This article is a list of French naval frigates during the Age of Sail, from the middle of the 17th century (when the type emerged) until the close of the sailing era in the middle of the 19th century. The tables excludes privateer frigates (i.e. those owned by individuals or business enterprises), which were not part of the Marine Royale, as well as frigates built for the French East India Company (Compagnie des Indes) unless the latter were subsequently acquired by the French Navy.

Note that throughout this article the term "-pounder" refers to French pre-metric units of weight - livres - which were almost 8% greater than UK/US units of the same name; every other maritime power likewise established its own system of weights and each country's 'pound' was different from that of every other nation. Similarly French pre-metric units of length (pieds and pouces) were 6.575% longer than equivalent UK/US units of measurement (feet and inches); the pre-metric French pied ("foot") was equivalent to 324.8394 mm, whereas the UK/US foot equalled 304.8 mm. These differences should be taken into account in any calculations based on the units given below.

Classification of frigates

Early French naval frigates, until the 1740s, comprises two distinct groups. The larger types were the frégates-vaisseau, with batteries of guns spread over two decks; these were subdivided into two groups; the larger were the frégates du premier ordre - or vaisseau du quatrième rang (French Fourth Rates) - usually with a lower deck battery of 12-pounder guns, and an upper deck battery of either 8-pounder or 6-pounder guns; and the smaller were the frégates du deuxième ordre - or vaisseau du cinquième rang (French Fifth Rates) - with a lower deck batter of 8-pounder guns, and an upper deck battery of either 6-pounder or 4-pounder guns. The smaller types were the frégates légères, with a single battery of (usually) 6-pounder or 4-pounder guns, plus a few small guns on its superstructure or gaillards. The 'modern' sail frigate, with its main battery on the upper deck, and no ports along the lower deck, emerged at the start of the 1740s.

This article categorises frigates according to the weight of the projectile fired by the main battery; the first 'true' frigates in the 1740s carried either 6-pounder or 8-pounder guns, but development soon standardised around the 12-pounder frigate, carrying thirteen pairs (occasionally fourteen pairs) of 12-pounder guns on the upper deck, and usually three pairs of 6-pounder guns on the quarterdeck and forecastle (collectively referred to as the "gaillards" in French). During the American Revolutionary War, larger types carrying an 18-pounder or even 24-pounder main battery (and more secondary guns on the gaillards) were introduced, and following the French Revolution these became predominant. Finally in the 1820s, a new type of 30-pounder armed frigate was brought into service.

Design and construction

In general, French frigates were more lightly built than their British equivalents. This reflected not a poorer quality of design (French designs were often highly prized by the Royal Navy, which copied the designs of a number of the French frigates that they captured, and built a quantity of vessels to the same designs, but with heavier scantlings), but resulted from a different strategic need. French frigates were perceived as being away from port for limited periods; they had less room for storage of provisions for protracted overseas deployments, and they sacrificed durability for speed and ease of handling. British frigates, in comparison, were more solidly built to endure lengthy times at sea (in particular, to remain for several months on blockade service off enemy harbours) and thus were more able to withstand extreme weather conditions, but were slow in comparison.

The number of guns is as rated; from the 1780s, many carried some obusiers (from 1800, carronades) or swivels also.

Frigates of Louis XIV (1643–1715)

This table commences with a listing of early French naval frigates of the second half of the 17th century and the early 18th century (under the reign of Louis XIV – the "Sun King" – from 14 May 1643 to 1 September 1715). Note that numerous French warships underwent changes of names on 24 June 1671, with many other changes of names on various occasions.

Under the classification system introduced by Colbert in 1669, as altered in 1671, the "quatrième rang" (fourth rank) covered two-decked frigates (generally carrying a main battery of 12-pounder guns) of between 36 and 46 guns, amended in 1683 to between 40 and 46 guns, while the "cinquième rang" (fifth rank) comprised smaller frigates, both single-decked and two-decked (generally carrying a main battery of 8-pounder guns) of between 28 and 34 guns, increased in 1683 to between 30 and 36 guns. Below this rank were the unranked frégates légères ("light frigates") carrying fewer guns.

