Isle of Man¶
- Area
- Europe
- Coins
- 5
The Isle of Man is a 588 sq.km island located in the Irish Sea in the very centre of the British Isles. It is not a part of the United Kingdom, but is a Crown Dependency. The island was a Viking outpost/kingdom from 700-900 CE, but was occupied long before that as evidenced by prehistoric artifacts and monuments. The island was the site of the "Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles" from 1079. King Magnus VI of Norway gave the island to Scotland in 1266, and it came under English control in the 14th century.
In 1765 Britain purchased the rights and title to the island. The Isle of Man has the oldest continuous parliament in the world -- the Tynwald -- founded in 979 CE. The island's culture is heavily influenced by its Celtic and Norse origins. The ancient Manx language which came close to dying out is being revived on the island and taught in its schools. The national motto is Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand. This motto is represented in the ancient Triskelion, which has been a symbol of the island for centuries. The Isle of Man even has its own breed of cat: The Manx Cat was common on the island three centuries ago, and has been exported to the rest of the world. Offshore banking and tourism are two cornerstones of the island's economy. If you wish to visit, you can check out this web site, as well as this pub guide.
