Baron Longford Baron Annaly - Feudal Principality Seignory

⚜️ What It Means to Hold the Honor of Longford (Annaly)

An “Honor” (from Latin honor or honourum) was one of the highest forms of feudal landholding in the medieval system, above an ordinary manor and often encompassing multiple manors, lordships, and baronies under one chief lord.
It was effectively a regional principality or territorial jurisdiction recognized by the Crown.

To “hold the Honor of Longford or Annaly” therefore means:

• You hold the caput baroniae (head manor or seat) and

• The heritable dignity, precedence, and jurisdictional rights associated with the former feudal principality of that region (in this case, Annaly, also called Anghaile, the historic kingdom in County Longford, Ireland).

In Ireland, the Honor of Longford/Annaly was historically vested in the Nugent family, Barons Delvin and Earls of Westmeath, who inherited the region’s palatine and baronial prerogatives after the Tudor grants of the 16th century.

🏰 What “an Honor” Encompassed

A feudal “Honor” could include:

• Dozens of subordinate manors and vills.

• A private court baron or even court leet or palatine court.

• Rights of advowson, market, fair, toll, custom, and jurisdiction over tenants.

• A title of dignity, equivalent to a barony or minor principality.

In England and Ireland, famous examples include the Honor of Richmond, Honor of Lancaster, and Honor of Wallingford — all functioning as semi-autonomous lordships.

⚖️ Who Can Claim to Hold an Honor Today?

Today, very few individuals or families still claim ownership of an Honor or Honour because most were absorbed by the Crown after the Tenures Abolition Act (1660) or the Irish Land Acts of the 19th century.
However, private ownership of the “dignity” or incorporeal seignory of an Honour or Honor can still exist — similar to surviving manorial or feudal titles — if it was legally conveyed, inherited, or transferred in fee simple before such acts.

Some well-documented Honors are still held as feudal dignities or incorporeal hereditaments today, traded or inherited like manorial lordships.

Thus, if someone holds “The Honor of Longford or Annaly” by lawful conveyance, it represents a feudal dignity and territorial lordship of honor status, historically princely in character.

👑 What Is the Title for the Holder of an Honor?

The holder is formally styled:

• “Lord of the Honor of [Name]”, or

• “Baron of the Honor of [Name]”, and in cases of large scope or ancient jurisdiction, occasionally as

• “Prince of [Name]” (in cases where the Honor descended from a Gaelic principality or palatine liberty).

For instance:

Dr./Jur. George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief Blondel, Lord of the Honor and Principality of Annaly (Longford).

Historically, the title could be synonymous with:

• Baron of the Honor of Longford

• Count Palatine of Annaly–Teffia

• Princeps Annaliae (in medieval Latin usage)

🕊️ In Summary

Additional notes & comments

• The term “Slewght William” (or “Slewght Willam”, “Slaught William”) refers to a Gaelic territorial-clan area in Annaly, sometimes equated to “Clan Liam/Clan William” (Irish Clann Liamh). Baron Longford+1

• The Captainship & Custody grant of 22 Nov 1565 explicitly mentions: “… licence to have the Lease in reversion for 21 years of the abbey of All Saints … and the custody or captainship of Sleught-William in the Analy …” Baron Longford

• The moiety of Ardagh (half share) indicates a division of rights in the barony of Ardagh (within County Longford) between parties; the grant to Delvin covers that half-share. Baron Annaly

• The 1620/1635 Inchmore grants reflect ecclesiastical lands being converted into secular holdings via Crown and Papal authority. Baron Annaly

• These grants show the progressive accrual of rights—territorial lordship, monastic holdings, clan-custody/captainship, market/fair rights, island and moiety shares—by the Nugent family in Annaly.

🏰 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF CROWN GRANTS & CAPTAINCIES

To the Nugents (Barons Delvin & Earls of Westmeath)

⚔️ 1172 — Henry II

• Grant: Liberty and County Palatine of Meath to Hugh de Lacy, Lord Palatine of Meath.

• Relevance: The Nugents later held part of western Meath under De Lacy and were styled hereditary Barons of Delvin.

