'', by
Jean Bérain the Elder The first eight years of this reign were under the Regency of
Anne of Austria, the consort of Louis XIII, while French politics were dominated by Cardinal Jules Mazarin, who served as Chief Minister from 1642, and
Louis XIV did not achieve personal rule until the death of
Cardinal Mazarin in March 1661. The French rating system was historically a division into three Ranks, but a new system of four Ranks was provisionally created in 1669; however a new system quickly replaced this in 1671. Earlier vessels are shown under the rating they were given in 1671 – in the case of vessels deleted prior to 1671, these are included according to the rate they
would have been given in 1671 had they not been deleted. Under this new system, French major warships were from 1671 divided into five ranks or "Rangs"; ships of the line (
vaisseaux) were divided into the highest three ranks. The original rating system was thoroughly reformed under
Jean-Baptiste Colbert's administration two years later, on 24 June 1671, and the overwhelming majority of French warships underwent name changes at that date; vessels are listed below under their
original name at time of launching or acquisition, even if they subsequently were better known by the name they were given later. Vessels of the Fourth and Fifth Ranks were categorised as frigates (
frégates or
frégates-vaisseaux) of the 1st Order and 2nd Order respectively; light frigates (
frégates légères) and even smaller vessels were excluded from the rating system.
First Rank Ships ("vaisseaux de Premier Rang") From 1670, the First Rank could be categorised as ships of the line carrying
more than 70 carriage guns (although other factors also played a part in determining what Rank a ship was given); in 1690 this was limit was effectively risen to ships carrying
80 or more guns.
Vaisseaux de Premier Rang Extraordinaire The largest and most heavily armed First Rank ships, effectively those carrying 100 carriage guns or more, were placed in a sub-category of
Vaisseaux de Premier Rang Extraordinaire. Only a few of these were built, but they always provided the flagships of the two Fleets – the
Flotte du Levant (on the Mediterranean coast of France) and the
Flotte du Ponant (on the Atlantic and Channel coasts). They were all full
three-deckers, i.e. with three full-length gun decks, with the uppermost of these surmounted by an armed forecastle, quarterdeck and poop. •
Royal Louis 104 guns (designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon, launched 1 February 1668 at Toulon) – renamed
Royal Louis Vieux 1692 and broken up 1697. Nominally assigned 120 guns, but never carried more than 104. •
Dauphin Royal 100, later 104 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, launched 29 March 1668 at Toulon) – broken up 1700 •
Royal Duc 104 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched December 1668 at Brest) – renamed
Reine in June 1671 and broken up 1688 •
Soleil Royal 106, later 110 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 13 December 1669 at Brest) – burnt by the English in
an action at Cherbourg in June 1692 •
Victorieux 108 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, probably launched in 1679 at Rochefort) – broken up 1685 (badly built and never brought into service) •
Royal Louis 110 guns (designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched 22 September 1692 at Toulon) – broken up 1727 •
Foudroyant 104 guns (designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched 24 December 1692 at Brest) – exchanged names with
Soleil Royal in March 1693 (see below), broken up 1714 •
Terrible 100/104 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 21 February 1693 at Brest) – broken up 1714 •
Foudroyant 104 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 14 November 1693 at Brest) – originally to have been named
Soleil Royal, but exchanged names with
Foudroyant in March 1693 (before work on her began), and broken up 1714
Vaisseaux de Premier Rang Ordinaire While the smaller First Rank ships also had three full-length gun decks, the uppermost of these before 1690 generally carried carriage guns only on the forward section and on the after section of that deck, with a section between them in the waist of the ship where no guns were mounted (and no gunports fitted). These ships had no forecastle or poop, so that the two sections of the upper gun deck served the function of forecastle and quarterdeck, while the nominal quarterdeck was short and served in effect the function of a poop. All First Rank ships built from 1689 (until 1740) had three full-length gun decks, usually plus a number of smaller carriage guns mounted on the
gaillards (i.e. the quarterdeck, forecastle and possibly a poop deck). Some of the earlier ships built before 1689 received extra guns and gunports fitted in the waist section of their upper deck around 1689, to bring them up to 80 guns or more. •
Vendôme 72, later 66 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched Spring 1651 at Brest) – classed as
First Rank in 1669; renamed
Victorieux in June 1671 but hulked in the following month and taken to pieces in 1679. In 1660 the 72-gun
Vendôme was the sole ship which met the criteria of carrying more than 70 guns, and she retained this First Rank status in spite of being later reduced to fewer than 70 guns. •
Saint Philippe 78, later 84 guns (designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon, launched 3 February 1663 at Toulon) – classed as
1st Rank in 1669; burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 •
