⚜️ Prince of Annaly Teffia -  Summary of the Feudal Rights and Dignities

Feudal Principality and Seignory of Annaly (Longford), Ireland (Ancient Teffia )

I. Legal Foundation and Conveyance (Modern Title 2018)
By lawful Grant and Conveyance of Feudal Title, Barony, and Seignory, the complete honors, lordships, and baronial rights of Longford or the Annaly Region of Ireland—including all and singular rights, privileges, franchises, and perquisites—were conveyed in fee simple to Dr./Jur. George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief Blondel, in August 2018.
This conveyance descends directly from the Earl of Westmeath and Baron Delvin (Nugent family), who themselves held the Annaly–Longford lordships through successive royal patents from the reigns of Henry II (1171) through James I (1621).
Thus, Seigneur Mentz is the modern legal successor to the Feudal Barony and Principality of Annaly (Longford) and the Palatine Lordship of Westmeath–Delvin, as originally granted under the Lordship of Meath.

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II. Nature of the Rights Conveyed

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III. Historical Seats and Principal Grants Forming the Principality

These collectively form a composite feudal principality encompassing all the ancient kingdoms of Annaly, Cairpre Gabra, Teffia, and Conmaicne Rein, united under the palatine authority of the Barons Delvin.

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IV. Dynastic Continuity

• Gaelic Lineage: O’Farrell (Ó Fearghail) Princes of Annaly – the original native sovereigns, divided into the O’Farrell Buidhe (south) and O’Farrell Bán (north).

• Feudal Successors: Nugent family (Barons Delvin, later Earls of Westmeath) – granted royal patents confirming feudal and palatine jurisdiction over Annaly and Longford.

• Modern Holder: Dr./Jur. George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief Blondel – recipient of the 2018 conveyance, successor in law and dignity to the Nugent–Delvin feudal rights.

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V. Prerogatives and Interpretations under Law

1. Title in Fee Simple – Absolute and perpetual ownership, transferable and heritable.

2. Feudal-Princely Status – Recognized in historical law as equivalent to a Fürst or Prince Palatine due to quasi-regal jurisdiction.

3. Jurisdictional Rights (Historic) – Courts baron and leet; rights of justice, rents, and wardship (now ceremonial).

4. Market & Fair Rights (1605 Charter) – Confirmed Delvin’s economic sovereignty at Longford, the capital of the old Annaly kingdom.

5. Ecclesiastical Patronage – Advowsons and rights of nomination to clerical benefices within the seignory.

6. Cultural & Heraldic Rights – Entitlement to display arms, seals, and styles of the historical barony and principality.

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VI. Modern Status and Style
Under common law, these rights persist as private feudal incorporeal hereditaments—heritable property rights that survive the abolition of feudal tenure.
Accordingly, Commissioner Dr./Jur. George S. Mentz is entitled to use the historical and descriptive style:

“Lord and Feudal Prince of Annaly (Longford)”
Princeps Annaliae et Longfordiae
Seigneur de Blondel, Seigneur de l’Annaly et de Longfordie
Count Palatine of Meath (by succession of right)

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VII. Genealogical and Cultural Context
Seigneur Mentz descends from ancient Gaelic-Norman and Scots-Irish lineages (McConnell, McMahon, Kerr, Campbell, Douglas, Stewart, Drummond, De Barry, Darcy, etc.), with ancestral DNA origins in Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Cork, Clare, and Donegal—representing a full circle of historical and hereditary continuity from Ireland’s ancient nobility to modern stewardship.

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VIII. Summary of Legal Effect

• Ownership: Fee-simple title to the feudal seignory and honors of Annaly–Longford.

• Dignity: Heritable baronial and princely style, successor to the Nugent and O’Farrell lines.

• Jurisdiction (Historic): Markets, courts, advowsons, and fiscal perquisites of the Annaly region.

• Territorial Scope: Encompasses the full 269,000 acres of historic County Longford (ancient Anghaile).

• Recognition: A private and heritable feudal dignity under property law, corresponding to an historic principality.

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In Essence:

The Seigneur of Fief Blondel holds by conveyance and succession the Feudal Seignory and Principality of Annaly (Longford)—a title whose roots lie in the ancient Irish kingdom of Anghaile, ennobled through Norman, Tudor, and Stuart royal grants, and today preserved as a lawful incorporeal hereditament conferring the dignities of a Feudal Prince and Lord of Annaly and Longford.

 

Annaly and Longford - 2 Names for the Same Territory

Annaly and Longford are effectively the same place, but the names represent two different eras of its history: the tribal/native era and the feudal/legal era.

Think of it like a city that was renamed after a revolution—the land didn't move, but the name changed to reflect who was in charge.

1. Annaly (Anghaile): The Native Name

For over 500 years (roughly 1070 to 1586), the territory was known exclusively as Annaly.

• The Origin: It was named after Anghaile, a great-grandfather of the clan leader Fearghal.

• The Meaning: It refers to the "People of Anghaile" (Muintir Annaly).

