On this day in Tudor history, 21st July 1545, in the reign of King Henry VIII, French forces landed on the Isle of Wight in an attempt to invade the English island.
In today's "on this day" talk, I share contemporary accounts of what happened - what the French forces did to the island and what the result was.
Also on this day in history:
- 1553 – Arrest of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, for his part in placing his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne.
- 1586 – Explorer Thomas Cavendish set sail from Plymouth on his South Sea voyage.
- 1601 – Burial of Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby of Willoughby, Beck and Eresby, at Spilsby Church. Bertie was the son of Katherine Willoughby (married names Brandon and Bertie), Duchess of Suffolk, who married his father, Richard Bertie, as her second husband.
It’s amazing that the Battle of the Solent went on for a number of days. This was a really threatening invasion, potentially more dangerous than the Spanish Amarda and yet Henry’s navy and soldiers saw it off, but he gets no credit whatsoever for this great victory. Yet, Elizabeth I hiding in Richmond in the heart of Surrey, in denial, who emerged to give her fantastic speech, days after the danger was passed defeated the Spanish Amarda single handed. The myth of Glorianna really did go to extremes.