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Les Minquiers (the Minquiers) are situated 9 miles south of Jersey, and are administratively part of the Parish of Grouville. They are the southernmost land territory in the British Isles.
The most significant islands in this group are:
others include :
Les Écréhous (the Ecréhous) are situated 6 miles north-east of Jersey (8 miles from France), and are administratively part of the Parish of St. Martin.
The most significant islands in this group are:
others include:
The name Ecréhous is Norse in origin. Hou, the toponym found also in Jethou, Lihou, Brecqhou, Burhou and other islets, derives from holm meaning island. The first part of the name appears to be traced back to a Norse word sker meaning reef. The Ecréhous are actually, geologically, part of the same island group as Les Dirouilles (west) and Les Pierres de Lecq (the Paternosters) (further west).
The islets, along with the other Channel Islands and the Cotentin Peninsula, were annexed to the Duchy of Normandy in 933. After William, Duke of Normandy conquered England in 1066Events January 6 Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. Tostig Godwinson and Harald Hardraada of Norway invade England. September 25 Harold II defeats Tostig and Harold Hardraada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, kil the islands remained united to the Duchy until the conquest of mainland NormandyThis article concerns the former country of Normandy. For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). Mont Saint Michel is a historic pilgrimage site and a symbol of Normandy Normandy is a former country (a Duchy) situated in northern France occupying the in 1204Events February Byzantine emperor Alexius IV is overthrown in a revolution, and Alexius V is proclaimed emperor. April 12 The Fourth Crusade take Constantinople by storm, and pillage the city for three days. End of the Fourth Crusade. May 16 Baldwin, Coun by Philip Augustus of France. In 1259Events The chronicle of Matthew Paris ends due to his death. The Empire of Nicaea defeats the Principality of Achaea at the Battle of Pelagonia. Births Deaths Matthew Paris, Benedictine monk and chronicler. Monarchs/Presidents Aragon James I King of Arago Henry IIIHenry III ( October 1, 1207 November 16, 1272) is one of the least-known British monarchs, considering the great length of his reign. He was born in 1207, the son of King John, and succeeded to the throne at the age of nine, with the result that the count did homage to the French king for the Channel Islands. While Edward III in the 1360 Treaty of Bretigny waived his claims to the crown of France and to Normandy, he reserved various territories to England.
The Minquiers and Ecréhous were used by smugglers.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries there were several occasions on which nominal control was displayed - eg flags and buoys, and there were several occasions on which the British government indicated to the French government that it wished to settle the matter.
In 1950 Britain and France went to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for friendly discussions to decide to which country the Minquiers and Ecréhous belonged. The French fished in the waters, but Jersey exercised various administrative rights. Certain maps showed the Ecréhous islands as not being part of Jersey. The ICJ considered the historical evidence, and in its Judgment of 17 November 1953 awarded the islands to Jersey.