Buying a traditional nobility title for most people is typically a long and near-impossible process, although it is possible to buy some genuine noble titles in Scotland. However, if you’re not born into royalty or nobility, it is not likely you will ever get the chance to truly experience what it feels like to have an official royal title.
Luckily here at Château de la Villedieu, we offer our supporters the opportunity to style themselves as Seigneur (Seigneuresse), Grandseigneur (Grandseigneuresse) or Protecteur (Protectrice) de Château de la Villedieu (our registered trademark) by simply buying a pack.
Please note that our titles “Seigneur de Château de la Villedieu”, “Grandseigneur de Château de la Villedieu” and “Protecteur de Château de la Villedieu” are novelty titles for decorative purposes only. It is important to note that the titles are not titles of nobility or aristocracy and do not confer any such rights. The sole purpose of the sale is to restore funds for renovating and protecting the Château de la Villedieu and its grounds.
So, while you do not actually buy a title of French nobility or French aristocracy, you may end up enjoying some of the perks that a title bestows without forking out for a barony title or earl title.
A title of French nobility may only be gained by birthright and such rights in France are monitored by the Association d’entraide de la Noblesse Française. Or you may, of course, marry a noble person.
Apart from that you may buy a support membership from us, which gives you the right to use our support titles.
What is a Seigneur?
A Seigneur is historically a feudal lord, corresponding to the British lord of the manor or Scottish laird.
The title was formerly given in France before the Revolution, to a person who owned a seigneurie — a form of land tenure — as a fief, with its associated rights over person and property. A seigneur could be an individual, — male or female (seigneuresse), noble or non noble (roturier) — or a collective entity such a religious community, a monastery, a seminary, a college, a parish, or – in this case – the collective entity of supporters of Château de la Villedieu. This form of lordship was called seigneurie, the rights that the seigneur was entitled to were called seigneuriage, and the seigneur himself was the seigneur justicier, because he exercised greater or lesser jurisdiction over his fief.
What is a Grandseigneur?
The term grandseigneur today usually means an elegant, urbane gentleman. Some even use it in a stricter sense to refer to a man whose manners and way of life reflect his noble ancestry and great wealth. In addition, Le Grand Seigneur had long been the name given by the French to the Ottoman sultan.
What is a Protecteur?
A protecteur is someone who protects something, in this case the Château de la Villedieu.
When you buy a support membership from us you get permission to use our registered trademarks, and style yourself as a Seigneur/Seigneuresse, Grandseigneur/Grandseigneuresse and Protecteur/Protectrice and join our community. This is lighthearted fun and celebrates your support of our conservation efforts.
This is, of course, not the same as having a hereditary title or Lord of the Manor title but gives you the opportunity to style yourself as such, which can afford some of the same fantastic perks. Our customers have shared stories of everything from flight upgrades to preferential treatment.
Under current French law you are free to give yourself a noble-sounding title in France and even print it on a business card, but it is strictly prohibited to mention such a title on an official document. This is why our sales take place under civil law according to civil procedure and you will not receive a official document for public registration, only a private deed that is subject to private contract law.
By becoming a support member you are also supporting a unique conservation project in France, to our knowledge the only conservation project of this kind. We do not take out any profits or salary so your entire payment goes into restoring Château de la Villedieu and her gardens. As one of the château community, you will get the chance to receive regular updates on the conservation projects you support.
Our sole purpose of this venture is conservation and we view these titles as a fun thing on the side and hope you will too.
