Baron Longford and Baron Annaly - Captain of the Annaly - Lords Paramount

"Lord Paramount" was a title used in the feudal system of medieval Europe, particularly in England, to describe a noble who held a high-ranking position within the realm and had authority over other lords. The term "paramount" means "supreme" or "highest in rank or authority."

In England, lords who held land "in capite ut de corona" (meaning "directly from the crown") were considered to be the highest-ranking nobles in the country. They owed their allegiance and service directly to the king and were responsible for governing their lands and the people who lived on them. These lords were also known as "tenants-in-chief" and were granted their lands by the king in exchange for their military and other services.

The term "lord paramount" was used to describe the highest-ranking lord in a particular region or territory. For example, the Lord Paramount of Scotland was the highest-ranking noble in Scotland, while the Lord Paramount of Ireland was the highest-ranking noble in Ireland.

Today, the term "lord paramount" is mainly used in historical contexts and has largely fallen out of use.

The size of fiefs varied greatly throughout history and across different regions, depending on factors such as political and economic conditions, the availability of land, and the power of the feudal lord. Some of the largest fiefs in history include:

1. The Holy Roman Empire: The Holy Roman Empire was a complex political system that included many feudal lords who held vast fiefs across Europe. The largest of these fiefs was the Duchy of Burgundy, which was held by the Valois dukes of Burgundy and covered much of modern-day France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
2. The Kingdom of France: In the late medieval period, the Kingdom of France was divided into many large fiefs held by powerful feudal lords, including the Dukes of Brittany, the Dukes of Burgundy, and the Counts of Champagne. The largest of these fiefs was the Duchy of Aquitaine, which covered much of southwestern France.
3. The Kingdom of England: In England, the largest fiefs were the earldoms, which were held by powerful nobles and covered large areas of land. The largest of these earldoms was the Earldom of Northumbria, which covered much of northern England.
4. The Mughal Empire: The Mughal Empire was a powerful Muslim empire that ruled over much of South Asia from the 16th to the 19th century. The empire was divided into many large fiefs held by powerful feudal lords, including the Rajputs of Rajasthan, who held vast estates across northern India.
5. The Russian Empire: The Russian Empire was a vast state that covered much of eastern Europe and northern Asia. The empire was divided into many large fiefs held by powerful feudal lords, including the princes of Moscow, who held vast estates in central Russia.

These are just a few examples of some of the largest fiefs in history. The size and power of these fiefs varied greatly depending on the specific historical and political context in which they existed.

A seigneur was typically a member of the nobility who held a fief from a higher-ranking lord, such as a king, a duke, or a bishop. The seigneur was responsible for administering his fief and providing military service to his overlord in exchange for the land and other privileges granted to him.

The title of seigneur was often hereditary, meaning that it was passed down from father to son. In some cases, a seigneur might be granted additional titles or honors, such as the title of "baron" or "count," depending on his rank and status within the feudal hierarchy.

So, "seigneur" was a noble title used to describe a feudal lord who held a fief or estate in medieval Europe, including in the 12th century.

In medieval France, a seigneur who held a fief directly from the crown was known as a "seigneur direct" or a "seigneur of the crown."

In Guernsey, a fief was a piece of land that was granted by the Crown to a noble in exchange for their service and loyalty. Along with the land, the fief holder was granted certain manorial rights, which included:

1. The right to collect rents: The fief holder had the right to collect rent from tenants who lived on the land, which was typically paid in the form of produce or goods.
2. The right to hold court: The fief holder had the right to hold court on their lands and to administer justice to their tenants. This included the right to try cases, impose fines and other punishments, and appoint officials to assist with the administration of justice.
3. The right to hunt and fish: The fief holder had the right to hunt and fish on their lands and could also grant these rights to others.
4. The right to timber: The fief holder had the right to cut down trees and use the timber for their own purposes, such as building or fuel.
5. The right to mines and minerals: The fief holder had the right to mines and minerals on their land, including the right to extract metals and other valuable resources.
6. The right to feudal incidents: The fief holder had the right to levy certain feudal incidents, such as relief and heriot, which were fees paid by tenants upon inheritance or death.

It's important to note that the specific manorial rights associated with a fief in Guernsey would have varied depending on the particular circumstances and time period. However, these are some of the general rights and privileges that were typically associated with fief ownership in the island.