Inspiring Events: The White Ship Disaster

Medieval history is full of all kinds of colorful people, places, and events–some amusing, some mysterious, others chaotic and still others, sad. Covering over a thousand years of history and a good chunk of the world, there are lots of places one can find something which interests them.

In the last post in this series, I focused on an amusing anecdote in medieval history, The Chamberpot Affair. This second event, known as the White Ship Disaster, is a much more somber event which could be compared to a medieval Titanic with only one survivor–and which prompted a succession crisis.

The White Ship Disaster

On the night of November 25th, 1120, a monk, with his fellow brother, stepped off a ship’s ramp and onto the shores of Normandy, leaving behind the riotous laughter and drunken partying of the young people upon the new vessel, christened The White Ship. With the two monks, another young man departed–because of a stomachache from over-drinking or due to concerns about overcrowding is unknown. But their decisions unknowingly saved their lives and changed the course of history forever.

In order to fully understand this event, we must briefly touch on what happened before this devastating night. In 1066, the Duke of Normandy crossed the English Channel and battled the Saxon Harold Godwinson for the throne of Britain. Upon his victory, he became known by his more popular moniker of William the Conquerer. William had four sons, and left England to his third son, also named William. This William died childless, and thus the throne went to his younger brother, Henry I.

Henry I was a bit of a womanizer, and had many illegitimate children. But rather surprisingly, he only had two legitimate children–a daughter, Matilda, and a son, known as William Adelin (and yes, that is who my author name was inspired by). While Matilda made an advantageous marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor, William Adelin was groomed to take the throne of England and duchy of Normandy.

In 1120, Henry I’s court, including several of his illegitimate children and William Adelin, were staying in his duchy of Normandy so William could do homage to the French king for the duchy. In November, the court traveled back to England, Henry traveling separately from his heir and several of the younger members of the court, as William wished to travel aboard the White Ship, famed for it’s speed. Around three hundred people in total boarded the ship, according to the chronicler Orderic Vitalis.

Rather foolishly, the crew and passengers of the White Ship waited until evening to set sail, partying and growing drunk on the wine William Adelin generously gave to everyone aboard. Being drunk, the revelers dared the ship’s captain to try to reach England before Henry I’s ship did. It is unknown how drunk the captain was, but he accepted the challenge, prioritizing speed over caution.

Inevitably, the port-side struck a submerged rock, the ship sinking into the frigid water. Panic broke out amongst the passengers, as sober-enough guards managed to get William Adelin to a lifeboat. The lifeboat became crowded, but set sail.

If this was all which happened, the White Ship Disaster might be known, but it would only be a blip in the life of a medieval king. However, like with the Titanic, there were not enough lifeboats for everyone, and many people were drowning, struggling against the icy waters.

One of these was William’s beloved half-sister, another Matilda. Hearing her cries, William turned back to save her–and thus sealed his fate. When he grabbed his sister to pull her aboard, several other panicking young men attempted to board as well, overweighting the lifeboat. Unavoidably, it too, sunk, sentencing everyone to death in the frigid waters.

The only survivor left to tell the tale was a butcher from Rouen who clung to a rock until rescue. The chronicler Orderic Vitalis claimed that the White Ship‘s captain managed to come to the surface as well, but upon realizing William Adelin had drowned, gave up.

Henry I was devastated by the news, and rumor had it he never smiled again. Despite remarrying in an attempt to bear another heir, he died with only his daughter Matilda as his heir, making his barons and men swear fealty to her. Unfortunately, upon his death, many of these men reneged on their oaths to support another man, starting a civil war known as the Anarchy. This young man whom they supported was Matilda’s cousin–and the young man who departed the White Ship complaining of a stomach-ache or overcrowding, Stephen of Blois.

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This medieval Titanic forever changed the course of history, resulting in my favorites, the Plantagenets, eventually coming to the throne. But it shows just how impactful a singular, small event can have on an entire nation, if not the world.

What is an intriguing historical event to you? Did you know about the White Ship Disaster, or is this your first time learning about it? Is there a medieval historical event you’d like to see featured on the blog? Let me know in the comments below! ~ Kay Adelin