The History of the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy, as it is known in 2010, was actually called the British Navy for several hundred years. Established in the 9th century AD, the British Navy changed its name to the Royal Navy in 1660 under the reign of Charles II. The British--or Royal--Navy has been responsible for many progressions in seafaring throughout its 1,100 years.
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Early History
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No navy or organized seafaring force for the country of England existed before King Alfred, who is considered the founder of the Royal Navy. Alfred's fledgling fleet first saw battle in 882, when they fought against four Danish ships in the Stour estuary. In 895, the fleet fought off the Danish again near Essex with longships built to specifications.
Edward the Confessor, who reigned from 1004 to 1066, established the maritime institution, Cinque Ports, whose purpose it was to mobilize merchant vessels against attacks by pirates and foreign enemies. These coordinated ports included Dover, Hastings, Romney, Hythe and Sandwich. Rye and Winchelsea were added later.
1100 to 1400
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In 1190, Richard I established the Laws of Oleron, which was a code of maritime law that established the rights and responsibilities of ship captains, including discipline, pay, mutiny, sickness on board and cargoes. This was originally enacted by Richard I's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, though it was never truly enforced.
In 1340, the Royal Navy saw its first naval battle fought entirely from ships, the Battle of Sluys, commanded by "King of the Seas" Edward III. In 1391, the Earl of Rutland was appointed the first Lord High Admiral.
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The Henrys (1400 and 1500s)
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In 1415, Henry V oversaw an English invasion across the channel in Agincourt, which included a staggering force for its day at 1500 ships and boats. The first ship of 1,000 tons was also built during this period, named "Jesus." "Grace Dieu," at 1,400 tons, soon followed.
Henry VII was part of the Tudor Period, an era of discovery and the beginning of world expansion for England. He was known as the "Father of the English Navy" for his many contributions. In 1495, the first dry dock at Portsmouth was built, and in 1514, the largest warship in the world at that time was constructed, the "Henry Grace a Dieu." The first ship to have heavy guns, it led to the end of archers and hand-to-hand combat at sea. Also in that year, the Trinity House was established, an organization dedicated to developing technologies to aid the navy, like lighthouses, buoys, beacons, etc.
In 1540, the same Henry built the first naval dock at Portsmouth, and in 1546, he established the Naval Board, which created the office of Admirality, which controlled the administrative aspects of the navy.
1600 and 1700s
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Sir William Penn and Samuel Pepys established the Naval Discipline Act in 1661, which included Articles of War. In 1664, the Royal Marines were inaugurated.
The 1700s saw several important maritime advancements, including how to calculate longitude at sea, the rating of warships by the number of guns and the semaphore coded communication system. With this system, and with several stations built across the country, those at sea and those on land could relay messages to one another.
The British Admirality Charts began to appear in the 1800s, charts developed by the Royal Navy that still form the basis of global navigation at sea today. Navy careers and pension plans started to develop in the 19th century, a revolutionary workers' rights approach to recruiting navy members. The Navy Board also merged into the Admirality at this time, making the Admirality entirely responsible for every aspect of the navy.
1900s and 2000s
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In 1906, the "HMS Dreadnought" was built, the first big gun battleship and the most powerful ship in the world at that time. In 1912, the Royal Navy Air Service was formed, and in 1918, the first ship to allow aircraft to take off and land at sea via an unobstructed deck was built, the "HMS Argus." The Royal Navy also participated in World War I and World War II on the side of the Allies, participating in the advent of nuclear submarines and missiles.
From 2000 to 2010, no major world wars have taken place, but the Royal Navy is visible in various parts of the world as a diplomatic force and as part of various foreign missions. Research in new weapons technologies continues to take place at the Royal Navy.
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References
- Photo Credit royal navy support ship image by green308 from Fotolia.com
