| Disputed island Other names: Les Minquiers, Les Mîntchièrs, The Minkies |
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| La Maîtr' Île | |
| Geography | |
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| Location | English Channel |
| Coordinates | 48°57′00″N 2°07′59″W / 48.950°N 2.133°WCoordinates: 48°57′00″N 2°07′59″W / 48.950°N 2.133°W |
| Major islands | Maîtresse Île / Maîtr' Île Les Maisons |
| Administered by | |
 Jersey |
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| Parish | Grouville |
| Claimed by | |
 France |
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| Jersey |
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| Parish | Grouville |
| Demographics | |
| Population | none permanent |
The Minquiers (Les Minquiers; in Jèrriais: Les Mîntchièrs 
pronunciation (help·info); nicknamed "the Minkies" in local English) are a group of islands and rocks situated 9 miles south of Jersey forming part of the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are administratively part of the Parish of Grouville.
The islands have no permanent inhabitants, though fishermen, vraic collectors, yachtmen and even sometimes canoeists make summer landfall.
The most significant islands in the group are:
- Maîtresse Île / Maîtr' Île
- Les Maisons;
Others include:
- Le Niêsant
- Les Faucheurs
- La Haute Grune.
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Name
The etymology of the name is disputed. While some say that the name comes from the Breton language minihi meaning a sanctuary, others such as Victor Coysh, maintain it comes from minkier meaning a seller of fish.
History
Thousands of years ago, around the time of the Ice Age, the Channel Islands were high ground forming part of a plain connecting the European Continent, and southern England, due to lower sea levels.
The islets, along with the other Channel Islands and the Cotentin Peninsula, were annexed to the Duchy of Normandy in 933. After William, Duke of Normandy conquered England in 1066 the islands remained united to the Duchy until the conquest of mainland Normandy in 1204 by Philip Augustus. In 1259 Henry III did homage to the French king for the Channel Islands. While Edward III in the 1360 Treaty of Brétigny waived his claims to the crown of France and to Normandy, he reserved various territories to England.
The 1911 Britannica says that Maîtresse Île "affords a landing and shelter for fishermen."
In 1950 Britain and France went to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for friendly discussions to decide to which country the Minquiers and Écréhous belonged. The French fished in the waters, but Jersey exercised various administrative rights. The ICJ considered the historical evidence, and in its Judgment of 17 November 1953 awarded the islands to Jersey (as represented by the United Kingdom) [1].
In 1998 there was an 'invasion' of the Minquiers by some French on behalf of the 'King of Patagonia' in 'retaliation' for the British occupation of the Falkland Islands. The Union Jack was restored the next day, despite Jersey not being a jurisdictional part of the UK.
Les Minquiers in literature
Notably, Les Minquiers are mentioned at length by Victor Hugo in his novel Ninety-Three, about the French Revolution. He mentions how treacherous they are, and says that their combined area is bigger than mainland Jersey itself. Hugo lived in both Guernsey and Jersey at various points in his life, and so was familiar with local lore.
The British/French dispute over Les Minquiers is a plot element in Nancy Mitford's novel Don't Tell Alfred, as an occasional cause for dispute between the 'two old ladies' - France and Britain.
The Minquiers, often referred to as Minkies, an anglicised diminutive, feature in the seafaring adventure novel The Wreck of the Mary Deare, by Hammond Innes, and its 1959 film adaptation.
References
- Files on the ICJ case can be found in the National Archives, mostly in the FO 371 sequence.
- Les Minquiers: article published in hidden europe magazine, 2006, Issue 6, pp.38-39 (ISSN 1860-6318)
- Histoire des Minquiers et des Ecréhous. Robert Sinsoilliez. Editions l'Ancre de Marine.
- Channel Islets - Victor Coysh
External links
- International Court of Justice: Case files
- (French), Accord commercial sur la pêche entre la France et Jersey
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