Monarque 84 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 28 April 1668 at Toulon) – broken up 1700 •
Île de France 74/80 guns (designed and built by Louis Audibert, launched 16 February 1669 at Toulon) – renamed
Lys in June 1671 and broken up 1691 •
Couronne 80/82 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 18 February 1669 at Brest) – broken up in 1712 •
Paris 72/80 guns (designed and built by Jean Serrin, launched 13 March 1669 at Toulon) – renamed
Royale Thérèse in June 1671 and broken up in 1692 •
Henri 80 guns (designed and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched April 1669 at Tonnay-Charente) – renamed
Souverain in June 1671, then renamed
Admirable in June 1678 •
Sceptre 80, later 84 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 11 February 1670 at Toulon) – broken up 1692 •
Magnanime 70, later 76/80 guns (designed by Rodolphe Gédéon and built by Charles Audibert, launched 30 August 1673 at Marseille) – driven ashore and burnt in the
Battle of Marbella in March 1705 •
Admirable 80/84 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 1678 at Brest) – renamed
Souverain in June 1678 and broken up 1706 •
Grand 84/88 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched October 1680 at Rochefort) – broken up 1716 or 1717. This vessel was originally classed as a Second Rank ship of 80 guns, but was raised to the First Rank in 1690. •
Magnifique 84 guns (designed and built by François Chapelle, launched 12 April 1685 at Toulon) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692. This vessel was originally classed as a Second Rank ship of 72 guns, but was raised to the First Rank in 1690. •
Conquérant 84 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 10 August 1688 at Toulon) – rebuilt 1707. This vessel was originally classed as a Second Rank ship of 74 guns, but was raised to the First Rank in 1687. •
Intrépide 84 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched March 1690 at Rochefort) – broken up 1724. •
Saint Esprit 90 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 24 May 1690 at Brest) – renamed
Monarque in June 1690, and broken up 1717 •
Victorieux 94, later 88 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched January 1691 at Rochefort) – broken up 1719 • '''
Foudroyant class''', designed and built by Blaise Pangalo. •
Foudroyant 84/90 (launched 5 March 1691 at Brest) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of la Hogue in June 1692 •
Merveilleux 80/90 (launched 19 November 1691 at Brest) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 •
Orgueilleux 88, later 90 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 29 March 1691 at Lorient) – broken up 1716–17 •
Admirable 84 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 10 September 1691 at Lorient) – burnt by the English in
an action at Cherbourg in June 1692 • '''
Sceptre class''', designed and built by
François Coulomb snr. •
Sceptre 84/88 guns (launched 10 November 1691 at Toulon) – broken up 1718 •
Lis or Lys 84/88 guns (launched 17 December 1691 at Toulon) – driven ashore and burnt in the
Battle of Marbella in March 1705 •
Formidable 90 guns (designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched 4 December 1691 at Brest) – broken up 1714 •
Fulminant 98 guns (designed and built by Pierre Masson, launched December 1691 at Rochefort) – broken up 1719 •
Ambitieux 92 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched December 1691 at Rochefort) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 •
Vainqueur 84 guns (designed and built by Laurent and Pierre Coulomb, launched 24 February 1692 at Lorient) – broken up 1722 •
Merveilleux 100, later 98 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 22 November 1692 at Brest) – broken up 1712 •
Magnifique 86 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched 23 November 1692 at Rochefort) – broken up 1716 or 1717 •
Ambitieux 92 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet and Jean Guichard, launched 5 December 1692 at Rochefort) – broken up 1713 •
Admirable 96/90 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 23 December 1692 at Lorient) – broken up 1716 or 1717 • '''
Tonnant class''', designed and built by
François Coulomb snr. •
Tonnant 90 guns (launched September 1693 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, sold to be broken up 1710 •
Saint Philippe 90/92 guns (launched October 1693 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, broken up 1714 •
Triomphant 94/98 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 1 October 1693 at Lorient) – broken up 1725 or 1726 •
Fier 90/94 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet and Pierre Masson, launched 1694 at Rochefort) – broken up 1713
Second Rank Ships ("vaisseaux de Deuxième Rang") Before 1670, the Second Rank consisted of ships of the line carrying
from 50 up to 64 carriage guns (although there were exceptions); from 1671 this comprised ships of between 62 and 68 guns; in 1683 this was comprised ships carrying
from 64 to 76 guns (again with exceptions), and by 1710 even
64-gun ships had been reduced to the Third Rate. Most Second Rank ships were two-decked vessels, i.e. carrying two complete gundecks, usually plus a few smaller carriage guns mounted on the
gaillards; however, the Second Rank initially also included numerous ships nominally described as three-deckers (although all had a break in the 3rd tier of guns or "upper deck") launched up until 1682, after which all three-deckers were First Rates; these three-deckers are listed below before the two-deckers.
