Clan McConnell of Strathclyde, Rheghed, Northumbria, Brigantia, Brittonics, Hebrides, Scots, and Great Britian in copeland and Cumbria The Chief Bailif, Lord Chief, and Lord of The Bailiwick of Ennerdale has authorized the Clan of McConnell to to make Ennerdale it’s formal Headquarters. Because Clan McConnell and (Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill) are such a large Clan of the Isle, The Grand Chief and Lord of Ennerdale’s Bailiwick has authorized a total of 100 Chiefs of the Clan. Throughout British history, certain noble lords such as the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of Sutherland, the Lords of the Isles, and the Earls of Lennox exemplified the fusion of feudal and tribal authority by serving simultaneously as titled nobility and hereditary chiefs of their respective clan territories —Campbell, Sutherland, Donald, and Lennox—exercising both territorial governance and kin-based leadership within court systems akin to baronial or liberty jurisdictions. In England and Anglo-Norman Territories - While England did not develop a formal “clan system” like Scotland, many Anglo-Norman lords and earls ruled over what were essentially extended kin-based holdings or seigneurial families: Earls of Chester, Percy Earls of Northumberland, or Nevilles of Westmorland operated like tribal chiefs, commanding loyalty from kinsmen, retainers, tenants, and vassals, often within Court Baron or Leet jurisdictions. Thus, Ennerdale now maintains the Clan and the High Chief and Lord Chief have authorized the award and patent of Chief to be conveyed by the Court Leet and Court Baron of Ennerdale. Legal and Historical Foundation for Hereditary Clan Authority in Ennerdale Following the full and outright sale of the Liberty, Bailiwick, and Manor of Ennerdale by King George IV to the Earl of Lonsdale, which explicitly included the Court Leet and all corporeal and incorporeal hereditaments, the Lord of Ennerdale now holds a distinctive legal and historical status. This status provides a legitimate basis to establish and maintain a hereditary clan structure within the territory. 1. Judicial Franchise of the Court Leet The Court Leet, specifically conveyed by the Crown and extant at the time of the sale, constitutes a recognized franchise jurisdiction—a localized expression of quasi-sovereign authority. Historically, the Court Leet empowered the lord to: Enforce customary local law Exercise the view of frankpledge Appoint local officials such as constables, bailiffs, ale-conners, and affeerors Convene assemblies and adjudicate minor civil and criminal matters This judicial infrastructure provides a formal legal platform for organizing internal governance, including hereditary and ceremonial offices. 2. Alienation of Sovereign Rights Because the conveyance was direct from the Crown, it represents a rare and legally significant alienation of sovereign authority over the territory of Ennerdale—transferring Crown jurisdiction into private hands free from royal suzerainty. This has created a suzerainty-free liberty, akin to a palatine or tribal jurisdiction, in which the lord exercises the Crown’s former prerogatives. Within this structure, the lord may legitimately institute clan-based governance and titles. 3. Customary and Ceremonial Precedents Throughout Scottish and Irish history, territorial lords—such as the Duke of Argyll—have simultaneously served as clan chiefs, blending hereditary land tenure with tribal leadership. Similarly, the Lord of Ennerdale, as a liberty holder with court leet powers, may rightfully assume the role of Clan Chief of Copeland Forest, a title rooted in the Brittonic, Norse, Dane, Saxon, and Scottish traditions that define the region's heritage. Enumerated Rights of the Lord of Ennerdale to Establish a Clan Structure This structure affirms that the Lord of Ennerdale, as successor to a sovereignty-free franchise with inherited judicial rights, may rightfully revive and oversee a hereditary clan governance