<P> In the sixth century, Christian missionaries visited the islands . Samson of Dol, Helier, Marculf and Magloire are among saints associated with the islands . In the sixth century, they were already included in the diocese of Coutances where they remained until reformation . </P> <P> The islands were inhabited by Britons, who also inhabited Wales, south west England and nearby Brittany having moved away from invading Anglo - Saxons . From the beginning of the ninth century, Norse raiders appeared on the coasts . Norse settlement succeeded initial attacks, and it is from this period that many place names of Norse origin appear, including the modern names of the islands . </P> <P> In 933, the islands were granted to William I Longsword by Raoul King of Western Francia and annexed to the Duchy of Normandy . In 1066, William II of Normandy invaded and conquered England, becoming William I of England, also known as William the Conqueror . In the period 1204--1214, King John lost the Angevin lands in northern France, including mainland Normandy, to King Philip II of France, but managed to retain control of the Channel Islands . In 1259, his successor, Henry III of England, by the Treaty of Paris, officially surrendered his claim and title to the Duchy of Normandy, while the King of France gave up claim to the Channel Islands, which was based upon his position as feudal overlord of the Duke of Normandy . Since then, the Channel Islands have been governed as possessions of the Crown and were never absorbed into the Kingdom of England and its successor kingdoms of Great Britain and the United Kingdom . </P> <P> The islands were invaded by the French in 1338, who held some territory until 1345 . Edward III of England granted a Charter in July 1341 to Jersey, Guernsey, Sark and Alderney, confirming their customs and laws to secure allegiance to the English Crown . Owain Lawgoch, a mercenary leader of a Free Company in the service of the French Crown, attacked Jersey and Guernsey in 1372, and in 1373 Bertrand du Guesclin besieged Mont Orgueil . The young King Richard II of England reconfirmed in 1378 the Charter rights granted by his grandfather, followed in 1394 with a second Charter granting, because of great loyalty shown to the Crown, exemption for ever, from English tolls, customs and duties . Jersey was occupied by the French in 1461 as part of an exchange of helping the Lancastrians fight against the Yorkists during The War of the Roses . It was retaken by the Yorkists in 1468 . In 1483 a Papal bull decreed that the islands would be neutral during time of war . This privilege of neutrality enabled islanders to trade with both France and England and was respected until 1689 when it was abolished by Order in Council following the Glorious Revolution in Great Britain . </P>

Are the channel islands a part of great britain