Soleil-Royal (1669) | Timeline

Soleil-Royal (Royal Sun) was a French 104-gun ship of the line, flagship of Admiral Tourville. She was built in Brest between 1668 and 1670 by engineer Laurent Hubac, was launched in 1669, and stayed unused in Brest harbour for years. She was recommissioned with 112 guns and 1200 men when the Nine Years' War broke out in 1688 as the flagship of the escadre du Ponant (squadron of the West). 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. (Intro from Wikipedia)

December 1(?), 1668 - Brest, France - The keel of the Soleil-Royal is laid down by Master Carpenter Laurent Hubac

December 13, 1669 - Brest - The Soleil-Royal is launched =(START)

August 1(?), 1670 - Brest - The ship is rigged and receives her armament of 104 guns

January 1(?), 1671 - Brest - Commissioned after the usual sea trials

June(?) 15(?), 1671 - Conquet, Brittany - Lieutenant-Général Abraham Duquesne departs on an Atlantic cruise with Royal Duc (104 guns), Le Tonnant (64 guns) and L'Oriflamme (50 guns)

July(?) 1(?), 1671 - Finisterre, Galicia, NW Spain - Duquesne reaches Finisterre and turns around to France

July 17, 1671 - Rochefort - The Royal visit to the port of Rochefort and to the Soleil-Royal is cancelled

August(?) 1(?), 1671 - Brest - Returns to homeport from her Atlantic cruise

June 7, 1672 - Brest - The ship stays at her homeport during the Battle of Solebay

January(?) 1(?), 1686 - Brest - Rebuilt at Brest from 1686 to 1688

September(?) 1(?), 1688 - Brest - Recommissioned with 112 guns and 1200 men when the Nine Years' War breaks out

June 21, 1690 - Brest - Châteaurenault's Toulon Squadron joins Tourville's fleet

June 23, 1690 - Brest - Departs Brest as flagship of Anne Hilarion de Tourville

June 26, 1690 - Camaret-sur-Mer, Brittany - Spends three days waiting for favourable winds

June 30, 1690 - The Lizard - Tourville reaches the Lizard

July 5, 1690 - Off Isle of Wight - The french fleet is sighted by the anglo-dutch reconnaissance ships

July 10, 1690 - Off Beachy Head, near Eastbourne English Channel - Battle of Beachy Head - French Victory

July 13, 1690 - Torbay | Teignmouth, England - Tourville anchors at Torbay and burns the coastal town of Teignmouth

July 18(?), 1690 - Le Havre, France - Tourville anchors off Le Havre to refit and land his sick

May 12, 1692 - Brest, France - Departs Brest in a 45-ship fleet

May 19, 1692 - Off Cap Barfleur, Cotentin Peninsula - Both fleets sight each other

May 29, 1692 - Off Contentin Peninsula, France - Battle of Barfleur - Anglo-Dutch victory. The "Soleil-Royal" (104 guns), the "Admirable" (90 guns) and the "Triomphant" (76 guns) are badly damaged

May 30, 1692 - Pointe du Hommet, Cherbourg, France - The three french warships seek safe haven at Cherbourg but are beached outside the town, as there was no suitable harbour for them

June 1, 1692 - Pointe du Hommet - Admiral Delaval attacks the three beached ships with 17 ships, transfering from the "Royal Sovereign" to the smaller "St.Albans" (50 guns). The artillery of the "Soleil-Royal" repels the attack

June 2, 1692 - Pointe du Hommet - Admiral Delaval attacks two more times with fireships. One of them, the "Blaze" hits the "Soleil-Royal", setting her stern on fire. The population of Cherbourg comes to the rescue, but the fire quickly reaches the powder rooms and the ship explodes, leaving only one survivor in a crew of 883 =(END)