Mora (ship) facts for kids
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The Mora was a very important ship for William the Conqueror. It was his main ship, called a flagship, when he invaded England in 1066. This event is known as the Norman conquest of England. After the invasion, the Mora became William's personal ship, carrying him between England and Normandy (a region in France). It was the biggest and fastest ship in his entire invasion fleet. William's wife, Matilda of Flanders, gave him the Mora as a gift.
What Was the Mora Like?
The Mora was built in a place called Barfleur in Normandy. It was a special gift from Matilda of Flanders to her husband, Duke William. The ship was finished in the summer of 1066, just in time for the invasion.
The Mora was a large ship. It could carry ten to twelve knights, along with their horses and weapons. It also needed a crew to sail it. The ship's captain was a man named Stephen, who was the son of Airard. Stephen was the captain of the Mora for more than twenty years!
A writer named Orderic Vitalis described the ship. He said it had a special figure on its front, like a statue. This figure was a golden child pointing its right hand towards England. It also had an ivory trumpet in its mouth. The Mora had bright sails. At the very top of its mast, it flew the Pope's flag, also known as the papal banner. This banner was blessed and sent to William from Rome. It was described as "a square white banner charged with a gold cross within a blue border."
The Mora's First Big Trip
On September 27th, just before sunset, Duke William's invasion fleet set off for England. This was told by a writer named William of Poitiers. The Mora led the way for all the other ships.
To help the other ships follow in the dark, the Mora had a lantern on its mast. It also used a horn to let the other ships know where it was. The Mora was much faster than the rest of the fleet. By dawn, William found himself alone in the middle of the English Channel, with no other ships in sight! While he waited for the others to catch up, his servants brought him breakfast with wine. Once the rest of the fleet appeared, they all continued to Pevensey in Sussex, England.
The exact meaning of the name Mora is not fully known, though people have suggested different ideas. One idea is that it might be named after the Morini, who were ancient people from Flanders. This is where William's wife, Matilda, came from. The Latin word mora has several meanings, but none of them seem to fit the ship very well. These meanings include 'delay' or 'pause', and even 'foolish' or 'foolish woman'. Another idea is that Mora could be an anagram of Amor, which means love.
Images for kids
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Plaque in Barfleur harbour remembering when William's ship the Mora left in 1066.
