Fief Thomas Blondel of the Channel Islands - A Norman Fief
Registered Directly With the Royal Courts of Guernsey and with the Crown or Sovereign of The United Kingdom which
includes the Fief L"Eperon
The Title of Lord Paramount and the Feudal System
The title “Lord Paramount” was a distinguished rank in the feudal order of medieval Europe,
most notably in England and Scotland. The word paramount derives from the Old French paramont, meaning “supreme” or “highest in rank.” A Lord Paramount was the highest feudal lord within a given region—holding ultimate
authority over subordinate lords and tenants.
Those who held land in capite ut de corona (“directly from the Crown”) were known as tenants-in-chief. They owed direct allegiance to the King, governed their
territories, and exercised both civil and military authority. Their duties included providing troops and
maintaining the peace, while their privileges often extended to the administration of justice, the levying
of dues, and the granting of sub-fiefs.
Regional examples include the Lord Paramount of Scotland and the Lord Paramount of Ireland, titles reserved for the realm’s highest-ranking nobles.
Today, the term remains primarily historical, symbolizing the supreme feudal lordship once central to
medieval governance.
The Great Fiefs of History
Throughout Europe and beyond, fiefs varied dramatically in size and influence, depending on
local power, geography, and royal favor. Some of the most powerful fiefs in recorded history include:
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The Duchy of Burgundy (Holy Roman Empire): One of medieval Europe’s
mightiest estates, encompassing much of present-day France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
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The Duchy of Aquitaine (France): Once ruled by Eleanor of Aquitaine, this
immense fief spanned southwestern France and influenced both French and English crowns.
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The Earldom of Northumbria (England): The largest English earldom,
controlling vast territories in the north and maintaining semi-independent governance.
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The Rajput Estates (Mughal Empire): Powerful hereditary fiefs in
Rajasthan, India, ruled by Rajput nobles who maintained their domains under imperial
suzerainty.
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The Principalities of Moscow (Russian Empire): Expanding from the 13th
century, these estates evolved into the foundation of the Russian Tsardom.
The scale of these holdings reflected not only land area but also political authority, military
power, and economic might—defining the feudal landscape of their respective regions.
The Seigneurial System
A Seigneur (from the Latin senior, meaning “lord” or “elder”) was a noble who held a fief from a higher authority—be it a king, duke, or bishop—in return for loyalty
and service. The title was typically hereditary, passing from one generation to the next.
In France and its Norman territories, a seigneur direct (or “direct lord”) held land directly from the Crown. This status
conferred autonomy and prestige, as the seigneur governed his estate, dispensed justice, and maintained the
obligations of his vassals.
Typical manorial rights included:
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Collecting rents and dues from tenants
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Holding courts of justice within the fief
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Granting hunting, fishing, and timber rights
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Controlling mining, milling, and ferry privileges
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Levying traditional feudal fees such as relief and heriot
On the island of Guernsey, these Norman traditions remain preserved in law, where the holders of
ancient fiefs retain limited legal recognition through registration in the Royal Court.
Continental Titles and Equivalents
Within the Holy Roman Empire, a comparable title was Reichsfreiherr—translated as Free Baron of the Empire (abbreviated R.Frhr.). This rank denoted a noble who held lands directly from the Emperor, independent
of local princes, and was therefore counted among the imperial nobility.
Similarly, in France, England, and Normandy, noble hierarchies included viscounts
(vicomtes), barons, and counts (comtes), each responsible for maintaining law and governance within their respective
fiefs.
The seigneur-vassal relationship formed the foundation of feudal society, bound by
solemn oaths of loyalty and service. A vavasseur was a lower noble who held land directly from a seigneur and, in turn,
might have vassals of his own—creating a web of interlocking obligations that sustained the feudal order
for centuries.
Feudal Property and Modern Transactions
Historically, fiefs were inalienable—they could not be freely sold or transferred outside the feudal
system. Ownership was conditional upon service and allegiance. However, it was possible for rights such as
tax collection or revenues to be leased temporarily, allowing lords to raise funds without ceding
the land itself.
In later centuries, as feudalism declined, historic fiefs or their estates began to appear in
private transactions. Notable examples include:
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Château de Gudanes (France), sold in 2013 for €700,000.
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Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers, sold in 2017 for €702,000.
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Domaine du Lys Château (Loire Valley), sold in 2015 for €1.57 million.
Such sales today represent the transfer of property—not the feudal rights once attached to the
land.
The Fief Blondel and Eperons – Normandy, Est. 1179
Among the last privately recognized Norman seigneuries stands the Fief de Blondel et L’Eperons, established in 1179 AD and legally registered within the Royal Courts of Guernsey, a Crown Dependency under the Duke of Normandy (King
Charles III).
Commissioner Dr. George Mentz, JD, MBA, DSS, is the 26th Free Lord and Seigneur of the Fief Blondel et L’Eperons. This fief, which
dates back over eight centuries to the era of Rollo the Viking, preserves one of the oldest continuous feudal jurisdictions in
Europe.
Like the Seigneuries of Monaco, Sark, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the fiefs of the Channel Islands are recognized
under both nobility law and international custom. In 2017, Seigneur Mentz completed the traditional Congé and Treizième process, officially transferring and registering the Fief Blondel under
Crown authority.
This fief remains one of the few in Europe where the lord retains rights to
beaches, foreshore, and maritime boundaries, extending in some areas to
international waters. Comparable titles across Europe include:
The lineage of Blondel predates the House of Grimaldi of Monaco (est. 1297) and even the foundations of the
Kingdom of Spain (1479) and Muscovy (1362)—making it older than the Ottoman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, and Kingdom of Lithuania.
International Recognition and Honors
Commissioner Mentz is uniquely recognized across Europe, Asia, and Africa for his global service in education, charitable work, and interfaith cooperation. His contributions to international education—providing
scholarships and leadership programs for students worldwide—have earned him numerous distinctions,
including:
Royal and Chivalric Honors
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Knight Commander, Order of St. George (OSG) – St. Georgs-Orden von Millstatt, Wiener Neustadt, und Carinthia, founded by Emperor
Frederick III in 1468 and confirmed by Pope Paul II in 1469. This knighthood was conferred by
Karl von Habsburg, head of the Imperial House of Austria, with the
Cardinal of Prague officiating.
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Noble Commander (KOFO) – Royal Order of the Golden Fire Dog (ROGFD) of Ghana, granted by the
government-recognized Royal House and Council of Sefwi Obeng-Mim, under His Royal Highness Oheneba Nana Kwame Obeng II, Chief of the Sefwi
Obeng-Mim Stool Lands. This order honors the ancient Asafo warrior code of the Akan Kingdom, symbolizing leadership, unity, and
protection.
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Datuk Seri Title – Bestowed by His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kampar, Riau (Indonesia/Malaysia). The
Datuk Seri is one of the highest traditional titles in the Malay world, predating
many European peerages. Equivalent to an Earl or Graf, it recognizes outstanding service to society and
education.
Legacy of Service and Stewardship
As Seigneur of the Fief Blondel et L’Eperons, Lord Paramount and Free Lord of Normandy, Commissioner Mentz upholds the
traditions of chivalry, charity, and learning that have defined European nobility for a millennium.
Through his work in education and diplomacy, his leadership within global charitable orders, and
his preservation of ancient legal and cultural institutions, George Mentz continues the living legacy of the Norman seigneurs—bridging past and
present, faith and reason, honor and humanity.
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