Nominal three-decked ships: •
Bourbon 66 guns (designed and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched 22 November 1665 at
Soubise) – renamed
Éclatant (64 guns) in June 1671; deleted 1684 •
Prince 64, later 70 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched April 1666 at Brest) – renamed
Sans Pareil in June 1671; wrecked 1679 •
Frédéric 70/80 (designed and built by Mathias, launched early 1666 at Copenhagen – built by contract) – renamed
Admirable in June 1671, broken up 1677 • Dutch-built class, all built by contract, ordered on 19 March 1666 and probably to a common design. •
Conquérant 66/72 (launched November 1666 at Zaandam) – wrecked 1679 •
Courtisan 64/72 (launched December 1666 at Amsterdam) – renamed
Magnifique in June 1671;
hulked 1684 and broken up around 1693 •
Intrépide 66/76 (launched December 1666 at Zaandam) – renamed
Grand in June 1671; broken up 1678 •
Invincible 64/74 (launched December 1666 at Amsterdam) – deleted 1681 •
Neptune 64/74 (launched December 1666 at Amsterdam) – renamed
Illustre in June 1671; broken up 1698 •
Normand 66/72 (launched December 1666 at Amsterdam) – renamed
Saint Louis in June 1671; broken up 1680 •
Princesse 60, later 64 guns (designed and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched in May 1667 at
Soubise) – renamed
Triomphant in June 1671, then
Constant in 1678; hulked as
Vieux Constant 1690, deleted by 1704 •
Charente 66 guns (designed and built by Jean Laure, launched in February 1669 at Rochefort) – renamed
Belliqueux in June 1671, then
Courtisan in June 1678 (although latter change never took effect); wrecked in the Caribbean on 11 May 1678. •
Fort 68, later 76 guns (designed and built by Jean Guichard, launched 11 April 1669 at Rochefort) – renamed
Foudroyant in June 1671, broken up 1690 •
Français 62/66 (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 25 October 1669 at Brest) – renamed
Glorieux in June 1671; burnt in action 1677 •
Madame 70, later 74 guns (designed and built by Jean Guéouard, launched 28 February 1670 at Toulon) – renamed
Pompeux in June 1671; hulked 1696, sold 1709 •
Royale Thérèse 68, later 76 guns (designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon, launched 4 March 1670 at Toulon) – renamed
Saint Esprit in June 1671; condemned 1689 and sold 1692 •
Terrible 68/70 (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 19 September 1670 at Brest) – wrecked 1678 •
Tonnant 64/66 (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 19 September 1670 at Brest) – wrecked 1678 • '''
Florissant class'
, designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon. These ships were originally named Joli
and Rubis'' respectively, but were renamed on 24 June 1671. •
Joli 70/80 (launched 2 October 1670 at Toulon) – renamed
Henri in June 1671; deleted 1686, sold 1687 •
Rubis 72/76 (launched 15 October 1670 at Toulon) – renamed
Florissant in June 1671; hulked 1696, broken up after 1700 • '''
Constant class'
, designed and built by Laurent Hubac. These ships were originally named Brave
and Courtisan
, but the first was renamed Constant'' in June 1675 •
Constant 74/76 (launched 20 June 1675 at Brest) – renamed
Triomphant in June 1678; burnt by the English in
an action at Cherbourg in June 1692 •
Courtisan 72/76 (launched 1676 at Brest) – renamed
Belliqueux in June 1678; broken up 1708 •
Terrible 72, later 76 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac; launched 1680 at Brest) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 • '''
Tonnant class''', designed and built by Laurent Hubac. •
Tonnant 76 (launched August 1681 at Brest) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 •
Fier 76 (launched end 1682 at Brest) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692
Two-decked ships: • '''
Superbe class'
, designed and built by François Pomet. These ships were originally named Faucon
and Vermandois'' respectively, but were renamed on 24 June 1671. •
Superbe 70/76 (launched June 1671 at Rochefort) – broken up 1687 •
Orgueilleux 70/76 (launched September 1671 at Rochefort) – broken up 1688 •
Glorieux 60, later 64 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched February 1679 at Brest) – broken up 1719 •
Ardent 64 guns (designed and built by Étienne Salicon, launched 21 November 1680 at Le Havre) – Captured by the Dutch in the
Battle of Marbella in March 1705 •
Bourbon 62, later 64 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched 1683 at Rochefort) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 •
Furieux 70, later 62 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 23 October 1684 at Brest) - broken up 1727 •
Courtisan 64 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched October 1686 at Rochefort) – Burnt by accident 1702 •
Content 64, later 66 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 23 December 1686 at Toulon) – captured by the English 1695 •
Sérieux 64, later 58 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 11 January 1687 at Toulon) – renamed
Croissant 1688, then reverted to
Sérieux 1689; broken up 1718 •
Éclatant 70, later 68 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 28 June 1688 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, lost in March 1713 in the Indian Ocean. •
Henri 68, later 70 guns (designed and built by Hendryck Houwens, launched 13 August 1688 at Dunkirk) – burnt 1736 •
Brillant 64 guns (Designed and built by Étienne Salicon, launched January 1690 at Le Havre) – reclassed as 3rd Rang 1707; condemned 1719–22 •
