Once Man was a Norse kingdom connected with other western islands off Scotland. The people spoke a Celtic language, Manx, related to Irish and Scots Gaelic.

In 1266 the king of Norway sold his suzerainty over Man to Scotland, and the island came under the control of England in 1341. The lordship of Man passed to the dukes of Atholl in 1736, but in 1765 the British Parliament purchased sovereignty over the island in 1765.

Like much connected with Britain its status is murky. The British monarch is the head of state but there is a separate government. Britain looks after foreign affairs and defense. It is classified as a Crown Dependency, but is not a Colony, that is, the powers of its government are not considered to be resultant from Westminster and therefore could not be abolished by Westminster. However, as a very small state its freedom is somewhat limited.

Like many mini states it exploits its position by offering a home to the rich who wish to pay no taxes and to people who wish to set up banks which won't be inspected too closely (though the Bank of England has urged the Manx government to be more rigorous now). Its status is similar to the Channel Islands. Perhaps Andorra is another parallel.

Its money is on a par with the British pound. The British minister with responsibility is the Home Secretary, normally concerned with police matters in Britain. He represents the Privy Council which must approve Manx legislation.

English

Manx - a variety of Irish gaelic may still survive, though the last first language speaker died in the 1970s.

An ancient Parliament, Tynwald, founded by the Norsemen. There are two houses, the House of Keys and the Legislative Council. The government has local powers, the most important of which is to set a low rate of tax.

The House of Keys met on Tynwald, a Norse name (Thingwall - Parliament Hill)

The basis of the economy is tourism and tax dodging. It is believed that criminal money is laundered in the Island's banks.

Following the financial catastrophe of 2008-9 the status of the island's banks is under question. Several banks based on the island collapsed and were proved not to be protected by British guarantees. Many people lost everything they had deposited.

Despite the island being the site of schemes for wealthy people and corporations to avoid British and other countries' taxes, the island receives a subsidy from the UK government in the form of an agreed share of the overall Customs revenue. In October 2009 the British government announced a reduction in this payment which has in effect been a large part of the I o M government's revenue. As with the Cayman Islands which have also been refused British assistance, this would seem to be a part of a world wide policy by many governments to prevent the various "tax havens" from draining government treasuries of tax revenue.

In the case of the I o M it can be assumed the local government will have to change its tax policy to make up the shortfall. Will the same happen in the Channel Islands?

Death penalty still legal, but never used.