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Soleil Royal (Royal Sun) was a French 104-gun ship of the line, flagship of Admiral Tourville.
She was built in Brest between 1669 and 1670 by engineer Laurent Hubac, was launched in 1670, and stayed unused in Brest harbour for years. She was recommissioned with 112 guns and 1200 men when the War of the Grand Alliance broke out in 1688 as the flagship of the escadre du Ponant (squadron of the Ponant).
She was said to be a good sailing ship and her decorations were amongst the most beautiful and elaborate of all baroque flagships. The emblem of the "sun" had been chosen by Louis XIV as his personal symbol.
Battle of Bévezier
Soleil Royal was recommissioned with 112 guns and 1200 men when the War of the Grand Alliance broke out. She departed Brest on 22 June 1690 as flagship of Anne Hilarion de Tourville. She spent three days in Camaret-sur-Mer waiting for favourable wind before sailing to Isle of Wight where the English fleet was though to be anchored. Two ships sent in reconnaissance located the English anchored at Beachy Head.
The Battle of Beachy Head (know in french as "Bataille de Béveziers") began in the morning of the July 10, 1690 when the French surprised the English ships anchored. Soleil Royal led the centre of the French formation.
Battle of Barfleur
In 1692, on the 12 May, she left Brest, leading a 45-vessel fleet; on the 29th, the squadron met a 97-ship strong English and Dutch fleet in the Battle of Barfleur. In spite of their numerical inferiority, the French attacked, forcing enemy ships to flee with significant losses.
After the tactical victory, the Soleil Royal was too severely damaged to return to Brest, and was beached in Cherbourg for repairs, along with the Admirable and Triomphant.
Battle of La Hougue and the end of the Soleil Royal
During the night of the 2nd and 3rd of June, at the Pointe du Hommet, she was attacked by 17 ships, which she managed to repel with artillery fire. However, a fireship set her stern on fire and the fire soon reached the powder rooms. Although the population of Cherbourg came to rescue, there was only one survivor among the 883 (or even 950)-strong crew.
The remains of the Soleil Royal now lie buried beneath a parking space next to the Arsenal.
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