Aimable 70 guns (Designed and built by Pierre Masson, launched March 1690 at Rochefort) – burnt by accident 1715 • '''
Superbe class''', designed and built by
François Coulomb snr. •
Superbe 70 guns (launched March 1690 at Toulon) – captured and wrecked in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Invincible 70 guns (launched April 1690 at Toulon) – condemned 1727 and broken up 1748 • '
Modified Superbe
class', designed and built by
François Coulomb snr. •
Heureux 68/70 guns (launched November 1690 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, captured by the English 1710 •
Constant 68/70 guns (launched 28 November 1690 at Toulon) – deleted 1714 •
Gaillard 64 guns (designed and built by Étienne Salicon, launched December 1690 at Le Havre) – burnt by the English in the
Battle of La Hogue in June 1692 • '''
Laurier class''', designed and built by Pierre Masson •
Laurier 60 guns (launched December 1690 at Bayonne) – scuttled at Toulon in July 1707; refloated but broken up •
Sirène 60 guns (launched 14 January 1691 at Bayonne) – captured and wrecked in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Saint Esprit 76, later 74 guns (designed and built by Jean Guichard, launched early 1691 at Rochefort) – broken up after 1718 •
Écueil 66 guns (designed by Bernard Renau d'Élissagaray, built by René Levasseur, launched March 1691 at Dunkirk) – deleted 1709 •
Juste 64 guns (designed and begun by Étienne Salicon, completed by Philippe Cochois, launched 20 December 1691 at Le Havre) – broken up 1719 •
Bizarre 68 guns (designed and built by Félix Arnaud, launched Autumn 1692 at Bayonne) – broken up 1727 •
Bourbon 68 guns (Designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched 17 November 1692 at Toulon) – captured by the Dutch in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 and burnt by them. • '''
Saint Louis class''', designed by Joseph Andrault, built by Philippe Cochois and Pierre Chaillé. •
Saint Louis 64, later 58 guns (launched 10 December 1692 at Le Havre) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, sold 1712 •
Éole 64, later 58 guns (launched 23 February 1693 at Le Havre) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, sold 1710 •
Prompt 70, later 76 guns (Designed and built by René Levasseur, launched 25 December 1692 at Dunkirk) – captured by the English in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Fort 70 guns (Designed and built by Pierre Masson, launched February 1693 at Rochefort) – burnt in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Content 64, later 60 guns (Designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched September 1695 at Toulon) – sold 1712 •
Ferme 64, later 70 guns (Designed and built by Honoré Malet and Pierre Masson, launched 1700 at Rochefort) – captured by the English in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Parfait 72 guns (Designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched 14 March 1701 at Toulon) – sold 1726 • '''
Oriflamme class''', designed and built by
François Coulomb snr. •
Toulouse 62 guns (launched 8 December 1703 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, reclassed as
3rd Rate 1707, captured by the British 1711 •
Oriflamme 62 guns (launched 15 January 1704 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, reclassed as
3rd Rate 1709, broken up 1727 •
Neptune 72 guns (Designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched 27 August 1704 at Toulon) – wrecked 1713 •
Achille 64, later 62 guns (Designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 23 February 1705 at Brest) – reclassed as
Third Rank 1707, broken up 1744 •
Saint Michel 70, later 74 guns (Designed and built by Alexandre Gobert, launched 1 February 1706 at Lorient) – broken up 1719 •
Lis or Lys 72 guns (Designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched June 1706 at Brest) – broken up 1747 •
Magnanime 72 guns (Designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched 6 October 1706 at Brest) – wrecked 1712 •
Pompeux 72 guns (Designed and built by Pierre Masson, launched August 1707 at Rochefort) – broken up 1719 •
Conquérant 70 guns (Designed and built by François Chapelle, launched February 1712 at Toulon) – broken up 1743
Third Rank Ships ("vaisseaux de Troisième Rang") From 1670, the Third Rank was defined as ships of the line carrying
from 40 up to 50 carriage guns; in 1671 this was redefined as ships carrying
from 48 to 60 guns. Initially during the first part of Louis XIV's reign these were designed and constructed as three-decked ships without forecastles and with minimal quarterdecks, although their upper decks were divided at the waist by an unarmed section of deck; but from about 1670 it was ruled that ships with fewer than 70 guns should not be built with three decks, so all subsequent Third Rank ships were two-decked vessels, i.e. carrying two complete gundecks, usually plus a few smaller carriage guns mounted on the
gaillards (the quarterdeck and forecastle). During the first decade of the 18th century, the remaining Second Rank ships with 64 or fewer guns were down-graded (without change of armament) to Third Rank. •
Dragon 42 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 1646 at Brest) – reduced to 34 guns in 1669, hulked 1674 and sold in July 1684 •
Mazarin 48, later 42 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched early 1647 at Brest) – renamed
Bon in June 1671; wrecked in December 1671 •
