoster1000yrs

Homage to the Crown

On July 16, 2024, the Seigneurs of Guernsey formally paid homage to King Charles III, Duke of Normandy.
We extend gratitude to Seigneur de Sausmarez, who represented all Guernsey Seigneurs and Dames before His Majesty, reaffirming the mutual recognition between the Crown and the Island’s ancient Lords.
This historic homage, conducted in French, preserves the living link between the British Crown and the hereditary Norman Seigneuries.

The Seigneur of Fief Blondel expresses deep appreciation to Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, for their visit to the people and Seigneurs of Guernsey in 2024.

Origins of the Norman Fief

The roots of the Fief Blondel stretch to the Frankish Kingdom and the early Duchy of Normandy, founded when Rollo the Viking was granted Neustria by King Charles the Simple in 911 AD. The Channel Islands — “Îles de Normandie” — became part of the Norman Duchy by 933 AD under William Longsword.

By 1020 AD, Duke Richard II of Normandy granted estates in Guernsey to Neel, Viscount of the Cotentin, establishing what became Fief de Blondel. These lands were originally part of the larger Fief Au Canelly and later divided among noble families including the Blondels, Saint-Sauveurs, and de la Courts.

The Blondel family appears in 12th-century charters as jurats of the Royal Court of Guernsey, with Thomas Blondel recorded between 1421–1445. Over time, the fief passed through numerous noble hands — including the Le Canelly, de Saint Martin, De La Court, de Beauvoir, Le Couteur, and Robilliard families — before its modern conveyance.

Feudal and Legal Heritage

The Fief de Blondel holds a rare legal status as a Free Fief, originally held directly from the Sovereign. In Norman law, such lords were known as liberi homines — free tenants or free lords (friherren / freiherren).

Throughout the centuries, the fief maintained recognition within the Bailiwick’s legal framework. Fees such as treizième and congé were historically paid directly to the Crown upon conveyance, ensuring continued registration within the Royal Court of Guernsey.

Even after France abolished nobility (1848) and Germany ended feudal titles (1919), Guernsey’s fiefs persisted — a living remnant of feudal law upheld by the British Crown.

Today, only about 24 private Seigneurs remain in Guernsey, overseeing 46 fiefs in total — and only around 15 possess foreshore or maritime rights. The Fief de Blondel is among this elite few, representing one of the last privately held seigneuries with coastal and sea rights still recognized by law.

⚜️ Chronological Lineage of the Seigneurs of the Fief Blondel (c.1179–Present)

No.	Approx. Dates	Seigneur / Holder	Notes and Context
1	911–930	Rollo (Hrólfr Ganger)	1st Duke of Normandy; founder of Norman sovereignty — overlord of all fiefs.
2	933–942	William Longsword	Added the Cotentin and Channel Islands (including Guernsey) to Normandy.
3	942–996	Richard I “the Fearless”	Consolidated the Norman duchy and granted early monastic estates.
4	996–1026	Richard II “the Good”	Confirmed ducal authority; oversaw ecclesiastical fiefs.
5	1020–1054	Neel de Saint-Sauveur (Vicomte of Cotentin)	Holder of Torteval and surrounding territories; Blondel lands within his domain.
6	1054	William Pichenoht / Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel	Donor of La Perrelle estate (within future Blondel lands) to the Abbey; Blondel appears in borders.
7	1179	Robert Malmarchie (a.k.a. Thomas Blondel)	Witness to the St. Michael’s Mount Charter; first identifiable Blondel ancestor.
8	c.1204	Le Canelly Family	Original holders of the great Fief du Canelly, of which Blondel was a dependent portion.
9	c.1270	Guilemette de Saint-Martin	Oversaw division of the Canelly estates; Blondel becomes an independent fief.
10	1284	Sir William de Chesney (Cheyney)	First recorded Seigneur of “Fief Thomas Blondel” — confirmed by ducal registry.
11	1300–1350	Guillaume Blondel (Blundelus)	Likely descendant of the Norman family giving the fief its name.
12	1370–1420	Thomas Blondel	Seigneur and Jurat of the Royal Court of Guernsey; consolidates Blondel title.
13	1421–1440	Dame Janet Blondel (Jeannette Blondel)	Widow of Thomas; sold the Fief to Bailiff Thomas de la Court in 1440.
14	1440–1460	Thomas de la Court	Bailiff of Guernsey; confirmed Seigneur by Royal Court deed (18 July 1440).
15	1500–1600	De Beauvoir Family	Prominent Guernsey seigneurs; held Torteval estates including Blondel.
16	1600–1700	De Guille Family	Inherited or purchased portions of Blondel; major landholders in Torteval parish.
17	1700–1750	Hardy Family	Intermarried with De Guille; exercised rights over the manorial courts and rents.
18	1750–1800	Robilliard Family	Noted as stewards and minor seigneurs in the parish estates.
19	1800–1850	Le Pelley / Local Jurats	The Blondel domain held by Guernsey’s patrician jurat families.
20	1850–1900	Various Local Proprietors	Ownership fragmented but still recognized as a private fief under the Crown.
21	1900–1921	Interim Conveyances	Title transferred through succession leading to Le Couteur.
22	1921–1950	George S. Le Couteur	Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel; formally registered with the Royal Court.
23	1950–1980	Le Couteur Descendants / Estate Trustees	Maintained title and duties of fief; paid treizième on conveyances.
24	1980–2000	Estate of Le Couteur → Count Julio Emilio Marco Franco (Spain)	Franco acquired Fief Blondel in formal conveyance; paid treizième to Her Majesty.
25	2000–2017	Count Julio Emilio Marco Franco	25th Seigneur of Fief Blondel; maintained registration with Royal Court of Guernsey.
26	2017–Present	Commissioner Dr./Jur. George Mentz, JD, MBA, CWM, DSS (Datuk Seri) and Knight of St. Georg Habsburg Lorraine	26th Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel & Fief L’Eperons; registered under feudal law of Conge et Treizième in 2018.

