A 21st Century Fiefdom? You Betcha

Yesterday on CBC news, I heard about the Isle of Sark, off the coast of England.

According to its web site, it is “the last bastion of feudalism in the Western world.” It’s a genuine fiefdom. How weird is that.

Is there not something incongruous about a fiefdom with its own Web site? www.sark.info

It explains: “There is no true freehold, all land being held on perpetual lease (fief) from the Seigneur,… The Seigneur holds the Island in perpetual tenure from the Crown in return for certain obligations and annual dues (rente), and may not have that taken away from him unless he reneges on his commitment. Also he may not sell his Fief (the whole Island) without Crown permission.”

They have a Seigneur? That is so 17th Century!!

I know it’s none of my business, but shouldn’t somebody be trying to rescue the serfs of Sark?

This bit is interesting. And I stand corrected, the place isn’t 17th Century, it’s 11th Century:

Oath of Allegiance: The Seigneur, after inheriting the Fief, is required to pay "Foi et Hommage" to the Sovereign. The Seigneur kneels at the Sovereign's feet with his hands held out palm to palm and, in the case where the reigning sovereign is female, Her Majesty encloses the Seigneur's hands with Her own and the Seigneur says: "Souveraine Dame, Je demeure Votre homme lige à Vous porter Foi et Hommage contre tous". Her Majesty replies "Nous vous acceptons advouant tous vos legitimes droits et possessions relevant de cette tenure de Nous, sauf pareillement à tous Nos Droits de Regalité". This is the old feudal homage following the same pattern as that sworn by King Harold to William Duke of Normandy in 1064.