Wihtwara (Old English: Wihtware or Wihtsætan) were the Early Medieval inhabitants of the Isle of Wight, a 147-square-mile (380 km2) island off the south coast of England.

[7][8] The account further describes how Wihtgar and Stuf were of Jutish and Gothic origin and set about exterminating the island's native Briton inhabitants, either killing them or driving them into exile.

[7][11] According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in 661 Wulfhere of Mercia conquered the Isle of Wight and gave the overlordship to his godson, King Æthelwealh of Sussex, to convert the islanders to Christianity.

[12] Bede, however, records that the island was converted after an invasion in 686 by King Cædwalla of Wessex,[13] which the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states was conducted together with his brother Mul of Kent.

[16][17] The closest existing title at that time - the Lordship of the Isle of Wight - was held by the uncle of King Henry VI, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, after being bestowed it in 1434.