La Dauphine
Encyclopedia
La Dauphine (Fr. "The Dauphin") was a three-masted sailing vessel
that served as the flagship
of the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano on his first voyage to the New World
while seeking a shipping passage to China from Europe.
, Normandy
and displayed the typical shape of a Norman nef (carrack
). She had a tonnage of about 100. The vessel could hold approximately fifty people. It was named for the Dauphin of France, Francis III, Duke of Brittany, the heir to the French throne who was born in 1518 to Claude of France
, daughter of Louis XII of France
, and King Francis I of France.
". The expedition started with four ships in 1523 from Normandy, La Dauphine being the flagship. Soon after departure the convoy encountered a storm and sought refuge in Brittany. With two ships damaged, only two ships continued; however, La Normande soon returned also, after some privateering, and La Dauphine continued alone to Madeira
for the winter.
With supplies for an eight-month voyage, Verrazzano left Madeira on January 24, 1524. La Dauphine was piloted by Antoine de Conflans and Verrazzano's brother, Girolamo, the only other person aboard whose name is known, served as navigator and cartographer.
Verrazzano arrived at the American continent off Cape Fear in early March, briefly sailed south, and then turned north sailing along the Atlantic shore. Pamlico Sound
was entered and Verrazzano's exaggerated description of it gave birth to the concept of Verrazzano's Sea as a cartographic error for the next century. Verrazano's Sea was declared as a sea connection to the west across the continent.
Going farther north La Dauphine sailed too far offshore to encounter Chesapeake Bay
and Delaware Bay
, but then entered and anchored in New York Bay
on April 17, 1524. Verrazzano named the harbor Angoulême
after a dukedom that belonged to the king. Thereafter La Dauphine sailed farther north, passed Long Island
and Block Island
, and anchored in Narragansett Bay
for two weeks. The vessel then continued and reached the Penobscot River
in Maine
, apparently missed entering the Bay of Fundy
, passed Nova Scotia
, and arrived at the already known Newfoundland.
La Dauphine returned to Dieppe, France, arriving on July 8, 1524.
, is considered imperfect. The Maritime Museum of Rouen
has been working on a project to create a full-size replica
of her. Currently a 1/50 model of La Dauphine has been created, and building plans are being developed, based on best evidence of contemporary documents and similar types of ships of the period.
It is intended that a reconstructed La Dauphine will cross the Atlantic to arrive at New York Harbor
, possibly in time for the five hundredth anniversary of the European discovery of the harbor by Verrazzano on April 17, 2024. During the reconstruction the building site at the museum will be accessible to tourists.
.
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
that served as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano on his first voyage to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
while seeking a shipping passage to China from Europe.
Construction
The ship was built in 1518 at the Royal Dockyard of Le HavreLe Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and displayed the typical shape of a Norman nef (carrack
Carrack
A carrack or nau was a three- or four-masted sailing ship developed in 15th century Western Europe for use in the Atlantic Ocean. It had a high rounded stern with large aftcastle, forecastle and bowsprit at the stem. It was first used by the Portuguese , and later by the Spanish, to explore and...
). She had a tonnage of about 100. The vessel could hold approximately fifty people. It was named for the Dauphin of France, Francis III, Duke of Brittany, the heir to the French throne who was born in 1518 to Claude of France
Claude of France
Claude of France was a princess and queen consort of France and ruling Duchess of Brittany. She was the eldest daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne, Duchess of Brittany....
, daughter of Louis XII of France
Louis XII of France
Louis proved to be a popular king. At the end of his reign the crown deficit was no greater than it had been when he succeeded Charles VIII in 1498, despite several expensive military campaigns in Italy. His fiscal reforms of 1504 and 1508 tightened and improved procedures for the collection of taxes...
, and King Francis I of France.
Operational history
The French king, Frances I, placed Verrazzano in charge of an expedition to find a new shipping passage westward to China, the elusive "Northwest PassageNorthwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
". The expedition started with four ships in 1523 from Normandy, La Dauphine being the flagship. Soon after departure the convoy encountered a storm and sought refuge in Brittany. With two ships damaged, only two ships continued; however, La Normande soon returned also, after some privateering, and La Dauphine continued alone to Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
for the winter.
With supplies for an eight-month voyage, Verrazzano left Madeira on January 24, 1524. La Dauphine was piloted by Antoine de Conflans and Verrazzano's brother, Girolamo, the only other person aboard whose name is known, served as navigator and cartographer.
Verrazzano arrived at the American continent off Cape Fear in early March, briefly sailed south, and then turned north sailing along the Atlantic shore. Pamlico Sound
Pamlico Sound
Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, is the largest lagoon along the U.S. East Coast, being long and 24 to 48 km wide. It is a body of water separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks, a row of low, sandy barrier islands, including Cape Hatteras. The Neuse and Pamlico rivers flow in...
was entered and Verrazzano's exaggerated description of it gave birth to the concept of Verrazzano's Sea as a cartographic error for the next century. Verrazano's Sea was declared as a sea connection to the west across the continent.
Going farther north La Dauphine sailed too far offshore to encounter Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
, but then entered and anchored in New York Bay
New York Bay
New York Bay is the collective term for the marine areas surrounding the entrance of the Hudson River into the Atlantic Ocean. Its two largest components are Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay, which are connected by The Narrows...
on April 17, 1524. Verrazzano named the harbor Angoulême
New Angoulême
New Angoulême was the name given in 1524 by the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano to the site of what would become New York City. The name commemorated not only the town of Angoulême, in the Charente region in France, but also Verrazzano's patron King Francis I of France, who had been Count...
after a dukedom that belonged to the king. Thereafter La Dauphine sailed farther north, passed Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
and Block Island
Block Island
Block Island is part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately south of the coast of Rhode Island, east of Montauk Point on Long Island, and is separated from the Rhode Island mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block...
, and anchored in Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
for two weeks. The vessel then continued and reached the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, apparently missed entering the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
, passed Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, and arrived at the already known Newfoundland.
La Dauphine returned to Dieppe, France, arriving on July 8, 1524.
Reconstruction
A specific plan of the original La Dauphine does not exist. A reconstruction model that has been on display at DieppeDieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
, is considered imperfect. The Maritime Museum of Rouen
Maritime, Fluvial and Harbour Museum of Rouen
The musée maritime fluvial et portuaire de Rouen is a museum dedicated to the history of the port of Rouen, which is one the greatest port of France...
has been working on a project to create a full-size replica
Ship replica
A ship replica is a reconstruction of a no longer existing ship. Replicas can range from authentically reconstructed, fully seaworthy ships, to ships of modern construction that give an impression of an historic vessel...
of her. Currently a 1/50 model of La Dauphine has been created, and building plans are being developed, based on best evidence of contemporary documents and similar types of ships of the period.
It is intended that a reconstructed La Dauphine will cross the Atlantic to arrive at New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
, possibly in time for the five hundredth anniversary of the European discovery of the harbor by Verrazzano on April 17, 2024. During the reconstruction the building site at the museum will be accessible to tourists.
Note
La Dauphine has a later namesake in an eighteenth century warship of the French NavyFrench Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
.