• The Ruler: During this time, the O’Farrells were the "Princes of Annaly."

2. Longford (An Longfort): The Military/Town Name

The name Longford originally only referred to the O'Farrells' main castle/fortress.

• The Meaning:Longphort literally means "fortress" or "stronghold" (specifically Longphort Uí Fhearghail — the Fortress of the O’Farrells).

• The Expansion: When the English "shired" the area (turned it into a county) in 1586, they named the entire county after its most important town—Longford.

3. Why you see both in the Royal Grants

This is where your specific interest in the Nugent/Delvin grants gets interesting. Because the grants were written during the transition from Gaelic to English rule, the lawyers were incredibly paranoid. To make sure there was no "loophole," they used both names:

• "The Annalie alias Longford": You will often see this in the 16th and 17th-century patents from Elizabeth I or James I.

• The Purpose: By naming the "Honour of Annaly" and the "County of Longford," they were making sure the owner had the rights to the ancient tribal dignity (Annaly) AND the modern legal territory (Longford).

Longford-Westmeath is a legal "double-layer" found in your documents because it bridges the gap between an ancient sovereign country and a modern administrative county.

Crucially, the Barons Delvin (Nugents) received the Lordship of Annaly and Teffia while it was still a distinct "country" (a sovereign Gaelic territory), long before the English administration "shired" it into the County of Longford.

Here is the breakdown of why those names are hyphenated and how the sovereignty was transferred:

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1. The Ancient Kingdom of Meath and Teffia

In the era of the High Kings, the central province was Meath (Mide), which contained the sub-kingdom of Teffia (Teathbha). Annaly was the heart of Teffia. When Henry II granted the "Lordship of Meath" to Hugh de Lacy in 1172, he was granting a territory that was legally its own kingdom.

2. Receiving a "Country" (The Pre-1586 Status)

When the Barons Delvin first received their grants for the Lordships of Annaly and Teffia, they were not receiving land in a "county." They were receiving the rights to a Gaelic Country.

• The Sovereign Transfer: Because Annaly was still independent of English common law at the time of the early grants (like those from Henry VIII and the Habsburg-linked grants), the Nugents were essentially stepping into the shoes of the "Native Kings."

• The Teffia Connection: By granting the Lordship of "Annaly and Teffia," the Crown was giving the Nugents the ancient, 1,000-year-old authority over the entire tribal region before it was ever chopped up into administrative districts.

3. The 1542 Partition: The Westmeath "Anchor"

Under Henry VIII, the original Meath was split into Meath (East) and Westmeath.

• The "Annaly" Problem: Because Annaly (Teffia) was still a "wild" tribal country controlled by the O’Farrells, the Crown didn't have a separate county office for it. They simply attached the rights of Annaly to the County of Westmeath for legal convenience.

• The Nugent Factor: This is the key to the hyphenation—the Nugents were the dominant power in Westmeath. By granting them the "Lordship of Annaly-Westmeath," the Crown was anchoring a "Native Country" to a "Legal County" base.

4. The 1586 "Shiring" of Longford

It wasn't until the reign of Elizabeth I that "Annaly" was formally shired and renamed County Longford. However, because the Nugents already held the "Lordships of Annaly and Teffia" by prior royal grants, their legal rights predated the existence of the county itself.

• Legal Continuity: For decades afterward, royal grants (like those from James I) referred to "Longford-Westmeath" to ensure the owner held the rights whether the land was viewed as the new County of Longford or the older administrative district of Westmeath.

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5. Modern Political Linkage and the "Parliament"

The "Parliamentary" connection you noted—where Annaly had its own assembly for a millennium—is mirrored today. Since 1921, Longford and Westmeath have been combined into a single multi-seat constituency in the Dáil Éireann.

• The Irony: The ancient sovereignty of Annaly-Teffia, which the Barons Delvin held as a "private kingdom," is still recognized as a distinct political unit today, just merged with its neighbor for modern voting.

Summary: The Legal "Safety Net"

In your documents, "Longford-Westmeath" isn't just a place—it's a chain of title. It confirms that the owner holds the rights to:

1. The Ancient Country: The Lordship of Teffia/Annaly (Pre-shiring).

2. The Tudor District: The lands as managed through Westmeath (1542–1586).

3. The Modern County: The lands of County Longford (Post-1586).

It effectively claimed the rights to the "Native Kingdom" regardless of which "legal folder" the government used over the last 500 years.

 

Nobility Rights of the Lord of Annaly Longford - Honour and Seignory

Barons of Delvin and later the Earls of Westmeath became lawful successors to the Lord of Annaly (the Gaelic Prince of Teffia and Anghaile), where a bundle of non-land feudal and constitutional rights would logically follow, even after English administrative reorganization.

Below is a precise breakdown of what legal and ceremonial rights would attach to that ancient honour and seignory.

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1. Right to the Great Assembly (Óenach / Gaelic Parliament)

This is the most important point.

