Wight, Isle of

(anc. Vecta , or Vectis ). An island in the English Channel, lying off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It was originally peopled by the Celts, who were afterwards expelled or subdued by the Belgæ and these, in their turn, were compelled to submit, in 43, to the Roman legions under Vespas i an. The Saxon kings of We ex conquered it about 530, after a sanguinary action at Wiht-garasbyrig, supposed to be the modern Car is bro oke. In 661, it was subdued by Wulfhere, son of Penda, king of Mercia. The Danes invaded the Wight in 787, 897, 981, 998, and again in 1003, when they destroyed the town of Waltham, supposed to be identical with the modern Werror. The French landed on the island, but were repulsed in 1340. In 1377, the French burnt the towns of Yarmouth, New town, and Newport, but were defeated in an attack which they hazarded upon Car is bro oke Castle. In 1545, the French forces, which had a embled under Claude d’Annebault, and fought an indecisive action with Lord Lisle at Spithead, threw themselves upon the island in four detachments at Sea View, Bembridge, Shanklin, and Bon church, but were repulsed with signal lo .