A re-assessment of the strategic role of the Channel Islands during the Great French War (1792-1815)
Although it has long been portrayed as the nationâs âmoat defensiveâ, recent examinations of Anglo-French rivalry during the long eighteenth century have revealed that the English Channel was, in reality, a highly permeable and vulnerable maritime border territory. Within this context, the Channel Islands assumed a strategic and tactical significance which was vastly disproportionate to their physical size, population or resources; emerging as what Morieux terms âa lynchpin of control' over local shipping and trade. Although a great deal of research has been already undertaken â particularly in relation to the Channel Islandsâ role as a base for commerce-raiding and intelligence gathering â much of this has covered the entire long eighteenth century. However, it was only during the Great French War that the British government embraced the military potential of the Channel Islands to the fullest; not only exploiting the inhabitantsâ knowledge of the seas and intimacy with her âenemiesâ, but also transforming the archipelago into a chain of offshore fortresses. In addition, prior scholarship has often focused on individual aspects of the Channel Islandsâ involvement in the Great French
Villalard, James Michael
Channel Islands ; Military History ; Naval History ; Maritime History ; Social History ; French Revolution ; Napoleonic War
A re-assessment of the strategic role of the Channel Islands during the Great French War (1792-1815). Although it has long been portrayed as the nationâs âmoat defensiveâ, recent examinations of Anglo-French rivalry during the long eighteenth century have revealed that the English Channel was, in reality, a highly permeable and vulnerable maritime border territory. Within this context, the Channel Islands assumed a strategic and tactical significance which was vastly disproportionate to their physical size, population or resources; emerging as what Morieux terms âa lynchpin of control' over local shipping and trade. Although a great deal of research has been already undertaken â particularly in relation to the Channel Islandsâ role as a base for commerce-raiding and intelligence gathering â much of this has covered the entire long eighteenth century. However, it was only during the Great French War that the British government embraced the military potential of the Channel Islands to the fullest; not only exploiting the inhabitantsâ knowledge of the seas and intimacy with her âenemiesâ, but also transforming the archipelago into a chain of offshore fortresses. In addition, prior scholarship has often focused on individual aspects of the Channel Islandsâ involvement in the Great French
re_assessment strategic role channel islands great french war although long portrayed nation moat defensive recent examination anglo_french rivalry long reveal english_channel reality highly permeable vulnerable maritime border territory within_context channel_islands assume strategic tactical significance vastly disproportionate physical size population resource emerge term control local shipping trade although_great deal already undertaken particularly_relation channel_islands role base commerce raiding intelligence gathering much cover entire long however great french war british_government embrace military potential channel_islands full exploit inhabitant knowledge sea intimacy enemy also transform archipelago chain offshore fortress addition prior scholarship often_focus individual aspect channel_islands involvement great french