Okay, so if I understand it all correctly, the current proceedings are as follows:
Socolinia is created as an attempt at a pseudo-autonomous military puppet state serving under France and located in or around the county of Boulogne. Originally I had chosen the arbitrary date of 1228 as a formation marker, so I suppose that will be the de-facto for now.
The British Isles and eastern neighbors to France vie over the territory, as Socolinia is not as strong or tactically fruitful as originally planned. It is repeatedly captured, annexed, lost, reclaimed, and captured again due to the calamitous nature of the political landscape, and due to Count Alberic's decision to maintain rights to power in the area despite fleeing, he has incentive to ally Socolinia with England and is essentially eating right out of the King's hand. This causes some civil unrest among the populace, as loyalties are primarily divided between France and the HRE, so bolstering English ties only complicates the matter.
Eventually, likely after Alberic's death, Socolinia's public riots and France takes the opportunity to reclaim its prime real estate. Unfortunately, though, too much change has occurred, and the country is still chaotic and giving the government aching problems.
The solution of shipping all willing parties(And a few convicts...) off to their own little island chain in the northwest where they can have their own government and proceedings(As long as they remain loyal to France, right, everyone?) and washing their hands of the matter for the most part.
Naturally, the whole "loyalty" part flies out the window fairly early on, as the bitter Socolinian winter takes a chunk out of the settlers' population with too-little help from the homeland, the rift between countries splits open, and Socolinia declares independence.
Does this check out?