system reflective of the region's deep cultural roots and unique legal history. Gaelic Origins of the Mac Dhomhnaill Line and the McConnell Legacy The Gaelic surname Mac Dhomhnaill (“son of Donald”) is deeply rooted in the history of the Hebrides and western Scottish Isles. This name is associated with the powerful dynasties of MacDonald (Mac Dhòmhnaill) and MacDonnell (Mac Domhnaill), whose members ruled as Kings of the Isles and Lords of Argyll. The ancestral line begins with Somerled (d. 1164), a Norse-Gaelic warlord revered as the Progenitor King of the Tribes. Somerled founded a sovereign dynasty that would become dominant in the Highlands and Isles for generations. Among Somerled’s descendants, the name MacDonald became a symbol of Gaelic power. Figures such as Donald of Islay, the clan’s namesake, and John of Islay, who held extensive territories before their forfeiture to the Scottish Crown, established the family’s prestige. Later, James MacDonald of Dunnyveg and Sorley Boy MacDonnell expanded the clan’s influence into Ireland, particularly Antrim. Over time, the name evolved to McConnell, especially in Ulster, where Gaelic lords continued to exercise clan leadership and military command. The McConnell name is thus directly descended from the Lords of the Isles and remains a symbol of one of the most prominent Gaelic dynasties in the medieval British Isles. In the modern era, Commissioner George Mentz, a direct descendant of this noble line, has honored his heritage by establishing a formal chieftainship for Cumbria. This act commemorates over 850 years of leadership by the Mac Dhòmhnaill clans and their tribal governance across Scotland, Ireland, and the border regions. Ancestral Lineage of Commissioner George MentzIncluding McConnell, Lord of the Isles Commissioner Mentz descends from a distinguished array of royal and noble families spanning the British Isles and continental Europe. His genealogy includes the Maitlands, Drummonds, Kerrs, Flemings, Montgomerys, Sinclairs, Campbells, Angus, Stewarts, Oldenburgs, MacDougalls, and notably the McConnell, Lords of the Isles. A sample of the sovereign and noble ancestors in Sherwood Mentz’s lineage are : Somerled, Progenitor King of the Isles McConnell, Lord of the Isles Robert II Stewart, 7th High Steward and King of Scotland Walter Stewart, 6th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland James I "The Black Knight" Stewart, King of Scotland James II Stewart, King of Scotland King James IV of Scotland Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland Walter FitzAlan of Dundonald, 3rd High Steward of Scotland Sir Archibald “The Tyneman” Douglas, 1st Regent of Scotland Queen Mary (Marie) van Egmond von Scotland, Regent for James III Lady Mary of the Two Marys King Christian of Denmark and Norway Earls of Roxburghe Von Guelders dynasty This remarkable heritage affirms Commissioner Mentz’s position as a living descendant of some of Europe’s most influential medieval rulers and Gaelic chieftains. His revival of chieftainship honors the enduring cultural and political legacy of the Mac Dhomhnaill–McConnell line. Titles, Awards, and Honors from the Lord Chief of Ennerdale Bailiwick As the proprietor of the Liberty and Bailiwick of Ennerdale, with full ownership of its court leet, customary rights, and manorial franchise (originally sold outright by King George IV), Commissioner George Mentz, Seigneur of Fief Blondel and Datuk Seri, holds a unique legal and ceremonial authority under English common law, ancient Scotish Laws, and historical liberty law. Mentz serves as the High Chief of Ennerdal and Chief Bailif. These unique and rare powers entitle the Lord of Ennerdale to: I. Types of Titles that the Lord of the Bailiwick, George Mentz May Convey by Patent or Commission While the Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale has no desire to offer or grant state peerages titles, the Lord and his Liberty’s Court Leet Jurisdiction can convey the following