BattlefieldsViking Raid on Isle of Wight 998
Early Medieval

Viking Raid on Isle of Wight 998

998
Isle of Wight, England
Also known as: Isle of Wight Viking raid 998 · Danes winter on Wight 998
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Isle of Wight, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Isle of Wight population
Forces
Isle of Wight population & militia (c. 500–1,000).
VS
Victor
Viking raiders
Forces
Viking raiders: c. 15–25 ships (c. 1,500–2,500)
Outcome
Island ravaged; served as Viking base for raids on Hampshire and Dorset
The Battle

History & Significance

The Isle of Wight served repeatedly as a Danish base in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In 998 the Danish fleet used the island as a base for raids into Hampshire and along the south coast. The island's position made it ideal — defensible from a naval force, with access to food and fresh water, and a short sea crossing to either Hampshire or Normandy. The 998 raid is one of several recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that used Wight as a springboard.

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