The Battle of Bonchurch was a minor conflict during the Italian War of 1542-1546 and was fought on the Isle of Wight off the south Coast of England. This battle took place around the same time as the Battle of the Solent ((when the Mary Rose sank)).
A French invasion force marched in land, burning crops and building as they went and encountered local militia under Captain Robert Fyssher at Bonchurch.
Conflicting accounts of what little is known of the battle claim that the French had around 500 men while the English opposing them had between 200 and 2,800 ((the first is the English account the sencond is French)).
Both sides suffered heavy casualties but in the end it the French were repelled.
In terms of the Italian War this was a minor battle but I wonder what would be the long standing effect of a French Victory at Bonchurch and then the capture of the Isle of Wight as a French Base.
Claude d'Annebault, commander of the French armada, recorded that "having it under our control, we could then dominate Portsmouth... and so put the enemy to extraordinary expense in maintaining a standing army and navy to contain us."
But would the French, following the end of the Italian War, just hand the Isle of Wight back to the English or would they keep hold of it? Would a French Base on the Isle of Wight prevent Portsmouth from becoming one of Britains major Naval bases and the home of the Royal Navy? And what would be the effect of future Anglo-French conflicts/relationships with a French Port so close to England?
I know it's all irrelivant and France is unlikely to be able to keep hold of an island so close to the British mainland for long but I thought the idea was interesting...
A French invasion force marched in land, burning crops and building as they went and encountered local militia under Captain Robert Fyssher at Bonchurch.
Conflicting accounts of what little is known of the battle claim that the French had around 500 men while the English opposing them had between 200 and 2,800 ((the first is the English account the sencond is French)).
Both sides suffered heavy casualties but in the end it the French were repelled.
In terms of the Italian War this was a minor battle but I wonder what would be the long standing effect of a French Victory at Bonchurch and then the capture of the Isle of Wight as a French Base.
Claude d'Annebault, commander of the French armada, recorded that "having it under our control, we could then dominate Portsmouth... and so put the enemy to extraordinary expense in maintaining a standing army and navy to contain us."
But would the French, following the end of the Italian War, just hand the Isle of Wight back to the English or would they keep hold of it? Would a French Base on the Isle of Wight prevent Portsmouth from becoming one of Britains major Naval bases and the home of the Royal Navy? And what would be the effect of future Anglo-French conflicts/relationships with a French Port so close to England?
I know it's all irrelivant and France is unlikely to be able to keep hold of an island so close to the British mainland for long but I thought the idea was interesting...