Can We Come In?

It is a well-known fact that the British have launched a number of invasions and attacks on other nations over the years.  It is also known that there have been a number launched against the British on home soil.  What you probably don't know is just how many!

According to records, there have been 73 known invasions - or attempted invasions (attacks from hostile forcea) on British and Irish soil since the Norman Conquest of 1066.  An incredible 42 of these occurred during the Hundred Years War, which officially lasted 116 years.  Unofficially, it lasted 136 years, as the British and French remained at war for a full decade after the Battle of Castillon (recognised as the last battle of the conflict).  These attacks are indicated thus *...

Anyway, here is a list...

1067 - One of the claimants to the English throne, Edgar Aetheling, spearheaded two attacks on areas in the West of England during a period of domestic strife and possible uprisings.

1060's-1070's - Sweyn Estridsson, King of Denmark, twice invaded regions in the East of England.

1208 - The Channel Islands were seized by French pirate, Eustace the Monk, and used as a base for his operations.

1216 - Kent was invaded by the French, and with King John's death in October, Prince Henry was crowned King.

1217 - Eustace the Monk attacked the British mainland this time, landing near Sandwich in Kent.

*1338/39 - There were a total of 8 French attacks on southern England, and the Channel Islands.

*1340 - There were six more landings in southern England from French forces.

*1360 - Hastings, Rye, Sandwich, and Winchelsea were all attacked.

*1373 - The Channel Island of Jersey was home to another French invasion.

*1376 - The Sussex town of Rye was again subjected to an invasion.

*1377 - A further 11 attacks were launched on southern communities, including Rye - again!

*1380 - Winchelsea (Sussex) was attacked - not for the first time.

*1386 - Winchelsea was attacked again, along with another Kent landing.

*1415 - This time, it was the Isle of Wight's turn.

*1408-1415 - The Devon town of Dartmouth was attacked (twice) by French privateers - as was the Isle of Wight again.

*1418 - The French returned to one of their favourite landings at Winchelsea.

*1461 - For the first time since 1373, Jersey was invaded.

There were two other attacks on Winchelsea during this period, but the exact dates are not known.

1487 - Pretender to the English throne, Lambert Simnel, attacks Lancashire.

1491 - Another pretender, Perkin Warbeck, attempts to gain support from the Irish.

1495 - Perkin Warbeck invades Kent.

1497 - Perkin Warbeck invades Cornwall.

1545 - The French return to attack the Isle of Wight.

1595 - It is the turn of the Spanish now, as they invade the county of Cornwall.

1601 - The Irish city of Cork is attacked by Spain.

1627 - Barbary pirates from North Africa captured the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel.

1620's - Barbary pirates invaded areas around Conwy in north Wales.

1631 - Baltimore, Ireland, was the site of another Barbary raid.

1636 - Another Barbary attack occurred, this time in the Cornish community of St. Keverne.

1640 - Penzance was raided by Barbary pirates.

1667 - Another nation launches attacks on the British, as the Dutch land at Felixstowe (Suffolk) and Sheerness (Kent).

1688 - William of Orange (Holland) lands in England, overthrows James II of England, and is crowned King William III.

1690 - The Devon town of Teignmouth is attacked by our old friends, the French.

1719 - The Spanish land in western Scotland.

1745 - The Jacobite rising of 1745 was backed by French forces.

1778 - Scottish-American sailor John Paul Jones led attacks on the Solway Firth (Scotland), and Whitehaven (England).

1779 - French attacks on the Channel Islands resume.

1796 - The French land at the Welsh port of Fishguard.

1940 - The closest the British mainland came to being invaded during WWII was the Battle of Graveney Marsh, in Kent.  There was a skirmish between home forces and the crew of a downed German bomber.

1940-45 - The Channel Islands were occupied by the Germans.