Home > Eilmer of Malmesbury

Eilmer was a monk of Malmesbury Abbey who studied mathematics and astrology. All that we know of him is told by a fellow-monk William of Malmesbury, writing around 1125 in his De Gestis Regum Anglorum (Deeds of the English Kings). There is little reason to doubt the accuracy of Williams story as it was probably derived directly from Eilmer himself when an old man. When Halley's comet re-appeared in 1066 (having first seen it as a young boy in 989) Eilmer declared:

"You've come, have you? … You've come, you source of tears to many mothers. It is long since I saw you; but as I see you now you are much more terrible, for I see you brandishing the downfall of my country" (Malmesbury, Ch. 225).

The prophecy was fulfilled later that year when William the Conqueror invaded England, the main point of the story in William's account.

Malmesbury says that in his youth Eilmer had believed the fable of Daedalus and, seeking to imitate him, fixed wings to his hands and feet.

"He was a man learned for those times, of ripe old age, and in his early youth had hazarded a deed of remarkable boldness. He had by some means, I scarcely know what, fastened wings to his hands and feet so that, mistaking fable for truth, he might fly like Daedalus, and, collecting the breeze upon the summit of a tower, flew for more than a furlong. But agitated by the violence of the wind and the swirling of air, as well as by the awareness of his rash attempt, he fell, broke both his legs and was lame ever after." (Malmesbury, Ch. 225).

Crippled for life but undaunted, he believed that he could make a more controllable landing if his glider were equipped with a tail, and he was preparing for a second flight when the abbot of Malmesbury Abbey forbade him from risking his life in any further experiments.

Why did Eilmer's flight fail? To perform the manoeuvre of gliding downward against the breeze, utilizing both gravity and the wind, he employed an apparatus somewhat resembling a gliding bird. However being unable to balance himself forward and backwards, as does a bird by slight movements of his wings, head and legs, he would have needed a large tail to maintain equilibrium. Eilmer would have failed of true soaring flight in any event, but he might have glided down in safety if he had a tail. Ovid was a good poet, but knew nothing of flight aerodynamics.

What motivated Eilmer to make the flight? William of Malmesbury speculates that Eilmer's flight was inspired by the Greek legend of Daedalus and IcarusIn Greek mythology, Icarus was the son of Daedalus 1566 Icarus, one of the Apollo asteroids Icarus is a scientific journal focusing on studies of the Solar System See also alternative spelling Ikarus''. when he says "..he might fly like Daedalus". Williams source for this speculation, direct from Eilmer himself or just colorful prose, is unknown.

Another source of Eilmers inspiration is discussed by American historian Lynn White who speculates that "a successful glider flight was made in the year 875Events 29 December: Charles the Bald, king of west Francia, crowned emperor. The Danes capture Lindisfarne and arrive in Cambridge. Harald Fairhair subdues the rovers on the Orkneys and Shetland Islands and adds them to his kingdom. Births Deaths 12 Augus by a MoorA high altitude form of heathland habitat widespread in northern Britain; see heath. A type of wetland; see bog. Person of Moorish (North African) ethnicity; see Moors. Mooring, attaching a boat to a riverbank or towpath.ish inventor named Ibn Firnas living in Cordoba, SpainThe Kingdom of Spain is a country located in the southwest of Europe. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. It inc. It's entirely possible that word of Ibn Firnas's flight was brought to Eilmer of Malmesbury .. by returning Crusaders." (Lynn White, Medieval religion and technology (1978)).