Books
1 Best Novel About the Battle of the Solent
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Naval Battle
Battle of the Solent
1545-07-19
The Battle of the Solent took place on 19 July 1545 during the war between Henry VIII and Francis I of France. A French fleet of more than two hundred vessels appeared off Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, threatening an invasion while the smaller English fleet sheltered in the Solent.
When the wind allowed the English ships to move, the Mary Rose began an engagement but heeled over and sank during a turning manoeuvre, taking most of her crew with her. The remaining English fleet maintained its defensive position, while French landings on the Isle of Wight failed to produce a lasting foothold. The invasion force withdrew within days.
The battle and the loss of the Mary Rose form the historical climax of Heartstone. The setting combines naval mobilisation, militia service, Portsmouth’s wartime defences and the experiences of soldiers, sailors and civilians awaiting invasion.
