Properly speaking, the history of the Royal Navy began in 1546 with the establishment of the "Navy Royal" by Henry VIII. This became the Parliamentary Navy during the period of the Commonwealth with the modern incarnation of Royal Navy established in 1660 following the Restoration of King Charles II to the throne. The English navy began operating together with the much smaller Royal Scots Navy at the time of the Union of the Crowns under James I in 1603 but only formally merged in 1707 at the establishment of the united Kingdom of Great Britain.
The history of the English navy can be traced back much further, however. Ad hoc levies of ships allowed seaborne invasions by at least the 7th century and naval battles occurred against invading Vikings in the 9th. Following the 11th-century Norman Conquest, naval expenses were initially avoided but the 1204 loss of Normandy made control of the Channel much more essential. Early fleets were borrowed from the kingdom's merchants and fishers, particularly at the Cinque Ports, assembled as needed and then dispersed. King John began maintaining a number of large ships in the king's own name and the Cinque Port wardens developed into admirals, permanent officers ready to levy and command fleets and provided legal jurisdiction over England's seas and coasts. A full standing navy took shape during the 16th century and finally became a regular establishment during the tumults of the 17th.
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