# The White Ship sinks (1120)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1120-the-white-ship-sinks
Categories: main-event

The vessel carrying Henry I's only legitimate son William Adelin sank in the Channel. Within the broader Norman & Angevin Britain period, Norman conquest, cross-Channel lordship and royal reform created a new aristocracy and a more centralized monarchy. This event is placed at 25 November 1120 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The disaster created a succession crisis that eventually led to civil war.

## Why it matters
The disaster created a succession crisis that eventually led to civil war.

Ruler at the time: [Henry I](https://english-history.com/rulers/henry-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — The White Ship sinks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=The+White+Ship+sinks&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — The White Ship sinks](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=The+White+Ship+sinks)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281000%E2%80%931499%29)
- [The National Archives — medieval education resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)