The Channel Islands

A group of small islands off the coast of France, long in the possession of England and Great Britain, which form a cultural bridge between England and Norman France.

Contains: Alderney, Brechou, Les Écréhous, Guernsey, Herm, Jersey, Jethou, Lihou, Les Minquiers, Sark.

Minor uninhabited islets and rocks:
Burhou, Les Casquets, Les Dirouilles (Les Dithouïl'yes), Ortac, Pierres de Lecq.


CHANNEL ISLANDS A scattered archipelago of small islands off the coast of northern France - Normandy lies immediately to the east, and Brittany is to the southwest. This article considers the group as a whole, while subsequent articles treat each island individually.
To Gallic tribes (probably the Venelli or Veneti) ? -c. 54 BCE
Unknown chronology c. 54 BCE-56 CE
To the Roman Empire.............................56-395
To the Western Roman Empire....................395-461
To the Domain of Soissons (Kingdom of Syagrius) 461-486
Unknown (possibly to Domnonee or Brittany) 486-511
To Neustria 511- ?
To Brittany ? -866
Hastein (Norse invader, also in Brittany) 866-870's
To Brittany, with frequent Norse incursions and settlement 890-933
To Normandy (/England from 1066)...............933-1204
To France.....................................1204-1259
To England....................................1259-1380
To France.....................................1380-1382
To England....................................1382-1461
To France.....................................1461-1468
To England / Great Britain....................1468-1940
To Germany....................................1940-1944
To Great Britain..............................1944-


ALDERNEY (Aurigny) Northernmost of the Channel Islands, about 12 miles (20 km.) off the northwestern tip of the Cotentin Peninsula in France. Variously occupied since prehistoric times, the tiny island was a feudal holding until the 19th century. It is now within the Bailiwick of Guernsey, although it retains considerable local autonomy.

BRECHOU A small islet just off the western shore of Sark, in the vicinity of Guernsey and associated with that Bailiwick.


The ÉCRÉHOUS (Les Écréhous, Êcrého) A group of tiny islets and rocks located 6 miles (10½ km.) northeast of Jersey and some 8 miles (13 km.) off the coast of France - many of the rocks are underwater at high tide; the archipelago was considerably larger in early times, but has been slowly washing away. They are not under permanent settlement at this time, but are visited frequently by tourists, fishermen, and others - La Maîtr'Île has a ruined abbey. In former times they were often the site of smuggling rendezvous.


GUERNSEY (Guernesey) Westernmost of the islands, and the second largest (after Jersey), forming it's own bailiwick. Best-known, perhaps, for a particular breed of cattle originating here.


HERM A small island located between Guernsey (1.6 miles - 2.5 km. to the west) and Sark (2.5 miles - 4 km. to the southeast), and associated with the Bailiwick of Guernsey.


JERSEY (Jèrri) The Bailiwick of Jersey (In the Jèrriais dialect of Norman French, "Jèrri") is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, it also includes the largely uninhabited islands of Minquiers and Ecréhous. It forms the grouping known as the Channel Islands along with the Bailiwick of Guerensey. The defence of all these islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom; however, both Jersey and Guerensey are self-governing in internal affairs and are possessions of the Crown separate and apart from the United Kingdom. Historically, Jersey was governed by a local council called the States of Jersey; this body was presided over by a bailiff appointed by the Crown (hence "bailiwick") who also was in charge of the jurats (elected court bodies) and represented the Crown in civil affairs. The Bailiff held office for life traditionally; today he is limited to serving until age 70. In addition to the Bailiff the island had a Governor (from the 1850's, a Lieutenant Governor) who organized the defence of the island. An interesting side-note: The Channel Islands are the only remnants of the old Duchy of Normandy. Norman law still holds sway, including the obscure "Clameur de haro". This practice, whereby one can obtain an injunction of restraint simply by throwing one's hands in the air, crying out "Haro! Haro! Haro! À l'aide, mon Prince, on me fait tort" (Hear me! Hear me! Hear me! Come to my aid, my Prince, for someone does me wrong) and reciting the Lord's Prayer in French, was last invoked as late as 2000. Technically, the Channel Islands still constitute the entire remaining territory of the Duchy; however, because of a treaty between Britain and France, the British Crown does not use the title "Duke (or, currently, 'Duchess') of Normandy", but rather holds title to the Channel Islands as King/Queen. The locals, by and large will have none of it, however, and are proud of their traditions - they still refer to the reigning monarch as "The King/Queen, our Duke/Duchess". See also, Alderney, Sark.


JETHOU A small islet just off the southwestern shore of Herm, in the vicinity of Guernsey and associated with that Bailiwick.


LIHOU An islet just off the west coast of Guernsey, and connected to it by an ancient stone causeway which is submerged at high tide. It is not permanently occupied at this time, although regularly visited by naturalists and conservationists.


The MINQUIERS (Les Minquiers, Les Mîntchièrs) A group of tiny islets and rocks located 9 miles (14½ km.) south of Jersey. These reefs and rocks have figured repeatedly in literature featuring themes of shipwreck or smuggling.


SARK (Sercq) Located midway between Guernsey and Jersey, and technically part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Sark remains the last truly feudal state in Europe as the laws, particularly relating to inheritance, have changed little since 1565. The first Seigneur, Helier de Carteret, Seigneur of St. Ouen on the Island of Jersey,  colonised the island in 1565 with Queen Elizabeth's blessing and granted 40 islanders tenements. In the 17th century, Sark accumulated wealth through privateering (legalised piracy) and in 1834, silver was discovered on the island. By 1841, the population had grown to 790. However the mine turned into a financial disaster after becoming flooded and the Seigneur was forced to sell his fief to Mrs T. G. Collings, a direct ancestor of the present Seigneur. The Seigneur holds the island on lease from the Crown in perpetuity. Even to this day, the island is split up into 40 leaseholds but the population stands at around 550.


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