Reine 56 guns (designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon, launched 9 February 1647 at Toulon) – classed as
2nd Rank in 1669, then reduced to 50 guns in 1670 and reclassed as
3rd Rank in 1671; renamed
Brave in June 1671 but hulked in 1673 and taken to pieces in 1674. •
Brézé 56 guns (designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon, launched 9 October 1647 at Toulon) – wrecked 25 November 1665 at the mouth of the Charente. •
César 56 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 1648 at Brest) – renamed
Rubis in June 1671 and taken to pieces in 1673. •
Hercule 42 guns (designed and built by George Carteret and Laurent Hubac, launched 1655 at Brest) – broken up 1673 •
Saint Louis 56 guns (designed and built by Jean Laure, launched 3 July 1658 at
Soubise) – classed as
2nd Rank in 1669, then reduced to 56 guns in 1670 and reclassed as
3rd Rank in 1671; renamed
Aimable in June 1671; removed from service in 1688 and taken to pieces in 1690. •
Royale 56 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched February 1661 at Brest) – reclassed as
3rd Rank in 1670, renamed
Ferme in June 1671, condemned 1676 •
Chalain or Grand Chalain 42/48 (seized 1661, built 1657 at
Concarneau) – renamed
Triomphe 1662, then
Courageux in June 1671; condemned 1672 and broken up •
Rubis 60, later 64 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched November 1664 at Brest) – captured by the English on 28 September 1666, becoming
French Ruby in the English Navy; broken up 1685. •
Dauphin 56, later 54 guns (designed by Rodolphe Gédéon and built by François Pomet, launched March 1664 at Toulon) – renamed
Vermandois 1671, then
Vigilant 1678; condemned 1699 and broken up 1700 •
Diamant 54, later 56 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched December 1664 at Brest) – broken up 1685 •
Thérèse 60 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, launched 13 March 1665 at Toulon) – blew up in action 24 July 1669 •
Trident 44, later 54 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched January 1666 at Brest) – renamed
Aquilon in June 1671, hulked 1674 and sold in July 1684 •
Breton 56 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 8 February 1666 at Brest) – renamed
Courtisan in June 1671; wrecked 1 May 1674 off India •
Navarre 56 guns (designed and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched June 1666 at Tonnay-Charente) – renamed
Constant in June 1671; wrecked June 1673 off India •
Comte 50, later 60 guns (designed and built by Jean Nissard, launched 15 January 1667 at Toulon and completed by Rodolphe Gédéon) – renamed
Prudent in June 1671; hulked 1695 •
Lys 60 guns (designed and begun by Laurent Hubac, launched in Spring of 1667 at Brest) – renamed
Assuré in June 1671; sold 1689 •
Fleuron 58, later 50 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched early 1668 at Brest) – condemned 1668 •
Rouen 52 guns (designed and built by Jean Esnault for the French East India Company, purchased from them in February 1668 and launched 8 February 1666 at Brest) – wrecked 11 September 1670 off Le Havre •
Rochefort 56 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, launched May 1669 at Rochefort) – renamed
Sage in June 1671; wrecked off Ceuta on 19 April 1692. •
Wallon 48, later 50 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched 30 August 1669 at Brest) – renamed
Duc in June 1671; condemned 1691 •
Brave 48, later 54 guns (probably designed and built by François Pomet, launched March 1670 at Rochefort) – renamed
Prince in June 1671; wrecked in May 1678 • '''
Bourbon class''' Designed and built by Laurent Hubac. •
Louvre 50 (launched 29 April 1670 at Brest) – renamed
Bourbon in June 1671; wrecked in May 1678 •
Oriflamme 50 (launched 1 November 1670 at Brest) – wrecked February 1691 •
Alsace 56, later 60 guns (designed by Jean Laure and built by François Pomet, launched 4 October 1670 at Rochefort) – renamed
Fier in June 1671; condemned 1695 and broken up before 1700. •
Navarrais 56 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, launched 22 November 1670 at Rochefort) – renamed
Excellent in June 1671; deleted 1676 or 1677. •
Furieux 56, later 58 guns (designed and built by Rodolphe Gédéon, launched 15 April 1671 at Toulon) – renamed
Brillant in June 1678; deleted 1687 and broken up 1688 or 1689. • '''
Vaillant class'''. Designed and built by Laurent Hubac. •
Anjou 50, later 54 guns (launched 25 May 1671 at Brest) – renamed
Vaillant on 24 June (30 days after launch); condemned 1690 and broken up 1691. •
Ardent 54 guns (launched 25 May 1671 at Brest) – renamed
Téméraire on 24 June (30 days after launch); captured by the English on 9 December 1694 off Kinsale and burnt. •
Émerillon 54, later 56 guns (designed by François Pomet, built by him and Jean Guichard, launched 20 June 1671 at Rochefort) – renamed
Fortuné on 24 June 1671 (4 days after launch); condemned 1688. • '''
Fidèle class'''. Designed and built by Laurent Coulomb. •
Glorieux 56, later 60 guns (launched 14 June 1671 at Toulon) – renamed
Agréable on 24 June (10 days after launch); condemned 1715 and broken up 1717. •
Fidèle 56 guns (launched 1 July 1671 at Toulon) – wrecked in November 1676 off Corsica. •
Intrépide 48, later 56 guns (designed by François Pomet, built by Honoré Malet, launched in July 1671 at Rochefort) – hulked 1686. •
Parfait 54, later 64 guns (designed and built by François Chapelle, launched 31 July 1671 at Toulon) – condemned 1699. •