⚖️ Summary

🏛 Continuity of Sovereignty

Every transfer — from Dame Janet Blondel (1440) to George Mentz (2018) — was completed through the customary feudal legal procedure of Conge et Treizième, marking the fief as one of the world’s last continuously lawful feudal estates.

Chronology of the Seigneurs of Fief Blondel

Era	Seigneur / Holder	Notes
911 AD	Rollo, Duke of Normandy	Founder of Norman sovereignty
933 AD	Ranulf Fitz Anhetil	Viscount of Bessin under Duke Robert
1020 AD	Neel de Saint-Sauveur	Vicomte of Cotentin, holder of Torteval
1179 AD	Robert Malmarchie (Thomas Blondel)	Witness to St. Michael’s Mount Charter
1270 AD	Guilemette de Saint Martin	Fief divided from Le Canelly estates
1284 AD	Sir William de Chesney	Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel
1421–1440	Thomas Blondel & Dame Janet Blondel	Jurats of the Royal Court
1440 AD	Sieur Thomas de la Court	Bailiff of Guernsey; later Seigneur
1644–1800	De Beauvoir / De Guille / Hardy / Robilliard Families	Seigneurs of Torteval estates
1921 AD	George S. Le Couteur	Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel
2000–2017	Count Julio Emilio Marco Franco (Spain)	Seigneur of Fief Blondel
2017–Present	Dr./Jur. George Mentz, JD, MBA, DSS	Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel & Fief L’Eperons

Modern Stewardship

In 2017, Dr. George Mentz legally acquired the Fief de Blondel through conveyance in the Royal Court, including payment of all required duties and Crown fees (Treizième, Congé, Jurat’s fees, and permission charges*).

Mentz, an international lawyer and academic, continues the tradition of maintaining the ancient Fief Court of Blondel, one of the world’s oldest surviving feudal courts.

He also serves as Lord Chancellor of the Worldwide Anglican Church of Africa, ensuring the preservation of the Fief’s historical, cultural, and spiritual legacy.

The Legacy of the Fief Blondel

Each year at Michaelmas, the Fief Seigneurs of Guernsey attend the Court of Chief Pleas, the ancient legal assembly that honors the enduring connection between the Seigneurs, the Crown, and Guernsey’s Royal Courts.

A Living Relic of Norman Civilization

The Fief de Blondel is more than land — it is a symbol of Western Europe’s oldest legal and cultural heritage. It preserves the essence of Norman law, faith, and fealty, surviving revolutions, reformations, and modernity itself.

