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Isle of Man, a self governing British Crown dependency, is located in the Irish Sea at the geographical center of the British Isles. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the state and holds the title of Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The Island is not part of the United Kingdom, but external relations, defence, and ultimate good-governance of the Isle of Man are the responsibility of the government of the UK. |
The Isle of Man is not a part of the European Union, but has a limited relationship relating to the free movement of goods. It has been a mystery how Man of Isle got its name regarding philologists. In the present times, it is known as Ellan Vannin, or Ellan Vannin Veg Veen (The Dear Little Isle of Man) locally. At various points of time, it was christened with several names such as Mona by Caesar in 54 BC, Eubonia by Nennius in AD 858, the Welsh Annals of AD 1154 records it as Manaw and the Scandinavian Sagas called it Mon or Maon. All these names seem to have been derived from a root meaning ‘mountainous’ or ‘hilly land’.
The Island was invaded by its mighty neighbors from time to time. Therefore, the present inhabitants of the region are Irish, Scandinavian, Scottish and English. According to several accounts, up to the 5th century the Isle of Man was the abode of a sorcerer, Mannanan-Beg-Mac-y-Leir, who kept strangers away by embracing the Island with mist. People who approached more closely were made to see a hundred times the number actually opposing their landing by his magic.
With the arrival of the missionaries from Ireland In the 5th-6th centuries, the Island was gradually Christianized. Although several places bear the name of St Patrick, yet it is not certain whether he ever came to Man or not. He is believed to have established the diocese and cleared the Island of poisonous reptiles and toads. The Celtic Period lasted until the first part of the 9th century.
When the Norsemen arrived, they first plundered the Island and later settled down making it an important base in connection with their settlements in Dublin, North West England and the Western Isles. Of the many Viking leaders, the most famous in Man is the King Orry. There is a story famous in the Island that on his landing on the Island, the surprised natives asked him "Where is your country?" and he replied back pointing to the Milky Way "That is the road to my country." In the Manx language, it is still called King Orry's Road. According to the legends, King Orry was in fact Godred Crovan who ruled from 1079 to 1095. It is assumed that the Gaelic form of Godred was Gorry.
The descendants of Godred reigned in Man and the Western Isles until 1252 when Magnus, the younger son of King Olaf II acceded to the throne. In 1263, King Alexander III of Scotland made an attack upon the Hebrides. King Haakon of Norway came off the Scottish coast with a large fleet to defend them and was helped by Magnus with the Manx ships. They were defeated at the battle of Largs and Magnus was allowed to retain Man if he paid homage to King Alexander.
Year after Magnus’ death in 1265, Norway and Scotland signed a treaty, according to which the Isle of Man was handed over to the Scots. In 1313, Robert the Bruce, the King of Scotland landed at Ramsey, marched via Douglas and seized Castle Rushen. In 1334, Edward III of England granted the Island to William de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, who renovated and extended the Castle Rushen. In 1392, Montacute's son sold the Isle of Man to Sir William le Scrope, who later became the Earl of Wiltshire.
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In 1405, Henry IV presented the Island to his firm believer, Sir John Stanley and his heirs forever "with all the regalities, franchises and rights belonging thereto, with the patronage of the bishopric, under the title of King of Man". |
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Stanley generation ruled over Isle of Man for three and a half centuries. However, only a few members of the house of Stanley considered it worthy to reside or even visit it. The governors responsible to them generally stood for them. Sir John Stanley II (1414-32) inscribed the ancient laws and constitutions into written form and succeeded in subordinating the ecclesiastical power to the civil.
His grandson, Sir Thomas Stanley, who placed the crown on Richmond’s head after the battle of Bosworth, was made the Earl of Derby in 1485. 9 Earls of Derby succeeded in the direct line. The most important was the 7th or Great Earl (1627-51), who embraced the Royal cause during the Civil War and was beheaded at Bolton in 1651. His Countess, Charlotte de la Tremouille, tried to defend the Isle of Man. Due to surrender of William Christian, Illiam Dhone, the commander of the Manx militia, failed in her plans. With the 10th Earl the direct line failed and the Lordship of Man passed to James Murray, second Duke of Athol, descendant on the female side of the 7th Earl of Derby in 1736.
The Island became a place of refuge for the debtors, as according to the local law, the debts in England and Ireland could not be recovered in the Isle of Man. For nearly a century, the Isle of Man provided sanctuary for the prodigal of the surrounding nations who flocked here in great numbers. The third Duke was appointed in 1765 to surrender the regality and customs duties to the Crown for £70,000 and an annuity of £2,000.
The fourth Duke was made Governor General of the Island in 1793. He and his nephew, the then Bishop of Sodor and Man, became highly unpopular as they had asserted certain claims to manorial rights and tithes. In 1829, the British Government acquired his remaining privileges by a lump sum payment of £417,114,. Since then, a Lieutenant Governor has been appointed by the Crown.
During the 20th century, the Island has achieved a large measure of self-government as a Crown dependency. The Crown retains responsibility for ensuring the good government of the Island and for its external affairs, but the Island's democratically elected government exercises full control of its internal affairs and territorial waters.
By: Shuchita Bist
GOWEALTHY.COM © 2006
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