The Crown Dependencies

There is a distinction between Crown Colony and Crown Dependency and while most of the territories in the former category are independent, the three remaining in the latter are Isle of Man, Guernsey, and the Bailiwicks of Jersey, as part of the Channel Islands. But why are there still Crown dependencies that too just in the perimeter of the United Kingdom and why aren't they independent or part of the UK?

Crown Colonies were administrated directly by the British Crown and were appointed a British Governor-General to govern till the time the particular colony opted to have self-government or an interim Dominion status. But Crown Dependencies have their own governments and even get British representation, a feature lacking in the previous. The history of these islands dates back to the Roman era when the Isle of Man was known as Ynys Manau, Guernsey as Sarnia, and Jersey as Caesarea. 

The Isle of Man has nothing to do with the word 'man'; it's technically derived from a Celtic god called Manannán and its name changed through history. The ancient pre-Tudor era had its name as Ynys Manau and while under the Norse-Gaelic islands kingdom, it was part of the collective Suðreyjar between 849 to 1265 (Kingdom of Mann and the Isles). The island was previously under the influence of the Dál Riata Kingdom (498-850 AD) after which it was ruled by the Norse-Gaels (mixed hybrids of the Vikings and Gaels) who were scattered on the Scottish Hebrides and parts of Ireland. It was the year 1266 when for the first time, Isle of Man became part of the Kingdom of Scotland (by a treaty between Scotland and Norway) and thirty years later in 1290, it became part of the Fiefdom of England. Since then it has been part of various bargains, treaties, and gifts by consecutive English lords and rulers. In 1333, the island was declared as a separate kingdom after the English defeated the Scots at the Battle of Halidon Hill and King Edward III renounced all claims of the island to Sir William de Montacute, his most loyal servant. But in the year 1399 with the arrival of King Henry IV, the island's status changed as a feudal lordship to the English Crown, something that lasts even till date. In 1405, it was decided by King Henry IV that the King of Mann, Sir John Stanley would rule the island by paying annual homage to the King of England, thus ensuring stability on the island. Centuries later, in 1765, when the lordship of the island was revested into the British Crown, the Manx people refused to be part of the United Kingdom and continued to do the same. 

The Channel Islands consists of numerous populated and uninhabited islands close to France and their history has always been under the influence of Anglo-French politics. The islands are divided into two Bailiwicks - Jersey and Guernsey. While Jersey consists of one single unit, Guernsey on the other hand is a cluster of numerous islands such as Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, and Brecqhou (Brechou). The term Bailiwick is to be understood in the similar lines of kingdom, chiefdom, or a fiefdom where a chief officer is in control of a territory. For centuries the island of Guernsey swung between the French Dukedom of Normandy and England that lasted till 1215 when King John granted the islands self-government subject only to the loyalty to the English Crown. But still, there were frequent French raids and intermittent occupations but in 1487, Lady Anne de Beauchamp resigns French claims to the English Crown that includes Guernesey (Guernsey), Jersey, Serke (Sark), Erie (Herm) and Aureney (Alderney). Enter the 20th century and the Bailiwick was occupied by the German forces during the Second World War till 1945. 

The languages of these islands are primarily English with the local dialect, giving the shape to Manx English on the Isle of Man while the Norman dialect of French is spoken on the Channel Islands. Below here are the current maps of the Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey.