Channel Island Feudalism - The Fief System

The Channel Islands have been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. Guernsey was settled in the neolithic period, around 5000 BCE, whereas Jersey was occupied much earlier - starting in the Paleolithic around 12000 BCE. Evidence of this is clearly available, scattered about the landscape, in the form of the many dolmens and menhir. The Romans were well acquainted with The Channel Islands also with mentions by Antonius and the Notitia in Armorica. 

As the Romans retreated from Britain in 410 AD, the Channel Islands maintained much of the villa system that had been in place for several centuries. This relative economic stability was constantly challenged from warring gallic tribes or coastal raiders. These coastal raiders, Northmen from Scandanavia known commonly as "Vikings," laid siege to Paris in 885 AD. King Chales III, known as "The Simple," placated his enemy by gentrifying him with rich grants of lands around Rouen. These Northmen, now known as Normans, consolidated their holdings by moving westward until they reached The Channel Islands - annexing them in 933 AD. The Duchy of Normandy was now intact. 

The word "feudalism" is a rather modern invention, coined by 17th century scholars. In reality, the Normans practiced manorialism - a pyramidal economic structure with the king on top and serfs at the bottom with various layers inbetween. Importantly, this system was not strictly "top down." Members were expected to show loyalty and support to members above and below them. While a serf may owe his lord specific feudal duties, such as working his fields or using his mill, this same serf would expect the lord to protect him if his family were threatened or to help feed him if harvests were poor. Contrarily, the lord was granted certain royal prerogatives - such as the right to hold a court to administer justice, settle disputes and collect taxes. In England these lords held manors. In The Channel Islands, however, these lords were known as seigneurs and their manors were known as fiefs. 

Guernsey was introduced to Norman manorialism in 1020 when it was subdivided into fiefs and granted to the Vicomte de Bessin and Vicomte du Cotentin respectively. After Duke William of Normandy successfully invaded England, further grants of land were made on Jersey and Guernsey. This subinfeudation created a network of fiefs held either directly of The Crown or of an intermediate lord paramount. The resulting "squirearchy" served as the social and economic island elite for many centuries. 

Life on the fief revolved around agriculture. Indeed, the very shape of many fiefs conformed to the strips of land allocated to it in the open field system. Seigneurs ensured order and output through savvy use of their fief court. These courts held devolved royal prerogative with broad control over those tenants who dwelled within them - though they primarily dealt with the transfer of land in later centuries. Officers of the fief court would include a sénéschal, or steward, who ran the court on behalf of the seigneur, the prevot who dealt with the day-to-day of the fief or the greffier who kept detailed records of the fief and her tenantry. While these fiefs court authority was gradually eroded and replaced by royal courts, they still possess legal standing and many continue to meet to transact customary business each year.  

In addition to the right to hold a fief court, seigneurs enjoyed a number of other curious privileges appurtenant to their position. The exclusive right to own and operate a mill was common, as was the exclusive right to a dovecote. Seigneurs frequently enjoyed the right of free warren (keeping rabbits) and the right of chase (hunting) across their fiefs. The right to harvest vraic (seaweed found on the foreshore at low tide) before the rest of the populace was an especially meaningful benefit as it was the primary (and finite) source of fertilizer for the fields. Shockingly, one of the last remaining feudal dues to be eliminated in Guernsey was the Congé, a 2% levy on the sale of any house within a fief. As home prices grew, this generated quite a tidy income for seigneurs until it was abolished in 1985 - with payments being rerouted instead to The Island Gov't. 

While the majority of seigneurial rights have been eliminated over time, some continue to be exercisable. The position and style of seigneur/dame is enshrined in both Jersey and Guernsey law. While not strictly noble, holders are granted the gentry honorific of esquire by prescription. Fief courts continue to meet in the 21st century and transact business customary to them. Seigneurial rights, such as ownership of foreshore, continue to be enforceable (Les Pas Settlement) and HM's Procurer hosts them for a formal dinner annually after Chief Pleas each year on Guernsey. 

Perhaps the most recognizable right remaining to some seigneurs is that of owing suit at The Royal Court. All seigneurs holding a position as a free tenant have to attend the Court of Chief Pleas on Guernsey or Assize d’Heritage on Jersey. The Courts require these seigneurs to present themselves and receive acknowledgement that the monarch permits them to be the tenants of their fief for another year. The seigneurs pledge to do homage to the monarch whenever he or she visits the island - a right last performed in Guernsey in 1978. 

The Channel Island fief system has proven remarkably durable throughout the ages - continuing to evolve while maintaining relevance. The Standing Council of Seigneurs proudly exemplifies that tradition today with a diverse membership of committed lords and dames. Primary areas of focus for The Council include supporting historical preservation, increasing tourism and investment to local Island businesses or product.