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Sybarite

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Would anybody know a web-site where I could find illustrations of 12th century sailing craft. I am interested to learn about the transition from the long ship or knarr type (cargo) Norse boats to the centre rudder (which occurred in the 12th century) carack style boat. There always seems to be a gap in illustrations from the end of the Viking era to about the 14th century style boat with its high fore and rear castles. (typical terms apparently were cog, hulk, buss, galea etc)

Many thanks

John

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This might help.. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sint-lodewijkscollege.be/hanza/ship/shipcont.htm>A Belgian College Site</A>

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I hardly dare mention this but

you may find Twister Ken will be able to give you the Bodlian reference which will lead you back to the original Latin text, drawn up by St Cedd (a follower of Colomba) in which he observes from the tumbled ruins of the forma porta praetoria of Ithancaster the very first anglo saxon attempts to build forecastles on the full keeled, clinker built but fast and sea kindly ships of the time. Apparently they turned turtle on the Dengie Flats and are marked by east cardinals to this day. Contortus et pudicus est pro patria avexi. Or some such. Latin isn't my strong point.

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Re: I hardly dare mention this but

Thanks John. No need for TwisterKen to give any further clarification; this is perfect.

In fact I was wondering why Henry II sailed mainly from Barfleur rather than from Calais which is much closer. I think it was because Barfleur is on the East of the Cotentin peninsula and therefore would be a weather shore to the prevailing winds. Calais and Le Havre on the other hand are west facing and with the sand bars in front (before the present channels were dredged) it would have required pretty perfect weather conditions to get clear especially as the boats of the time were not very weatherly.

As the percentage probablity of getting holed up in Calais especially in Winter would have been greater he would have preferred to go to Barfleur which was farther from his Normandy base in Rouen.

Does this sound logical?

John



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Re: I hardly dare mention this but

It sounds logical but I'm sure there are lots of reasons behind it, not just sailing reasons. Not least that I think Henry was a Norman King, pure and simple (the son of la reine Mathilde and mostly resident in Normandy?). Of course Calais isn't in Normandy and I'm not sure he had control over it, any more than the kings of France (I think Henry's equivalent was one of the Capetians - google will tell us) controlled the Dukes of Toulouse or Boulogne. The political system wasn't like ours and definitely wasn't the way we were taught it at school. This is a bit of a serious reply, given the hour!

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Re: Barfleur

In fact Henry II only became King because the boat carrying two of his uncles decided to take a short cut across the rocks at Barfleur - they had been drinking...

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Not sure if it helps, at all, but I believe that the earliest known portrayal of a ship with a rudder (rather than a steering oar) is in the coat of arms of Ipswich.

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The Hebridean birlinn had a stern hung rudder, or so we are led to believe by grave markings. There is a interesting book on them by a man called Denis Rixson. I can't remember the exact title but it is something like "West Highland Galleys" (I've lent my copy to someone so can't check).

You can probably find examples of the grave markings on the internet. Try a google for "Rodel, Harris" where one of the best ones can be seen.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.qei.co.uk/spark>http://www.qei.co.uk/spark</A>
 
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