Jersey – from Norman duchy to self-governing Crown Dependency
Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, has been inhabited since prehistoric times; the Neolithic passage grave of La Hougue Bie is among the best preserved in Europe. In the tenth century the island became part of the Duchy of Normandy, and when William, Duke of Normandy, conquered England in 1066, Jersey became linked to the English crown.
The decisive turning point came in 1204, when King John lost mainland Normandy to France. The islanders remained loyal to the English crown and in return kept their own laws and privileges. Mont Orgueil Castle guarded the island against French attacks for centuries. Jersey's legal system, its Norman heritage and the local language, Jèrriais, all have their roots in this period. During the English Civil War the island sheltered the future Charles II, and in 1781 a French invasion attempt was defeated at the Battle of Jersey.
In the nineteenth century the cod trade, shipbuilding and knitting brought prosperity, followed later by tourism and farming, famously Jersey Royal potatoes and Jersey cattle. During the Second World War the island was occupied by German forces from 1940 until its liberation on 9 May 1945; some residents were deported, and forced labourers were brought in to build fortifications. After the war Jersey developed into an international financial centre.
Today Jersey is shaped by its self-government, its Norman roots and its close yet independent relationship with the British Crown.
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