Apollon 44, later 60 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, launched in August 1671 at Rochefort) – originally rated at 4th Rank, but raised to 3rd Rank in 1673 (although became 4th Rank again from 1687 to 1688); deleted 1709. •
Fougueux 54, later 60 guns (designed and built by Jean Guérouard, launched 15 August 1671 at Toulon) – grounded and lost in the Charente 1 April 1691. • '''
Précieux class'''. Designed and built by Barthélémy Tortel. •
Heureux 48, later 54 guns (launched 3 October 1671 at Le Havre) – hulked 1690 and broken up after 1693. •
Précieux 48, later 52 guns (launched 15 December 1671 at Le Havre) – captured by the Dutch 1677 but recovered; condemned 1678 and burnt. •
Bon 48, later 56 guns (designed by Laurent Hubac, built by Jean Hontabat and Joseph Saboulin, launched 25 May 1672 at Brest) – condemned 1692 and broken up. • '''
Maure class'''. Designed by Joseph Saboulin and built by Jean Hontabat. •
Maure 48, later 58 guns (launched 29 August 1672 at Bayonne) – renamed
Content in June 1678; hulked in 1694. •
Fendant 48, later 58 guns (launched 29 August 1672 at Bayonne) – hulked in April 1694. •
Incertain 48, later 56 guns (designed and built by Hendryck Houwens, launched 22 September 1672 at Dunkirk) – renamed
Brave in 1674; condemned 1681 and broken up. •
Saint Michel 56, later 64 guns (designed and built by Louis Audibert, launched in August 1673 at Marseille) – hulked 1685 and broken up in 1687. •
Hercule 52 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hubac, launched October 1673 at Brest) – wrecked on 11 May 1678 in the Caribbean. •
Écueil 50, later 60 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 14 April 1678 at Toulon) – burnt by the English at
Battle of La Hogue on 2 June 1692. •
Excellent 50, later 68 guns (designed and built by Honoré Malet, launched in 1679 at Rochefort) – condemned 1710 and sold to be broken up in same year. •
Précieux 50, later 58 guns (designed and built by Étienne Salicon, launched 5 October 1679 at Le Havre) – deleted 1694. •
Courageux 50, later 60 guns (designed and built by François Pomet, launched 18 December 1679 at Rochefort) – deleted 1705. •
Entreprenant 50, later 60 guns (designed and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched in March 1680 at Brest) – hulked 1720 and sold to be broken up in 1738. •
Prince 54, later 60 guns (designed and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched 1680 at Brest) – condemned 1717 and broken up. • '''
Arrogant class'''. Designed by Jacques Doley and built by Étienne Salicon. •
Arrogant 50, later 60 guns (launched 6 May 1682 at Le Havre) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, captured by the English in the
Battle of Marbella in March 1705. •
Brave 50, later 60 guns (launched 7 June 1683 at Le Havre) – deleted 1697. •
Apollon 50, later 62 guns (designed by the Marquis de Langeron and built by Étienne Hubac and Blaise Pangalo, launched January 1683 at Brest) – deleted 1716. •
Vermandois 60, later 62 guns (designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched 1 April 1684 at Brest) – hulked 1715 and broken up 1727. •
Marquis 56/60 (launched 4 March 1685 at Toulon) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, captured by the Dutch in the
Battle of Marbella in March 1705 •
Sans Pareil 60, later 58 guns (launched end 1685 at Le Havre) – deleted 1698. •
Modéré 60, later 52 guns (designed and built by Hendryck Houwens, launched 1685 at Dunkirk) – captured by the English in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Saint Michel 58, later 60 guns (designed and built by Étienne Salicon, launched 14 December 1686 at Le Havre) – grounded and lost 1 May 1704. •
Diamant 58, later 60 guns (designed and built by Hendryck Houwens, launched February 1687 at Dunkirk) – broken up 1724–25. •
François 52 guns (designed and built by Étienne Salicon, launched 20 December 1687 at Le Havre) – classed as
4th Rank with 40 guns in 1688, then raised to 52 guns in 1691 and reclassed as
3rd Rank; broken up 1736. •
Trident 50 guns (designed and built by Laurent Coulomb, launched 22 June 1688 at Toulon) – classed as
4th Rank with 44 guns in 1688, then raised to 54 guns in 1690 and reclassed as
3rd Rank; captured by the British in 1695, becoming HMS
Trident. •
Maure 54 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched August 1688 at Toulon) – classed as
4th Rank with 44 guns in 1688, then raised to 54 guns in 1690 and reclassed as
3rd Rank; captured by the British in 1710, renamed HMS
Moor. • '''
Fortuné class'''. Designed by Laurent Coulomb and built by him and his son François Coulomb. •
Fortuné 56, later 60 guns (launched 16 July 1689 at Toulon) – Burnt August 1707. •
Fleuron 56, later 60 guns (launched 21 July 1689 at Toulon) – broken up 1722. •
Assuré 60 guns (designed and built by Hendryk Houwens, launched December 1690 at Dunkirk) – wrecked at Ceuta 19 April 1692 •
Perle 52 guns (designed and built by René Levasseur, launched December 1690 at Dunkirk) – Lost 1709 •
Entendu 58 guns (designed and built by René Levasseur, launched February 1691 at Dunkirk) – deleted 1701 •
Capable 58 guns (designed and built by René Levasseur, launched September 1692 at Dunkirk) – broken up 1706 •
Phénix 60 guns (designed and built by François Coulomb, launched 7 October 1692 at Toulon) – broken up 1714 •
Indien 52 guns (designed and built by Pierre Coulomb, launched 22 October 1692 at Lorient) – lost off Burma 1698 •