As one of the last American Seigneurs, Commissioner George Mentz safeguards this enduring institution — maintaining the Fief’s dignity as both a private patrimony and a living monument of European civilization.

The Separation After 1204 – English Reallocation of Loyal Fiefs

In 1204, when King John lost mainland Normandy to France, Guernsey and the Channel Islands remained loyal to the English Crown.

By this time, what had been “part of the Fief du Canelly” became known by distinctive sub-fief names, including the Fief Thomas Blondel.

Significance

This means that Commissioner Dr. George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief Blondel et L’Eperons,
is both:

This makes the Fief Blondel one of the oldest continuously held and lawfully recognized feudal seigneuries in the world, existing under uninterrupted royal sovereignty for more than 1,100 years.

🏰 After 1204, Guernsey’s fiefs became Crown Dependencies under English Kings in their capacity as Dukes of Normandy.

| 14 | 1216–1272 | Henry III of England | Reorganized Guernsey’s tenures; 1248 charters of fiefs confirmed. |
| 15 | 1272–1307 | Edward I “Longshanks” | Oversaw registration of feudal landholdings including Fief Blondel (1284 Chesney record). |
| 16 | 1307–1327 | Edward II | Maintained Norman tenure; confirmed rights of Guernsey Seigneurs. |
| 17 | 1327–1377 | Edward III | Issued the 1341 Charter affirming Guernsey’s customs, fiefs, and liberties. |
| 18 | 1377–1399 | Richard II | Granted permission for the Chapel of La Perrelle on Blondel lands. |
| 19 | 1399–1413 | Henry IV | Continued royal suzerainty. |
| 20 | 1413–1422 | Henry V | Guernsey’s loyalty rewarded; fiefs confirmed anew. |
| 21 | 1422–1461 | Henry VI | During his reign, Thomas Blondel and Dame Janet Blondel served as Jurats and Seigneurs. |
| 22 | 1461–1483 | Edward IV | Confirmed seigneurial courts and homage. |
| 23 | 1483–1509 | Henry VII Tudor | Strengthened royal registry of island fiefs. |
| 24 | 1509–1547 | Henry VIII | Dissolution era; monastic fiefs such as Mont-St-Michel’s transferred to private hands. |
| 25 | 1547–1558 | Edward VI / Mary I | Retained feudal rights; consolidation of local nobility. |
| 26 | 1558–1603 | Elizabeth I | Fief courts continued; island administration strengthened. |
| 27 | 1603–1649 | James I / Charles I | Civil War period; some fiefs briefly disrupted but reestablished. |
| 28 | 1660–1714 | Charles II / James II / William III / Queen Anne | Restoration reaffirmed royal tenure of all island fiefs. |
| 29 | 1714–1901 | House of Hanover (George I – Victoria) | Fiefs became stable private inheritances. |
| 30 | 1901–1952 | Edward VII – George VI | Continuity of homage and registry under the Royal Court. |
| 31 | 1952–2022 | Elizabeth II | “Duke of Normandy” in island custom; fief transfers continued by Treizième. |
| 32 | 2022–Present | King Charles III | Current Sovereign and Duke of Normandy, Lord Paramount of all Guernsey fiefs. |

🕰 Timeline Summary

Century	Seigneurial Line or Event
13th century (1204–1299)	Division of Fief du Canelly; creation of Fief Blondel under Guernsey’s English Crown tenure.
14th–15th centuries (1300–1450)	Blondel family ascendancy; Royal Court deed of 1440 confirms independent fief.
16th–18th centuries (1500–1800)	Fief passes through noble island families (De Beauvoir, De Guille, Hardy, Robilliard).
19th–20th centuries (1800–2000)	Le Couteur lineage; fief maintained as private hereditary estate.
21st century (2000–Present)	Franco–Mentz conveyances; Fief Blondel remains one of the last free seigneuries in Europe directly registered with the Crown.

⚖️ Legal Continuity

Every Seigneur of Blondel, from 1284 to 2018, has held direct tenure from the Sovereign as Duke of Normandy, confirmed by homage and payment of Treizième — a rare unbroken line of feudal continuity in Europe.

The Royal Court of Guernsey recognizes the Fief Blondel as a “Private Fief” under the Feudal Dues (Guernsey) Law, 1980, meaning it is held directly of the Crown and transferable only through Conge et Treizième, the formal feudal process still valid today.