This island gave its name to the powerful lordship of the same name.
With the death of the last male of the house of Gondi in 1676 the duche-pairie became extinct; the lordship passed to the house of Neuville-Villeroy.
The lordship remained in the marches till the Act of Union 1536, when it was grouped with a number of others so as to form the shire of Brecknock.
The island of Terschelling once formed a separate lordship, but was sold to the states of Holland.
Though querulous because of his non-preferment, De Quincey tells us that "his lordship was a joyous, jovial, and cordial host."