Bon 56 guns (designed by Bernard Renau d'Élissagaray and built by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched 17 August 1693 at Brest) – deleted 1703 • '''
Pélican class'''. Designed and built by Félix Arnaud. •
Pélican 50 guns (launched early 1693 at Bayonne) – beached and abandoned 5 September 1697 following the
Battle of Hudson's Bay. •
Mignon 50 guns (launched Spring 1693 at Bayonne) – sold at Cartagena in 1709. •
Gaillard 54 guns (designed and built by Félix Arnaud, launched 13 October 1693 at Bayonne) – captured by the British in 1710 •
Fougueux 50 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 14 May 1695 at Brest) – captured by the English in 1696, sank 1696 •
Téméraire 50, later 54 guns (designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched June 1695 at Brest) – broken up 1723 •
Trident 60, later 56 guns (designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched August 1695 at Toulon) – broken up 1720 •
Solide 50 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 10 September 1695 at Brest) – burnt in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Mercure 50 guns (designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched 7 December 1696 at Brest) – captured by the English in 1746 • '''
Assuré class'''. Designed and built by François Coulomb. •
Assuré 60 guns (launched 1697 at Toulon) – captured by the English in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 and added to the RN as HMS
Assurance 70, BU 1712 •
Prudent 60 guns (launched 31 August 1697 at Toulon) – burnt in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Hasardeux 50 guns (designed and built by Pierre Coulomb, launched August 1699 at Lorient) – captured by the English in 1703 and added to the RN as HMS
Hazardous. •
Oriflamme 64 guns (Designed and built by
François Coulomb snr, launched 31 October 1699 at Toulon) – burnt in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Amphitrite 52 guns; later 46/48 (designed and built by René Levasseur, launched October 1700 at Dunkirk) – renamed
Protée in March 1705; deleted 1722 •
Fendant 58, later 56 guns (designed and built by Philippe Cochois, launched 18 October 1701 at Le Havre) – lost in Indian Ocean in March 1713. •
Sage 55, later 56 guns (designed and built by Pierre Coulomb, launched 28 November 1701 at Lorient) – deleted 1707 after being fired by British bombardment. •
Triton 52 guns (designed and built by Antoine Tassy, launched 1703 at Bayonne) – deleted 1720 •
Rubis 56 guns (designed and built by Pierre Coulomb, launched 21 January 1704 at Lorient) – took part in the
Battle of Málaga, broken up 1729 •
Jason 54 guns (designed and built by Blaise Pangalo, launched 2 May 1704 at Brest) – deleted 1720 •
Auguste 54 guns (designed and built by Étienne Hubac, launched 3 May 1704 at Brest) – captured by the English in August 1705 and added to the RN as
HMS Auguste. •
Hercule 56, later 60 guns (designed and built by Desjumeaux, launched 22 June 1705 at Lorient) – broken up 1746 •
Mars 54 guns (designed and built by René Levasseur, launched December 1705 at Lorient) – broken up 1720 •
Dauphine 60 guns (designed and built by Philippe Cochois, launched 23 March 1706 at Le Havre) – broken up 1719 •
Bourbon 54 guns (designed and built by Laurent Hélie and Alain Donard, launched 26 June 1706 at Lorient) – captured by Dutch privateers in March 1707 and renamed
Gekronde Burg. •
Auguste 54 guns (designed and built by René Levasseur, launched 21 September 1707 at Dunkirk) – struck at Brest 1720 •
Superbe 56 (designed and built by Pierre Coulomb, launched 12 December 1708 at Lorient) – Captured by the British in 1710 and added to the RN as
HMS Superb 64, BU 1732
Fourth Rank Ships ("vaisseaux de Quatrième Rang") From 1670, the French
Quatrième Rang consisted of vessels with two complete batteries ("two-deckers") armed with from 30 to 40 guns. From 1671, this was redefined as vessels armed with from 36 to 46 guns, and those vessels with fewer than 36 guns were re-classed as Fifth Rank ships; in 1683 this was revised again to include only two-decked ships with from 40 to 46 guns. These ships were also described as frigates (
frégates) of the 1st Order. •
Infante 36 (launched June 1661 at Brest) – renamed
Ecueil in June 1671; wrecked 1673 •
Jules 38 (launched July 1661 at Toulon) – renamed
Indien in June 1671; wrecked 1673 • '''
Beaufort class''' (2 ships) •
Beaufort 36–38 (launched 15 May 1662 at Toulon) – renamed
Neptune in June 1671, then
Maure in January 1679; condemned 1686 •
Mercoeur 36 (launched July 1662 at Toulon) – renamed
Trident in June 1671; condemned 1686 •
Duc 42–46 (launched 1665 at Brest) – renamed
Comte in June 1671; wrecked 1676 •
Sirène 44–46 (launched June 1666 at Toulon) – wrecked 1684 •
Cheval Marin 44–46 (launched June 1666 at Toulon) – broken up 1729 •
Ecueil 40–44 (launched 2 November 1678 at Le Havre) – sold 1689 •
Leger 40 (launched 3 November 1679 at Le Havre) – condemned 1695 •
Solide 44 (launched 6 November 1683 at Dunkirk) – wrecked 1694 •
Emporte 44 (launched 20 November 1683 at Dunkirk) – condemned 1705 and abandoned •
Gaillard 44–48 (launched 17 November 1684 at Le Havre) – sold 1689 •
François 48–52 (launched 20 October 1687 at Le Havre) – broken up 1736 •
Trident 50 (launched 22 June 1688 at Toulon) – captured by the English in 1695, added to the RN under the same name •
Alcyon 40 (launched July 1689 at Dunkirk) – broken up 1718 •
Adroit 44 (launched 20 January 1691 at Le Havre) – sunk 1703 • '''
Poli class''' (2 ships) •
