The history of the Reale de France started in the 17th century at the time of the
slaves. The vessel was of 63 metre long amd 9.70 metre wide with 413 oarsmen (that
is 7 men per oar). In order to be used as a sailing vessel, the Reale de France was
equipped with two lateen sails which were always furled and the lateen yard chained to
the mast to prevent them from sticking the oarman when the enemy fired. However,
due to the poor armament it took a large number of galleys to defeat a three armed
mast. The galleys became very rare and the battle of Matapan in 1717 was the last
one in which the galleys took part. Decorated by the famous sculptor Pierre Puget,
the ornamentation of Reale de France is today still conserved in the Marine Museun
of Paris.
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