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The Channel Islands (or Channel Isles) are the part of the British Isles nearest France. (Geologically they are not part of the archipelago, but they are generally included in the British Isles.) |
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The Channel Islands (or Channel Isles) are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France. Politically, they are divided between the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey, both of which are British crown dependencies, but not part of the United Kingdom. They are conventionally considered part of the British Isles, although the reasons for this are more political than geographical. |
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There are four separate islands: |
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The inhabited islands of the Channel Isles are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou (Brechou) and Lihou. All of these except Jersey are in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. |
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*Jersey -- British Crown Dependency (Parliamentary Bailiwick) *Guernsey -- British Crown Dependency (Parliamentary Bailiwick) *Alderney -- Guernsey Dependency (Electorally part of Guernsey) *Sark -- Guernsey Dependency (Feudal Domain) |
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They were originally part of the lands in France owned by the Duke of Normandy. In 1066 he invaded and conquered England, becoming the English monarch. Over the years, the rest of the monarch's lands in France were lost and now only the Channel Isles remain. |
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Note they are not legally UK dependencies, but British crown dependencies. They are not under British law part of the United Kingdom, though the United Kingdom controls their external affairs. See also British Isles, United Kingdom |
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