Opiniatre 40 (launched July 1691 at Rochefort) – deleted 1699 •
Poli 40 (later 36) (launched August 1691 at Rochefort) – broken up 1717 •
Pélican 44 (launched 1693 at Bayonne) – sunk in 1697 in Hudson Bay •
Mutine 40 (launched 28 May 1695 at Brest) – deleted 1708 •
Volontaire 44 (launched late August 1695 at Toulon) – reduced to 36 guns in 1701; captured and wrecked in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Amphitrite 42/44 (launched 1696 at Rochefort) – burnt by accident 1713 •
Avenant 42 (launched September 1696 at Brest) – burnt by accident 1704 •
Dauphine 40/42 (launched 9 January 1697 at Le Havre) – burnt in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Triton 44 (launched January 1697 at Brest) – captured by the English in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 •
Thétis 44 (launched 1697 at Rochefort) – captured by the English 1705 •
Renommée 44–48 (launched early 1698 at Bayonne) – deleted 1723 •
Maurepas 46 (begun as
Hazardeux but renamed June 1698; launched October 1698 at Lorient) – given to the
Compagnie des Indes 1698, recovered 1703 but transferred again 1705 •
Adélaïde 44 (launched 10 January 1699 at Toulon) – wrecked 1714 •
Dryade 44–46 (launched 21 October 1702 at Le Havre) – captured by the British 1709 • '''
Parfaite class''' (2 ships) •
Parfaite 40 (launched 29 September 1704 at Toulon) – sunk 1718 •
Vestale 40 (launched 1705 at Toulon) – broken up 1739 •
Griffon 44–50 (launched 10 January 1705 at Lorient) – captured by the British in 1712, but returned; broken up 1748 •
Thetis 44–50 (launched 20 June 1705 at Brest) – captured by the British in 1707 • '''
Atalante class''' (2 ships) •
Atalante 40–44 (launched February 1707 at Le Havre) – condemned 1729–33 •
Diane 42–44 (launched February 1707 at Le Havre) – deleted 1711 •
Amazone 40–42 (launched 16 April 1707 at Brest) – hulked 1741, broken up 1748 •
Gloire 38 (launched 18 April 1707 at Lorient) – captured by the British in 1709, became HMS
Sweepstakes; broken up 1716 •
Argonaute 42–50 (launched 14 November 1708 at Brest) – hulked 1720, broken up 1746
Captured or otherwise acquired from foreign navies in the Louis XIV era • ? (ex-Algerine, captured 1665, ex-Dutch ''Giardino d'Olanda (Hollandsche Tuyn'') 40) •
Saint Cosme 50/52, 3rd Rang (ex-Spanish
San Cosimo, captured 1672) – Broken up 1677 •
Saint Pierre 50/52, 3rd Rang (ex-Spanish
San Pedro, captured 1674) – Sold 1681 •
Défenseur 54, 3rd Rang (ex-Dutch East India Company
Beschermer, captured 10 December 1677) – Wrecked 11 May 1678 on Îles Aves •
Saint Louis 56/60, 3rd Rang (ex-Genoese
San Giacomo, captured April 1684) – burnt by the British at
La Hogue on 2 June 1692 •
Vaillant 50, 3rd Rang (ex-English
Mary Rose, captured 22 July 1691) – lost in December 1698 off Cyprus •
Heureux Retour 46, 3rd Rang (ex-English
Happy Return, captured 14 November 1691) – recaptured in May 1708 by HMS Burford but not re-added to English Navy •
Jerzé 48, 3rd Rang (ex-English
Jersey, captured 28 December 1691) – sold 1717 • ? 40 (ex-Dutch, captured 1691) • ? 54 (ex-Dutch, captured by
Maure and
Modéré 1692) • ? 48 (ex-Dutch, captured by
Maure and
Modéré 1692) • ? 62 (ex-Spanish galleon, captured 1692) •
Zélande 64, 3rd Rang (ex-Dutch
Zeelandia, captured 27 June 1693 off
Lagos) – condemned and hulked in June 1708 •
Ville de Médemblick 64, 3rd Rang (ex-Dutch
Wapen van Medemblik, captured 27 June 1693 off
Lagos) – struck 1712 • ? 50 (ex-English, captured 1694) (same as next?) • ''
Espérance d'Angleterre 70, 2nd Rang (ex-English Hope'', captured 1695) – Recaptured and wrecked in the
Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702 • ? 44 (ex-Dutch, captured 1696) – Scuttled by fire to prevent recapture • ? (ex-Spanish galleon, captured by des Augiers 1696) • ? (ex-Spanish galleon, captured by des Augiers 1696) •
Rotterdam 40, 4th Rang (ex-Dutch
Rotterdam, captured May 1703) – struck 1706 •
Elizabeth 70, 2nd Rang (ex-English
Elizabeth, captured 22 November 1704) – Deleted 1720 •
Coventry 50, 4th Rang (ex-English
Coventry, captured 4 August 1704) – Recaptured 17 May 1709 •
Falmouth 50, 4th Rang (ex-English
Falmouth, captured 15 August 1704) – sold for merchant use in January 1706 •
Pendennis 54, 3rd Rang (ex-English
Pendennis, captured 1705) – Sold 1706 •
Blekoualle 54, 3rd Rang (ex-English
Blackwall, captured 1705) – Recaptured 1708 •
Mercure 40–42, 4th Rang (ex-Dutch
Mercurius, captured 1705) – Captured by the English 1707 •
Hardenbroeck 50 (ex-Dutch
Hardenbroek, captured 2 October 1706) – to Russia 1712 as
Esperans 44 •
Grafton 70, 2nd Rang (ex-English
Grafton, captured 13 May 1707) – Broken up 1744 •
Hampton Court 70, 2nd Rang (ex-English
Hampton Court, captured 13 May 1707) – Sold 1712 to Spain as
Nuestra Señora de Carmen, lost 1715. •
Cumberland 84, 2nd Rang (ex-British
Cumberland, captured 21 October 1707) – To Spain (at Genoa) May 1715, renamed
Principe de Asturias, captured by Britain at the
Battle of Cape Passaro, 22 August 1718, sold to Austria 1720, renamed
San Carlos, BU 1733 •
Grand Vainqueur 54 (c. 1706, ex-Dutch
Overwinnaer, captured 1708) – To Britain, to Russia 1712 as
Viktoria •
Gloucester 60/64 (ex-British
Gloucester, captured 1709) – To Genoa 1711, to Spain 1720, renamed
Conquistador 62/64, stricken 1738 •
Pembroke 60, 3rd Rang (ex-British
Pembroke, captured 1710) – Retaken but foundered 1711 •
Le Beau Parterre (c. 1710, ex-Dutch
Schonauwen, captured 1711) – Intended for Russia but captured on delivery voyage by Sweden 1713/14, renamed
Kronskepp ==Louis XV (1715 to 1774)==