Soleil Royal (1670)
The flagship of Admiral Tourville the Soleil Royal (Royal Sun) was a French ship with 104 guns. They built her in Brest sometime between 1669 and 1670. She was built by an engineer named Laurent Hubac and they launched her in 1670. She sat in the Brest harbor for years. When the War of the Grand Alliance broke out in 1688 they re-commissioned her with 112 guns and 1200 men. She was the flagship of Escadre du Ponant which meant (squadron of the Ponant).
It was told she was a good sailing ship and a sight to behold with decorations that were some of most elaborate of all baroque flagships. Louis XIV chose the emblem of the “SUN” as his personal symbol.
The Soleil Royal departed Brest on 22 June 1690 as flagship of Anne Hilarion de Tourville. She spent three days in Camaret-sur-Mer waiting for favorable wind before sailing to Isle of Wight where the English fleet was thought to be anchored.
The Battle of Beachy Head (known in french as "Bataille de Béveziers") began in the morning of the 10 July 1690 when the French surprised the English ships anchored. Soleil Royal led the centre of the French formation.
The Soleil Royal left Brest May 12, 1692 in the lead of a 45 vessel fleet. By surprise they met and English and Dutch fleet 97 ships strong known as the Battle of Barfleur. Greatly outnumbered the French attacked causing the enemy to flee with huge losses.
The Soleil Royal was severely damaged in spite of the tactical victory and returned to Brest. There she was beached in Cherbourg for repairs with the Admirable and Triomphant.
The Soleil Royal met her end in the Battle of La Hougue sometime during the night June 2nd and 3rd at the Pointe Du Hommet. She was attacked by 17 ships and she did manage to repel them with artillery fire. But, a fire-ship set her stern on fire and the fire soon reached the powder rooms. Even with the population of Cherbourg coming to the rescue, there was only one survivor among the strong crew of somewhere between 883 and 950 men.
The Soleil Royal lies buried beneath a parking space next to the Arsenal today.
A beautiful ship in any collection we have located a few models for your viewing pleasure.
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 Soleil Royal Limited French Gun Ship Model 32 Replica  US $699.99
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 Le soleil royal high quality wooden model wood ship 40 US $499.99
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 Soleil Royal Wooden Tall Ship Sailboat Model 36 Boat US $439.99
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 Soleil Royal Tall Ship Wooden Model Sailboat 28 Boat US $299.99
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