French Navy

…secretary of state for the navy from 1668, he undertook to make France a great power at sea. This meant forming a fighting fleet, building and equipping the king’s ships, fortifying ports, and encouraging the merchant navy. The Atlantic fleet was composed of sailing ships; the Mediterranean fleet, of galleys.…

…fostering the growth of the navy. He reorganized the recruitment system on a rotating basis, whereby seamen served in the royal navy for six months every three years. He refurbished the hospitals in each of the major ports; rebuilt the arsenals at Toulon and Rochefort; and increased the size of…