Jersey

Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is an autonomous and self-governing British Crown Dependency in north-western Europe, 23 kilometres off the Cotentin Peninsula of north-west France. At 120 square kilometres, the main island is the largest of the Channel Islands, and the territory also includes some surrounding uninhabited islands and rocks. In 2021 the island had a population of 103,267. Although not a sovereign state, it has its own legal, fiscal and governmental systems. Historically part of the Duchy of Normandy, Jersey remained loyal to the English Crown when the English kings lost mainland Normandy, but it never became part of the Kingdom of England. It was invaded several times during the Anglo-French wars, which left fortifications such as Mont Orgueil Castle, and it was occupied by Nazi German forces until 9 May 1945, now celebrated as its national day.