History of Guernsey St Saviour, St Pierre du Bois, Ste. Marie du Catel, and the Vale. The loss of Normandy by King John in 1204 isolated the Channel Islands from mainland Europe. Each time England and France went to war over the coming centuries, trade to and from the Channel Islands was restricted or banned and even when not officially at war, the island was repeatedly attacked by continental pirates and naval forces. Fortifications were improved in the Channel Islands, manned by professional soldiers and the Guernsey militia who would help to defend the Island for the next 600 years. Service was compulsory
Maritime history of the Channel Islands promise they would be fed and clothed. Jean Martell from Jersey established in 1715 the Cognac manufacturer Martell and established trading links with Guernsey. The Islands had an involvement in the slavery trade. Guernsey has identified 11 sailings, mainly from the Gambia, between 1741 and 1761, with 2,118 slaves taken and 1,800 delivered. The wine trade was very important, in 1771 Guernsey merchant, Le Marchant recorded 8,000 tons of claret shipped from Bordeaux to Ireland, noting it was usual to mix with ¼ of Spanish wines to make it suitable for the Irish market. By controlling the brandy trade from