Talk:All the Welsh, Scottish, English and the UK capitals in history

Ynys Weith\Wihtwara was a small kingdom on the isle of wight, a small island just off England’s southern coast. Some historians actually believe that this kingdom never existed. They say it is nothing more than a myth – but most believe it did exist. It’s history is largely unknown but it existed during the 7th

Julius Caesar reported that the Belgae took the Isle of Wight in about 85 BC,[21] and recognised the culture of this general region as "Belgic", but made no reference to Vectis.[22] The Roman historian Suetonius mentions that the island was captured by the commander Vespasian. The Romans built no towns on the island, but the remains of at least seven Roman villas have been found, indicating the prosperity of local agriculture.[23] First-century exports were principally hides, slaves, hunting dogs, grain, cattle, silver, gold, and iron.[22] Ferriby Boats and later Blackfriars Ships likely were important to the local economy.

During the Dark Ages the island was settled by Jutes as the pagan kingdom of Wihtwara under King Arwald. In 685 it was invaded by Caedwalla, who tried to replace the inhabitants with his own followers. In 686 Arwald was defeated and the island became the last part of English lands to be converted to Christianity,[24][25][26] added to Wessex and then becoming part of England under King Alfred the Great, included within the shire of Hampshire.

It suffered especially from Viking raids,[27] and was often used as a winter base by Viking raiders when they were unable to reach Normandy.[28] Later, both Earl Tostig and his brother Harold Godwinson (who became King Harold II) held manors on the island.[29][30]

Carisbrooke Castle just outside Carisbrooke Sub-Roman Isle of Wight Starting in AD 449 (according to the Anglo Saxon Chronicles) the 5th and 6th centuries saw groups of Germanic speaking peoples from Northern Europe crossing the English Channel and setting up home.[31] Bede's (731) Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum[32] identifies three separate groups of invaders: of these, the Jutes from Denmark settled the Isle of Wight and Kent. From then onwards, there are indications that the island had wide trading links, with a port at Bouldnor,[33][34][35] evidence of Bronze Age tin trading,[12] and finds of Late Iron Age coins.[36]

Around 70 AD, the Romans founded Chester. Evidence of their occupation on Wirral has been found, including the remains of a road near Mollington, Ledsham and Willaston. This road may have continued to the port at Meols, which may have been used as a base for attacking the north Wales coast. Storeton Quarry may also have been used by Romans for materials for sculpture. Remains of possible Roman roads have also been found at Greasby and at Bidston. By the end of the Roman period, pirates were a menace to traders in the Irish Sea, and soldiers may have been garrisoned at Meols to combat this threat.[4]

Although Roman rule ended with the departure of the last Roman troops in 410, later coins and other material found at Meols show that it continued to operate as a trading port. Evidence of Celtic Christianity from the 5th or 6th centuries is shown in the originally circular shape of churchyards at Bromborough, Woodchurch and elsewhere, and also in the dedication of the parish church at Wallasey to a 4th-century bishop, Hilary of Poitiers. The Celtic names of Liscard and Landican (from llan-T/Decwyn) both suggest an ancient British origin. The name of Wallasey, meaning "Welsh (or foreigners') island", is evidence of British settlement.[3] The Welsh name, both ancient and modern, for Wirral is Cilgwri.[5] In Welsh mythology, the ouzel (or blackbird) of Cilgwri was one of the most ancient creatures in the world.[6]