French invasion of the Isle of Wight facts for kids

Quick facts for kids French invasion of the Isle of Wight
Part of the Italian War of 1542–1546.
Date July 1545 Location Isle of Wight, England Result English victory
Belligerents
England	France
Commanders and leaders
Robert Fyssher	Le Seigneur de Tais
Strength
300–2800 militiamen	Approx 500 soldiers
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

A French fleet attacks Bembridge in 1545.

The French invasion of the Isle of Wight happened in July 1545. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Italian Wars. The French tried to take over the island, but they were stopped.

France had often attacked the Isle of Wight before. But this 1545 invasion was the last time they tried to capture it. The French army was led by Claude d'Annebault. The battles at the Solent and Bonchurch didn't have a clear winner. However, because the French left the island, England saw it as a victory.

We don't have many clear records about this event. Some stories say the battles were unclear, and England lost many soldiers. They even lost a large ship called the Mary Rose at the Solent. Other stories say the French were easily defeated in every battle.

French Attack Plan

The French had a plan to invade the island. They wanted to land troops in two main places.

Landing at Whitecliff Bay

One group planned to land at Whitecliff Bay. From there, they would cross Bembridge Down. Their goal was to attack Sandown.

Landing at Bonchurch

Another group planned to land at Bonchurch. They would then march to meet the first group at Sandown.

Fighting at Sandown

The northern French group was stopped while crossing Bembridge Down. But they fought their way to Sandown Castle. This castle was still being built offshore at the time.

Fighting at St Boniface Down

Meanwhile, the southern French group was defeated at St Boniface Down. Both French groups were pushed back after tough fighting.

What Happened During the Invasion?

On July 21, 1545, French ships arrived near Portsmouth. They landed about 2,000 soldiers on the Isle of Wight. These soldiers burned some areas and set up camp. Their ships also fired cannons at the English ships in the harbor. But the English ships couldn't move well because there was no wind.

Three days later, 1,500 soldiers from London were sent to fight the French. But the King told them to turn back. This was because the French had already left the Isle of Wight. Many French soldiers were killed or drowned.

French Tactics

Some reports say the French attacked the island to make the English fleet come out and fight. The French fleet was much larger.

Martin Du Bellay, a French writer, said they landed in three places at once. This was to split up the English forces.

• One leader, Piero Strozzi, landed near a small fort. The English soldiers there ran away into the woods. The French chased them, killed some, and burned nearby homes.
• Another leader, Le Seigneur de Tais, landed at Bonchurch. There was a fierce fight there, and many soldiers on both sides were killed.

The French often landed where there were no defenses. Then they would attack the forts from inland. At Whitecliff Bay and Bonchurch, they quickly tried to take the high ground. But the English expected the attacks. Local forces reached the high ground to fight them. The village of Nettlestone and its manor house were burned.

The Battle at Bonchurch

At Bonchurch, the French landed easily at Monk's Bay. But then they faced a difficult challenge. They had to climb the very steep slopes of St Boniface and Bonchurch Downs. These hills are over 700 feet (213 meters) high. The English defenders were already at the top of the hill. This gave them a big advantage over the climbing French soldiers.

The Plaque at Seaview

There is a special plaque in Seaview that remembers this event. It says:

During the last invasion of this country hundreds of French troops landed on the foreshore nearby. This armed invasion was bloodily defeated and repulsed by local militia 21st July 1545.

Some people question if this plaque is fully accurate. They say there might not have been many local people there. Also, the soldiers might have come from the mainland, not just local militia. The exact number of soldiers involved is also unclear. Finally, this was not the very last attempted invasion of Great Britain. For example, there was the Battle of Fishguard in 1797.

Images for kids

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  An 1873 illustration of the French landing.