Guernsey (officially theBailiwick of Guernsey;French:Bailliage de Guernesey;Guernésiais:Bailliage dé Guernési) is aself-governing BritishCrown Dependency off the coast ofNormandy, France, comprising several of theChannel Islands. It has a total land area of 78 square kilometres (30 sq mi) and an estimated total population of 67,334.
The Channel Islands were part of theDuchy of Normandy, whose dukes became kings of England from 1066. In 1204, as a consequence of theTreaty of Le Goulet, insular Normandy alone remained loyal to the English Crown, leading to a political split from the mainland. Around 1290, the Channel Islands' Governor,Otto de Grandson, split the archipelago into twobailiwicks, establishing those parts other thanJersey as a single Bailiwick of Guernsey.[10]: 21
The Bailiwick is self-governing and not part of theUnited Kingdom.[11][12] Its defence and international representation — as well as certain policy areas, such asnationality law — are the responsibility of theUK Government, but the Bailiwick still has a separate international identity.[13]
The history of the Bailiwick of Guernsey goes back to 933, when the islands came under the control ofWilliam Longsword, having been annexed from theDuchy of Brittany by theDuchy of Normandy. The island of Guernsey and the otherChannel Islands formed part of the lands ofWilliam the Conqueror. In 1204, France conquered mainland Normandy – but not the offshore islands of thebailiwick. The islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy.[14]
Initially, there was one governor, or co-governors working together, of the islands making up theChannel Islands. The title "governor" has changed over the centuries. "Warden", "keeper", and "captain" have previously been used.[15] The bailiff stands in for the Governor, or more recently the Lieutenant Governor, if the latter is absent, for a short term or for longer: for instance during the five years of theGerman occupation of the Channel Islands. TheLieutenant Governor of Guernsey is the Lieutenant Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and, being the personal representative of the British monarch,[16] has usually had a distinguished military service.[17]
Originally, the local courts in Guernsey were "fiefs" with the lord of the manor presiding. Before 1066, a superior court was introduced above thefiefs and below theEschequier Court inRouen and comprised the bailiff and four knights; the court heard appeals and tried criminal cases.[18]
Otton de Grandson, then the governor of the Islands, delegated the civil powers to two separate bailiffs for Guernsey andJersey before he went on crusade to theHoly Land in 1290.[10]: 21 This can be assessed as the date of first creation of the two bailiwicks.
Islands and islets belonging to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, shown within the Channel Islands
Situated around49°24′N2°36′W / 49.4°N 2.6°W /49.4; -2.6, Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands together have a total area of 78 km2 (30 sq mi) and coastlines of about 50 km (31 mi). Elevation varies from sea level to 114 m (374 ft) atLe Moulin on Sark.[citation needed]
There are many smallerislands, islets, rocks and reefs in the Bailiwick. Combined with a tidal range of 10 m (33 ft) and fast currents of up to 12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h), sailing in local waters is dangerous.[citation needed]
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a separate jurisdiction in itself and is, in turn, also three separate sub-jurisdictions. It does not form part of, and is separate from (but is not independent of, or from), theUnited Kingdom.[19] The two Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey together make up theChannel Islands.
Guernsey has anunwritten constitution arising from theTreaty of Paris (1259). When Henry III and the King of France came to terms over the Duchy of Normandy, theNorman mainland fell under thesuzerainty of the King of France. The Channel Islands, however, remained loyal to the English Crown due to the loyalties of itsSeigneurs. However, they were never absorbed into theKingdom of England by any Act of Union, but exist as "peculiars of the Crown".
A unique constitutional position has arisen as successive British monarchs have confirmed the liberties and privileges of the Bailiwick, often referring to the so-calledConstitutions of King John, a legendary document supposed to have been granted byKing John in the aftermath of 1204. Governments of the Bailiwick have generally tried to avoid testing the limits of the unwritten constitution by avoiding conflict with British governments.
This peculiar political position has often been to the benefit of islanders. Until the 19th century, the Bailiwick was generally exempt from the harsher parts of Westminster legislation while being included in favourable policies, such asprotectionist economic policies. England, and later the United Kingdom, passively exploited the strategic benefits of the Channel Islands. For example, the islands were a convenient stop-off point for trade toGascony.[20]
The bailiwick comprisestwelve parishes: Alderney, Sark, and ten on mainland Guernsey (one of which includes Herm). Each parish has a parish church dating from the 11th century, with strong religious control exercised initially by the French Catholic church and for the last 500 years by the English church. Over the years, the religious aspect of the administration of each parish has been reduced in favour of democratically elected douzeniers.[citation needed]
Each jurisdiction has inhabited and uninhabited islands and its own elected government. All three legal jurisdictions needroyal assent from theMonarch on its primary legislation, but as of February 29, 2024, certain domestic primary legislation need only the Lieutenant-Governor's assent. Each jurisdiction raises its own taxation,[16] although in 1949 Alderney transferred its rights to Guernsey.
With a population of around 2,200 in 7.8 km2 (3 square miles),Alderney has its own parliament, theStates of Alderney, which has ten elected members and an elected president.[21]
From 1612, Alderney had a judge appointed, with similar judicial powers to a bailiff, but on 1 January 1949, the island adopted a new constitution, giving up some independence, moving closer to Guernsey, and confirming that it is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.[citation needed]
The island ofGuernsey has a population of around 63,000 in 62 km2 (24 square miles) and forms the legal and administrative centre of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The parliament of Guernsey and the nearby inhabited islands ofHerm,Jethou andLihou[16] is theStates of Guernsey.[21]
Sark has a population of around 600 who live in 5.2 km2 (2 square miles). Its parliament (together with the inhabited island ofBrecqhou)[16] is theChief Pleas of Sark, with 18 elected members.[21]
In 1565,Helier de Carteret,Seigneur ofSt. Ouen inJersey, was granted thefief of Sark byQueen Elizabeth I. He receivedletters patent granting him Sark in perpetuity on condition that he kept the island free of pirates and that at least forty men occupied it to defend it. Despite most families coming from Jersey, Sark remained within the Bailiwick of Guernsey.[22]
There is no flag or coat of arms for the Bailiwick of Guernsey. In historic times, the governor would have used his personal symbols before a generic flag was created for use by the governor.[citation needed]
In 1279,Edward I granted aSeal for use in the Channel Islands. In 1304, separate seals were provided to Jersey and Guernsey. The provision of different seals is one of the earliest indications of the individual identity and personality of the two Bailiwicks. The seal comprised three leopards (or lions), a symbol taken from the original arms of the Duchy of Normandy.[23]
The United Kingdom andHis Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are responsible for the defence and also forformal international, intergovernmental, and consular representation of, and the foreign affairs generally, of the Bailiwick.[16]
While never a member of theEuropean Union (EU) or its predecessors, beforeBrexit the Bailiwick had a special relationship with the EU under Protocol 3 of the UK'sTreaty of Accession 1972 to theEuropean Community.[16] Pooling resources with Jersey, the Bailiwick established in 2010 an office inBrussels to develop the Channel Islands' influence with the EU,[24] to advise the Channel Islands' governments on European matters, and to promote economic links with the EU.[25]
^"God Save the King" is thenational anthem by custom, not statute, and there is no authorised version. Typically only the first verse is usually sung, although the second verse is also often sung as well at state and public events.[3] The wordsKing, he, him, his, used at present, are replaced byQueen, she, her when the monarch is female.
^Fact sheet on the UK's relationship with the Crown Dependencies(PDF), UK Ministry of Justice, retrieved2 May 2023,The Crown Dependencies are not recognised internationally as sovereign States in their own right but as "territories for which the United Kingdom is responsible".