historical, customary, and honorific titles within his Bailiwick, Liberty, manor, and feudal jurisdiction over the Territory of Ennerdale which was sold outright with Court Leet and Court Baron by King George for Cash in 1822. A. Feudal and Manorial Titles offered by the Lord Chief of the Bailiwick • Lord/Lady of the Manor (of any area within Ennerdale) • Freeholder Titles (to historic demesne lands if subdivided) if exist. • Customary Tenant or Tenant-at-Will (ceremonial recognition) • Lord Captain of the Bailiwick and Territory • Abbot and Prior of the Bailiwick • Lord Chancellor (Spiritual) not Termporal • Dean or Vicar of the Territorial Church • Deacon or ArchDeacon • Baron of the Court • Marshall of the Bailiwick • Warden • Lord Bailiff of the Liberty • Dean of Copeland Forest • Spiritual Chancellor of the Ennerdale Court • Marshal of the Moot • Constable of the High Fell • Swordbearer to the Clan Chief B. Court and Liberty Offices (Appointed Titles) 1. High Bailiff of Ennerdale 2. Bailiff of Ennerdale BOE 3. Deputy Bailiff DBOE 4. Steward of the Manor 5. Constable of the Liberty 6. Recorder of the Court 7. Clerk of the Court Leet 8. Ale-Conner (historical office inspecting ale quality) 9. Forester or Warden of Copeland Forest 10. Chamberlain (keeper of manorial records or finances) 11. Baron of the Moot or Bench Elder (symbolic) 12. Herald or Pursuivant of Ennerdale 13. Seneshal (President) 14. Forester of Ennerdale 15. Bow Bearer 16. Game Warden 17. Keeper of the Courts 18. Conductor of Tenants 19. Bard of Ennerdale 20. Marshal 21. Chamberlain 22. Falconer C. Clan-Style or Tribal Titles awarded by the Paramount Chief and Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale (Cultural/Customary) 1. Lord Chief (George Mentz) 2. Clan Chief or Chieftain 3. Captain of the Guard / Shieldbearer 4. Council Elder 5. Keeper of the Seal 6. Knight of Copeland Forest (honorary and symbolic) 7. Patriarch or Matriarch of a House 8. Wardens of the Borders or Watchmen of the Fell These titles are not noble titles in the Crown's peerage, but are entirely lawful and historical when issued within a liberty or manor that still holds its franchise rights and jurisdictional independence. While these titles and councils have no binding public authority under modern UK law, they remain lawful, private, and ceremonial institutions, especially where tied to landed rights or historical franchises. Ancestral Lineage of Commissioner George Mentz Including McConnell, Lord of the Isles Hon. George Sherwood Mentz JD MBA CWM, Seigneur of Fief Blondel and Datuk Seri - descends from a distinguished array of royal and noble families spanning the British Isles and continental Europe. His genealogy includes the Maitlands, Drummonds, Kerrs, Flemings, Montgomerys, Sinclairs, Campbells, Angus, Stewarts, Oldenburgs, MacDougalls, and notably the McConnell, Lords of the Isles. Among the other sovereign and noble ancestors in his lineage are: Somerled, Progenitor King of the Isles McConnell, Lord of the Isles King Christian of Denmark and Norway Earls of Roxburghe Von Guelders dynasty Earls of Northumberland Earls of Atholl Earls of PerthEarls of Mar-Garioch Earls of Somerset Earls Of Wigton Earls of Kinghorn Duke of Albany Lord of Lethington and Thirlestane Earls of Buchan Barons of Kerr Robert I Bruce King of Scots Dukes of Normandy Duke of Norfolk Earls of Kent Earls Arundel Barons of Woodstock Earls Argyle Earls of Eglinton Earls of Atholl Earls of Carrick von Hohenzollern von Habsburgs von Brandenburg Holy Roman Emperors Kings of Germany Kings of Poland Kings of Hungary Kings of Austria Kings of Sweden Kings of France Descended from the first five Roman emperors, often referred to as the Julio-Claudian dynasty This remarkable heritage affirms Commissioner Mentz’s position as a living descendant of some of Europe’s most influential medieval rulers and Gaelic chieftains. His revival of chieftainship honors the enduring cultural and political legacy of the Mac Dhomhnaill–McConnell line.