

Introduction:

This is a work in progress of an idea I had. A companion guide to explain historical aspects of the Temeraire Novels by Naomi Novik for those who are not familiar with the Napoleonic Wars or the general time period, including myself.



Bold is my personal thoughts.



Everything else is from other resources. Links at bottom.







Book One: His Majesty's Dragon / Temeraire





Chapter One:

--------------------- The Reliant and the Amitié

While there was an Amitié in the 18th Century, its fate was not the same.





“ The Amitié (aka: Friendship)was a three-masted frigate of approximately 400 tons displacement in the late 18th century. The majority of records regarding the ship come from its transportation of the people who were to become known as Cajuns. Amitié was the fifth of seven ships that took part in the exodus of Acadians from France to Louisiana in 1785. On August 20 of that year, under the command of Captain Joseph Beltrémieux, it departed from the French port of Nantes carrying 68 families, a total of 270 Acadians, to Louisiana. They arrived at Lafourche on November 8, 1785. Six passengers died during the 80-day voyage after sickness spread through the ship.

The ship was called Amitié when it departed from France, but was referred to as Amistad when it arrived in Louisiana, which was then a Spanish colony.” -Wikipedia

I can not take the name of the ship as random chance considering Novik could have chosen a ship with a history far closer to her fictional one. And so I must assume that she chose the ship instead because of its name. Though corny as it is to say, Laurence has gained his greatest friend in acquiring the Amitié. He has literally captured friendship or the ship bearing his life long friend.

The Didon is the closest match I could find in my brief search to the fictional Amitié, though having a few more guns, which makes it a good reference for the Reliant as well, which is said to “slightly” outgun the Amitié. According to Ave-puella's Temeraire Timeline (see link at bottom) it was captured by the British in the same year as Novik's ship, 1805.





“ The Didon was a Virginie class 40-gun frigate of the French Navy. Captured by the British in 1805, she went on to serve briefly in the Royal Navy as the 38-gun fifth-rate HMS Didon until she was sold in 1810.” - Wikipedia





The Didon was about 150 feet (46 meters), was crewed by 340 to 260 men, and armed with 18 pound guns





Note: There were two cannon sizes for naval vessels. The 18-pounder and 32-pounder. These guns were named for the weight of the cannonball they fired, 18 and 32 pounds.

“ An 18-pounder gun was capable of firing a shot that could penetrate nearly 2 feet six inches (75 centimetres) of oak at 400 yards and over 1 foot (30.5 centimetres) at 1000 yards.” - www.napoleonguide.com





The Reliant appears to be an entirely fictional ship according to what I could find. So I have the same belief that this name choice was entirely intentional as well. Though who or what is reliant, I will leave to you. Is this also referring to Laurence and Temeraire's future relationship? Or when Laurence gives up his naval career, is he giving up his reliance on duty in favor of friendship? Or is it England who would become reliant? Could probably write a paper on this alone.











– -------------------- What is a Frigate?:





“ In the 18th century, the term Frigate, referred to ships that were usually as long as a ship of the line and were square-rigged on all three masts (full rigged), but were faster and with lighter armament, used for patrolling and escort. In the definition adopted by the British Admiralty, they were rated ships of at least 28 guns, carrying their principal armaments upon a single continuous deck — the upper deck — while ships of the line possessed two or more continuous decks bearing batteries of guns....

Frigates were perhaps the hardest-worked of warship types during the Age of Sail. While smaller than a ship-of-the-line, they were formidable opponents for the large numbers of sloops and gunboats, not to mention privateers or merchantmen. Able to carry six months' stores, they had very long range; and vessels larger than frigates were considered too valuable to operate independently.



Frigates scouted for the fleet, went on commerce-raiding missions and patrols, and conveyed messages and dignitaries. Usually, frigates would fight in small numbers or singly against other frigates. They would avoid contact with ships-of-the-line; even in the midst of a fleet engagement it was bad etiquette for a ship of the line to fire on an enemy frigate which had not fired first.” -Wikipedia

------------------------- Royal Navy Pay Chart





– ------------- Royal Navy Ranks and their Duties:





Admirals





Unemployment on half-pay was often the lot of a British admiral. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars fewer than a quarter of those available were on duty. If an admiral went to sea, his flagship was usually that of the fleet's junior captain.





Commodore





A commodore was a captain promoted temporarily to take charge of a detached naval squadron. Commodores on active service were usually the ones the Admiralty had earmarked for the most senior ranks.





Captain





The absolute ruler on his ship, a captain had the power of life or death over the crew. Some made ship-board life hell for all, while others inspired a love from those they commanded. The captain was responsible for the well-being of the crew, ensuring there were enough of them to have the ship ready for service, and even paying for extras to keep them happy. Elevation to admiral was pretty automatic for captains and depended only upon seniority based upon their date of commission.





Commander





The next step up from lieutenant was the rank of commander. Usually on remote duty, a commander was effectively a captain in all but official title.





Lieutenants





Lieutenants were the backbone of a ship's command structure, despite only being on the first rung of the commissioned officer classification. As a lieutenant, officers could expect a regular half-pay income, if put in reserve by the Admiralty, but had numerous tasks to fulfill for the security. They would command small boats, gun divisions in battle, oversee a watch, and were most likely to lead dangerous boarding or cutting-out parties. Depending upon the rating of a Royal Navy vessel, there could be up to six lieutenants on board.





Midshipmen





Midshipmen were effectively on board a ship to help lieutenants control the crew. If good enough, they could take command of small boats or prizes. Winning promotion to lieutenant was the aim of most young midshipmen who entered service in their early teens. Some, however, were still in their lowly rank in their 30s, 40s and even older.





Petty or Warrant Officers





From the pool of able seamen came the candidates for promotion to higher duties.

Petty Officers and Warrant Officers included mast captains, gunner's mates, quartermasters, master-at-arms, carpenter, bosun and cooper, the ship's master, chaplain and surgeon.





Ratings





When signed on to a ship's books, a man was given a rating according to his experience.

Freshmen to the sea were known as landsmen, those with limited experience were ordinary seamen, while knowledgeable sailors were rated able seamen.



-------------- Ship Rating Comparison Chart















----------------------- Resources:







Temeraire Timeline:





docs.google.com/document/d/1aq…





The Didon:





en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dido…)





The 18 Pounder Long Gun:





en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18-pound…





Royal Navy Gun Ranges:





www.napoleonguide.com/navy_gun…





British Navy Ranks and Uniforms:





en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Na…





Navy Ranks and their Duties:



