Law of Guernsey by the Court of Alderney at a special sitting on Saturday 28 January 2017. King John, who reigned from 1199 to 1216, lost the English-controlled territories in Normandy in France following the 1204 Siege of Château Gaillard, the remaining Norman lands being the Channel Islands. King John promised the islands independence and the right to continue governing themselves after they confirmed their allegiance to the English Crown. Agents of the Crown called bailiffs would enforce the laws and run the courts, one in Jersey and one in Guernsey; the areas under the authority of these bailiffs were called bailiwicks. In
External relations of Guernsey more integrated relationship with the Commonwealth of Nations, including more direct representation and enhanced participation in Commonwealth organisations and meetings, including Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, however with no right to vote in the Ministerial or Heads of Government meetings. Both Alderney and Guernsey are members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Bailiwick of Guernsey which includes Alderney, Sark, Herm and the other smaller islands is a member of the Commonwealth Games Federation and has attended every games event since the inauguration in 1970. In 2011 Guernsey, which had previously been unrated, was awarded a AAA credit rating by Standard