Model of Le Royal

A model for future naval officers 

Le Royal is a large-scale model that was used as a teaching aid. It was inspired by 70-gun vessels but does not represent a ship that actually existed. It was built circa 1710 for the Company of the Guards of the Navy in Rochefort, whose school was established in 1670 to train future naval officers. Its students, who came from noble families and whose selection was subject to the King’s approval, received theoretical and practical training, much of which made use of educational scale models.

Le Royal: a teaching aid from the 18th century to today

The model of Le Royal was used for shipbuilding classes at the Naval Guards’ School in Rochefort for almost a century. Such classes were taught by the shipyard’s master shipwright and were intended to familiarise pupils with their future work tool. The different states of completion on the port and starboard sides, along with the openings in the hull, also helped pupils better understand the various stages in shipbuilding and assembly of wooden components inside a ship.

In addition to providing a historical source on naval architecture in the early 18th century, the model of Le Royal continues with its educational purpose today, among visitors to the National Maritime Museum in Rochefort. Its hull, designed to enable them to see the various decks and interior fittings, also provides them with food for thought on the difficult conditions of life on board such ships.