The Soleil-Royal was a French warship, in service from 1669 to 1692. It was a line ship of the first rank, first with 98 and later 104 guns on three decks. Built in Brest between 1668 and 1670 by engineer Laurent Hubac, the ship was launched in 1669 and remained unused in the port of Brest for many years. At the outbreak of the Nine Years' War in 1688, she was recommissioned with 112 guns and 1,200 men as the flagship of the Ponant fleet. On May 12, 1692, she left Brest at the head of a fleet of 45 ships; two weeks later, the squadron met a 97-ship English and Dutch fleet at the Battle of Barfleur. Despite their numerical inferiority, the French attacked but were forced to flee after a large-scale battle with heavy damage on both sides. Too badly damaged to return to Brest, the Soleil Royal was stranded at Cherbourg for repairs. On the night of June 2-3, stranded at Pointe du Hommet, she was attacked by 17 ships, which she managed to repel with artillery fire. However, an enemy fire ship set fire to the stern after which the powder rooms exploded. Although the people of Cherbourg came to the rescue, there was only one survivor among the 900 crew members. What remained was set on fire by the British on June 2, 1692.
Dimensions: L79 x W23 x H70
Code TS0011P-70