Channel Islands History

Channel Island is closer to the France than England but still it has dependency upon British crown. This is a great mystery and there are various historical anomalies with this issue or fact. Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark are amongst the group of Channel Islands. These are remnants of the ancient Duchy of Normandy. Willium was the sixth duke of Normandy who became the king of and he annexed these islands. Channel island history seems very simple to understand but it is not true for the historians.

The 20th century discoveries in Channel Island have shown evidence of mankind dating back to 4000 BC. There are traces of Neolithic man, including defensive earth works, menhirs and dolmens in all around Guernsey. Several excavations in St. Peter port in the late twentieth century found which confirmed that Romans used the island as a trading base. The Romans named Gguernsey, Alderney and Jersey as Sarnia, Riduna and Caesarea respectively.

Thus, the recent history can be traced from Norman times onwards and islanders proudly say that their ancestors were part of the forces which defeated England in 1066. The most interesting fact is that over the ensuing centuries, possession of the islands switched back and forth six times between the English and French. Initially, Britain appointed a captain in each island but later on with military influence the captain became the governor.

During 1940-45, German forces occupied the islands and finally it was liberated in May 9, 1945, which is celebrated as the freedom day.