Essential Information

Type
Location
Online
Date and Times 22 February 2022 | 5.15pm - 6.30pm
Prices Free

The 1500s and 1600s were turbulent times for England and France, with both nations engaging in dynastic struggle, religious conflict and overseas colonisation. Facing each other across the Channel, the naval expansion of the two countries was also closely intertwined. Each influenced the naval programmes of the other, both directly and indirectly. Join us for a free online talk demonstrating the close relationship between naval power and state strength in early-modern Europe.

Were the English and French sea forces ‘royal’ navies? How did national cooperation and rivalry influence the development of European sea power? What do the interconnected reigns of Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles I and Louis XIII have in common? How did monarchs and statesmen fund the expansion of early modern navies? How did the politics of England and France influence the way each kingdom viewed the sea?

Dr Benjamin Redding (University of East Anglia) will present new findings using letters, memoirs, official reports, account books and other sources from the archives of both countries. He will address administrative, fiscal and technological aspects of naval development, and challenge the received wisdom about the weakness of French naval power compared to that England. 

This event is free and open to everyone and will take place via Zoom. There is no need to book; please click on the button below at 5:15pm on the day.

Join this event

What’s On

A member of the conservation team shows a tour group a globe
Talks and tours

Behind the scenes tours at The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre

Explore the inner workings of Royal Museums Greenwich and see conservation in action on one of our guided tours
Second and fourth Thursday of every month (see page for details) | 1.30pm
Adults: £16 | Members: £12
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Old photograph of youngish woman in Victorian times
Talks and tours | Museum Lates

Annie Maunder: life, work, legacy

A panel discussion led by curator of the Royal Observatory Dr. Louise Devoy celebrating pioneering solar astronomer and astrophotographer Annie Maunder
Monday 14 April 2025 | 6-7pm (doors open from 5.30pm)
Adults: £10 | Students: £9
Royal Observatory
Historic black and white photograph of men  on board ship wearing head coverings and bowing their heads in prayer
Talks and tours | Maritime History and Culture Seminars
Tuesday 22 April 2025 | 5.15-6.30pm
Free
Online
Photo of the Andromeda Galaxy - a dark black sky sprinkled with stars
Talks and tours | Observatory lectures

Think Space Lectures

Listen to astrophysicists from across the UK talk about cutting-edge research in space science with our free online lectures.
Monthly, next lecture 24 April 2025
Free
Online
A member of the RMG team informing a tour group about painting conservation.
Talks and tours | Museum Lates

Delve Deeper: Specialist tours

Delve deeper into Royal Museums Greenwich's collection on our specialist tours of the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre for over 18s.
Thursday 15 May 2025 | 7-8.30pm
£20 Adults
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
Robert Fletcher MHCS talk image
Talks and tours | Maritime History and Culture Seminars

The Captain’s Tale: Mori Katsue, Osaka Shosen Kaisha, and the Japanese Gaze on Interwar Africa

Join us for a free online talk by Caird Fellow Professor Robert Fletcher
Tuesday 27 May 2025 | 5.15-6.30pm
Free
Online