Historical person
William Adelin
1103–1120
William Adelin was the legitimate son of Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland and was groomed to inherit the Anglo-Norman realm. Born in 1103, he was recognised as his father’s heir and was invested with authority in Normandy. His marriage to Matilda of Anjou was intended to reinforce Henry I’s continental alliances.
On 25 November 1120 William drowned when the White Ship struck rocks after leaving Barfleur. The loss of the king’s only legitimate son transformed the succession problem of Henry I’s reign. Henry later required leading magnates to recognise his daughter Empress Matilda as heir, but after his death Stephen seized the throne, helping to trigger the civil war known as the Anarchy. William is therefore the central historical figure in Charles Spencer’s The White Ship.
Non Fiction
Non Fiction featuring William Adelin (1 book)
Biographies, histories and other non-fiction are listed separately from the historical novels above.