• Source: Calendar of Documents Relating to Ireland; Patent Roll 18 Henry II.

🕰️ 1377–1383 — Gaelic Annaly (Pre-Norman Context)

• Context: The Castle of Lios-ard-abhla (Lisardowlan) erected by John O’Farrell, Lord of Annaly (1377).
  Later passed under Nugent control.

• Source: Farrell, History of County Longford, p. 59–60

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👑 1541 — Henry VIII

• Grantee: Sir Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin.

• Grant: The Priory and Manors of Fore and Belgard, County Westmeath.
  Included ecclesiastical lands, courts baron, and knight’s service.

• Source: Patent Roll 32 Henry VIII (1541) – Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ireland, vol. I, p. 78

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🕯️ 1541 — Thomas Nugent (possible relative)

• Grant: Abbeyshrule Monastery leased to Thomas Nugent of Dublin.

  • Marks early Nugent acquisition in Longford region.

• Source: Father Paul Walsh, Longford Monastic History (noted in your dossier).

⛪ 1552 — Philip & Mary

• Grantee: Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin.

• Grant: AbbeyLara (Cistercian Abbey) and Dominican Friary of Longford with lands and tithes.

  • “In capite forever.”

• Source: History of County Longford p. 60; Patent Rolls, Philip & Mary

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📜 1556–1557 — Philip & Mary

• Grantee: Sir Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin.

• Grant: Abbey of Inchmore (Inishmore) and Priory & Manor of Fore (Fower) — reaffirmation and new grant for secure tenure.

  • Reissued due to possible omissions in prior letters patent.

• Source: Patent Roll Philip & Mary, Vol. I No. LX.21

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🕊️ 1557 — Philip & Mary

• Grantee: Mary, Lady Delvin (widow) and Sir Richard Nugent, her son.

• Grant: Vast holdings across Longford & Westmeath:

  • Priory of Cannons of the Holy Island, Friary of Fower, Castles of Monilagan, Newton, and Lisnevoa.

  • Rectories and tithes of Rathline, Cashell, and other lands.

  • Held “in fee farm” from the Castle of Dublin.

• Source: Calendar of Patent Rolls, Ireland, James I (abstracting Philip & Mary confirmation)

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⚔️ c. 1583–1585 — Elizabeth I

• Grantee: Sir Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin.

• Grant: Captainship and Custody of Annaly (Anghaile), Slewght William, and the Ardagh Moiety.

  • Authority over native septs and military command of the region.

  • Annual rent £20 sterling to the Crown.

• Source: Patent Roll 25 Elizabeth I (Morrin II p. 210 ff.) — “Grant of the Captainship and Custody of Annalie…”

  • Confirmed in subsequent commissions under James I.

📜 1586 — Elizabeth I

• Administrative Change: County Longford shired from Northern Westmeath.

  • The Captaincy and Nugent control continued under the new county structure.

• Source: The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act (34 Henry VIII) and Queen Elizabeth’s Order of 1586.

🕊️ 1605 — James I

• Grantee: Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin.

• Grant: License to hold a weekly market (Thursday) and a fair (August 1) in Longford County.

• Source: Patent Roll 3 James I (1605)

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⚖️ 1606 — James I

• Grantee: William Nugent (son of Richard).

• Grant: Restitution of all castles, lands, and hereditaments forfeited by attainder; remission of mesne profits.

• Source: Letters Patent – Westminster, 31 Oct 1606 (4 James I)

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🏰 1609 — James I

• Grantee: Richard Nugent and Lady Delvin.

• Grant: Castle Monilagan, Abbey Lahra, Friary of Fower, Priory of Holy Island, Castle Newton, etc.

  • Included attainted O’Farrell lands and religious properties.

  • Held in common soccage as of the Castle of Dublin.

• Source: Calendar of Patent Rolls James I (Ireland) Vol. I

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🕊️ 1611 — James I

• Grant: Dungannon Franciscan Friary to Richard Nugent.

• Source: Dossier reference p. 54

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⛪ 1612 — James I

• Grant: Priory and Manor of Foure (Fore).

  • Held in capite for knight’s service.

