Battle of the Solent

Overview

The naval Battle of the Solent took place on 18 and 19 July 1545 during the Italian Wars, between the fleets of Francis I of France and Henry VIII of England, in the Solent, between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This was one of only two full-fledged naval battles fought by King Henry VIII's Tudor navy, along with the earlier Battle of Saint-Mathieu.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of the Solent was one of only two full-scale naval engagements fought by Henry VIII's Tudor navy during his reign, the other being the earlier Battle of Saint-Mathieu. Fought in the waters between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, it brought the fleets of Francis I of France, under Claude d'Annebault, and Henry VIII of England, under John Dudley, into direct confrontation during the Italian War of 1542–46. Its rarity within Tudor naval history underscores how seldom England committed its fleet to pitched battle during the period, making the engagement notable as much for what it represented institutionally as for its immediate operational consequences.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)