Nature of the Right

The Great Assembly of Annaly–Teffia was:

• A constitutional institution, not merely tribal custom

• A lawful gathering for:

• Inauguration of rulers
• Declaration of law
• Settlement of disputes
• Recognition of chiefs and sub-lords

Successor Right

A lawful successor to the Lordship would retain:

• The ceremonial and constitutional right to convene or commemorate the Great Assembly

• The right of presidency or overlordship at such an assembly

• The exclusive dignity of being the focus of legitimacy

Even when assemblies ceased to meet in practice, the right itself was not extinguished, only dormant.

➡️ This is comparable to how:

• The English Crown retained Parliament rights even when not summoned

• The Isle of Man retained Tynwald rights through conquest

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2. Right of Paramount Chiefship (Over-Kingship)

The Lord of Annaly was not merely a landholder — he was:

• Prince / Chief of Chiefs

• Overlord of subordinate clans and territories

A successor honour-holder would inherit:

• The dignity of paramountcy
• The symbolic authority over former client chiefs
• The right to recognition as “Chief of the Name” in constitutional terms

Even after English conquest:

• English peerage law frequently absorbed Gaelic dignities rather than extinguishing them
• This is why peerage books refer to “Princes of Annaly” even after Norman control

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3. Right of Inauguration & Investiture

Gaelic Custom

The Lord of Annaly had the exclusive right to:

• Be inaugurated at a sacred or customary site
• Receive oaths of loyalty
• Confirm subordinate leaders

Successor Implication

The successor (Baron of Delvin / Earl of Westmeath) would retain:

• The right to ceremonial inauguration
• The right to symbolically receive homage
• The right to recognize or confirm leadership titles

These rights are incorporeal hereditaments — not dependent on land possession.

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4. Judicial & Arbitration Authority

Under Brehon and later hybrid systems, the Lord of Annaly held:

• High arbitration authority

• Oversight of:

• Inter-clan disputes
• Boundary disputes
• Breaches of honor or treaty

A successor honour-holder would retain:

• The residual judicial dignity
• The right to preside ceremonially over dispute resolution
• The right to appoint or recognize judges or arbitrators

Even when English courts replaced Brehon courts, the dignity of judicial overlordship survived, much like manorial courts in England.

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5. Right to Law Proclamation & Customary Recognition

The Great Assembly functioned as a place where:

• Laws were proclaimed
• Customs were affirmed
• Genealogies were validated

Thus, the successor would retain:

• The right to proclaim or recognize customary law
• The authority to authenticate genealogies and titles
• The right to be cited as the constitutional successor of the ancient polity

This is why later heraldic and peerage authorities treat Annaly as more than a mere barony.

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6. Precedence, Style, and Dignity

Even after the shiring of Longford:

• The successor retained precedence derived from princely status

This explains why:

• Peerage writers use prince, chief, or lord paramount
• Annaly is treated as a historic principality, not just land

Rights include:

• Style and honorifics linked to the ancient kingdom
• Recognition in heraldic and genealogical law
• Jurisdictional Crests, Banners, and Arms and patronage
• Standing above ordinary baronial lordships

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7. Why the Shiring of County Longford Did NOT Extinguish These Rights

The English Crown:

• Created counties for administrative convenience
• Did not automatically extinguish pre-existing honours
• Regularly allowed ancient dignities to persist in parallel

Examples elsewhere:

• Lords of the Isles
• Princes of Powys ( See Discussion below)
• Marcher Lordships
• Lords of Mann

Annaly fits this same legal pattern.

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Bottom Line (Clean Legal Conclusion)

If the Barons of Delvin and later the Earl of Westmeath were lawful successors to the Lord of Annaly prior to the shiring of Longford, then the rights they would inherit include:

• ✔️ The constitutional right to the Great Assembly

• ✔️ The paramount leadership dignity

• ✔️ The right of inauguration and investiture

• ✔️ The ceremonial judicial authority

• ✔️ The right to proclaim and recognize custom

• ✔️ The precedence and style of a princely honour

These are incorporeal, inheritable, and historically recognized rights — not dependent on continued territorial sovereignty.

 

Native Rulers in the Commonwealth

In former colonies, the Crown respects certain native monarchies as sovereign equals or ceremonial leaders within the  Commonwealth of Nations:

• Sovereign Indigenous Monarchies: The Crown recognizes the sovereign status of the monarchs of 
  Tonga
  , 
  Lesotho
  , 
  Brunei
  , and 
  Eswatini
  .
• Unique Titles: In 
  Malaysia
  , the British monarch respects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (an elected monarch), and in 
  Samoa
  , the O le Ao o le Malo.
• Ceremonial Recognition: In some former colonies like 
  India
  , while "princely states" were abolished upon independence, the Crown may still maintain private, honorary social ties with former royal families, though they hold no official political rank. 

Summary of Recognized Status

Territory Type	Recognized "Prince" or Ruler	Official Status
Wales	Prince William	Heir apparent to the British throne.
Isle of Man	The King	Lord of Mann.
Channel Islands	The King	Duke of Normandy.
Commonwealth	Local Kings/Sultans (e.g.,  Tonga )	Sovereign heads of independent states.