• Source: Dossier p. 22

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🏞️ 1620 — James I

• Grantee: Thomas Nugent, 4th Earl of Westmeath.

• Grant: Plantation of Longford – Manor of Correboymore and Castle Lissenoannagh.

  • 1,164 acres pasture + 554 acres bog and wood.

  • Created a manorial jurisdiction with court leet, court baron, and free warren.

  • Held in capite by military service.

• Source: Commission for Plantation of Longford (1620)

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⛪ 1635 — Urban VIII (Papal Confirmation)

• Beneficiary: Earl of Westmeath (Nugent).

• Grant: Confirmation of ownership and rights to Inchmore Priory and related ecclesiastical holdings.

• Source: Dossier p. 45

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📜 SUMMARY TIMELINE

⚖️ Special Note on the Captainship (Elizabeth I Patent, c. 1583–5)

• Title: Captainship and Custody of Annaly, Slewght William, and Ardagh Moiety.

• Holder: Sir Richard Nugent, Lord Delvin.

• Nature: Military, Governorship, Chief Status, and administrative command; de facto princely jurisdiction over Annaly before shiring of Longford.

• Later absorbed into the Feudal Seignory and Honour of Longford–Annaly, forming part of the modern title succession to the Earls of Westmeath and their successors in the 1996 conveyance registered in Dublin by Seigneur of Fief Blondel et L'Eperons, George Sherwood Mentz, Esq.

Summary of the Ancestral Lineage of George Mentz

Commissioner George Sherwood Mentz, JD MBA CWM, Seigneur of Fief Blondel and Datuk Seri, descends from an illustrious tapestry of European royal and noble lineages. His ancestry spans the British Isles and continental Europe, linking him to a remarkable array of monarchs, nobles, and Gaelic chieftains. His heritage includes clans and families such as the Maitlands, Drummonds, Kerrs, Flemings, Montgomerys, Sinclairs, Campbells, MacDougalls, and McConnell, Lords of the Isles.

Among his most notable sovereign ancestors are:

• Somerled, the Progenitor King of the Isles

• The McConnell / MacDonald Lords of the Isles

• Robert II Stewart, 1st Stuart King of Scotland

• James I, II, and IV of Scotland and Ireland

• Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland

• Walter FitzAlan, 3rd High Steward of Scotland

• Sir Archibald “The Tyneman” Douglas, Regent of Scotland

• Robert the Bruce, King of Scots

European royal descent includes ties to:

• King Christian of Denmark and Norway

• The von Guelders, von Habsburg, von Hohenzollern, and von Brandenburg dynasties

• The Five Holy Roman Emperors via the Counts of Orsini

• Kings of France, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Austria, and Germany

• Descent from the Julio-Claudian Roman emperors

He is also connected to prominent noble titles including:

• Earls of Roxburghe, Northumberland, Perth, Atholl, Carrick, Wigton, Buchan, and Argyll

• Dukes of Normandy, Norfolk, Albany

• Barons of Woodstock, Lethington, and Thirlestane

Thus, when the Seigneur of Fief Blondel, acquired the rights and honors of Annaly and Longford in fee simple, he inherited a composite principality of multiple ancient thrones—a realm whose seats (Granard, Abbey Lara, Liserdawle, and Longford) trace their authority to over a millennium of continuous rulership. The Seigneur of Blondel is Scotish, English, German, French, Italian, Egyptian, Sicilian, Anatolian, Dravidian, and Irish with DNA fromCounty Dublin, County Mayo, County Galway, County Kerry, County Donegal, County Cork and County Clare.

Commissioner Mentz’s ancestral roots affirm his dedication to service. As a humble and direct descendant of some of the most influential rulers in European history, his ceremonial revival of environmental service and chieftainship particularly honors the enduring cultural and sovereign legacy of the Mac Dhomhnaill–McConnell line, Lords of the Isles. From spiritual to temporal, Mentz is also a dedicated Lord Chancellor of the Anglican Church of Africa (Orthodox) which is  diplomatic and international legal position in service to the Patriarch.

Surviving and Documented Examples of Honours (Modern and Historical)