The combination of many factors led to the sinking of the Mary Rose in 1545. Theories include a French cannon, a structural change in the ship, inexperienced or unruly crew and an unexpected gust of wind. However it was a combination of these factors that caused the Mary Rose to sink.
Firstly, a French cannon firing into the ship was a possible factor in the sinking of the Mary Rose due to the ship going off to fight the French. However, there have been no discovered holes in the ship to support this theory.
Secondly, there was a structural change of the ship after it had been completed. King Henry VIII ordered the ship to be constructed in 1509 but in 1536 the Mary Rose was upgraded to 700 tons and fitted with more efficient