Jersey

Jersey is a small island located in the English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. The Channel Islands are referenced in the Antonine Itinerary as Sarnia, Caesarea, Barsa, Silia, and Andium, although Jersey cannot be identified exactly because none of the current names relate properly to them. Since William Camden's Britannia, the word Caesarea has been used as the Latin name for Jersey, and it is still used in titles of clubs and institutions today.

Archaeological evidence of Roman influence has been discovered, most notably at Les Landes. In the fifth and sixth centuries CE, people from Brittany brought Christianity to the island. The island's patron saint, Helier, resided at the Hermitage on L'Islet in the sixth century. According to legend, Helier was decapitated by raiders and then lifted his head and went to shore.

Jersey belonged to the Duchy of Normandy, whose dukes became monarchs of England beginning in 1066. Jersey remained faithful to the English Crown after Normandy was lost by the monarchs of England in the 13th century, and the ducal title was transferred to France, albeit it never became part of the Kingdom of England.

Out of a total population of 50,000, 6,500 Jersey inhabitants chose to be evacuated to the United Kingdom during WWII. Germany invaded Jersey from 1 July 1940 until 9 May 1945, when Germany surrendered.