Frigates of the 1st Order (or 4th Rank Vessels) These were two-decked ships, usually carrying 12-pounder guns in their lower deck battery, and generally an upper deck battery of 6-pounders (although there were exceptions to these calibres). They were classed as fourth rank vessels (vaisseaux du quatrième rang). While not rated as ships of the line, inevitably several of these frigates not infrequently found themselves taking a place in the line of battle, although their main function was for cruising and for trade protection/attack. , 30 guns, acquired 1651 – broken up 1654. , 36 guns, design by Tanguy, launched late 1656 at Saint-Malo – renamed Éole in June 1671; broken up 1674. , 30/38 guns, design by Jean-Pierre Brun, launched 18 June 1658 at Soubise – captured by the British Navy off Lisbon in April 1666, becoming HMS French Victory. , 30 guns, design by Georges Carteret, launched 1659 at Brest – wrecked January 1662. , 28/36 guns, launched 1658 at Nice and purchased 1661 for the Navy – deleted 1675. , 36 guns, launched June 1661 at Brest – renamed Ecueil in June 1671; wrecked off Puerto Rico 25 February 1673. , 40 guns, design by Gédéon Rodolphe, launched 1661 at Toulon – renamed Indien in June 1671; wrecked May 1673. Mancini class, designed by Gédéon Rodolphe with 2 × 20-pounder, 6 × 16-pounder, 10 × 12-pounder and 14 × 8-pounder guns: , (ex-Mancini) 36 guns, launched 15 May 1662 at Toulon – renamed Neptune in June 1671, then Maure in January 1679; deleted 1686. , 36 guns, launched June 1662 at Toulon – renamed Trident in June 1671; deleted 1686. , 42/44 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched 1665 at Brest – renamed Comte in June 1671, wrecked in December 1676. , (ex-Monarque) 44/46 guns, design by François Pomet, launched June 1666 at Toulon – wrecked off Formentera in January 1684. , (ex-Prince) 44/46 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched June 1666 at Toulon – hulked 1726, taken to pieces 1729. , 34/42 guns, purchased on the stocks and launched August 1666 – wrecked January 1670 en route to Canada. , 40/44 guns, design by Jean Guichard, launched November 1666 at Soubise – hulked June 1689, taken to pieces September 1697. , 34/40 guns, design by Hendrick, launched 1667 at Dunkirk – renamed Arc en Ciel in June 1671, captured by the Dutch November 1673. , 40/46 guns, launched early 1667 at Dunkirk – renamed Brusque in June 1671, hulked in February 1688. Provençal class, designed by Gédéon Rodolphe: , 44/52 guns, launched February 1667 at Toulon – renamed Joli in June 1671, then Fidele in June 1678 – hulked 1695. , 46/52 guns, launched March 1667 at Toulon – renamed Mignon in June 1671, then Capable in June 1678 – deleted 1690. , 44/46 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched early 1668 at Brest – taken to pieces 1689. , 44 guns, design by Jean Esnault, launched August 1669 at Le Havre – renamed Alcyon in June 1671, condemned 1686. Saint Antoine de Genes, 34/40 guns, former Portuguese San Antonio du Marquis de Centurion launched 13 June 1765, purchased at Lisbon for the Navy in November 1669 – renamed Leger in June 1671; condemned 1678 and taken to pieces in 1679. Assuré class, designed by Hendrick with 20 × 12-pounder, 20 × 8-pounder and 6 × 4-pounder guns: , 44/48 guns, launched December 1670 at Dunkirk – renamed Français in June 1671; taken to pieces in September 1686. , 44/48 guns, launched December 1670 at Dunkirk – renamed Oiseau in June 1671; sold December 1693 to take to pieces. , 36/44 guns, design by Joseph Saboulin, launched 1 January 1671 at Bayonne – renamed Brillant in June 1671, then Triton in June 1678; deleted 1694. Aventurier class, designed by Louis Audibert: , (ex-Galante) 36/40 guns, launched November 1671 at Marseille – deleted 1697. , (ex-Mignonne) 42/44 guns, launched 29 August 1672 at Marseille – deleted 1694 and sold for commerce. , (ex-Attendant) 46 guns, design by Laurent Hubac, launched March 1673 at Brest – sunk in action against the Dutch off Tobago in March 1677. , 36/40 guns, design by Pierre Malet, launched September 1673 at Rochefort – renamed Etoile in December 1675; deleted 1696. , (ex-Changeant) 44 guns, design by François Chapelle, launched October 1674 at Toulon – renamed Arche de Noë in February 1692, then Cache in 1693 and deleted same year. Facheux class, designed by Hendrick with 10 × 12-pounder, 8 × 8-pounder, 16 × 6-pounder and 6 × 4-pounder guns: , 40 guns, launched November 1673 at Dunkirk – renamed Entendu in January 1675; burnt (as a fireship) in February 1675. , 40 guns, launched November 1673 at Dunkirk – renamed Croissant in January 1675; taken to pieces 1692. , (ex-Anonyme) 40–44 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched 21 November 1673 at Toulon – deleted as frigate 1691, but probably used as a flûte and renamed Concorde in April 1692. Hasardeux class, designed by Honoré Malet, with 18 × 12-pounder, 18 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns: , 38–44 guns, launched 1674 at Rochefort – wrecked April 1695 at St Domingo. , (ex-Inconnu) 40–44 guns, launched 1674 at Rochefort – renamed Faucon Français from 1694 until 1703; taken to pieces 1708. , (ex-privateer Dauphin) 40–42 guns, launched 1665 at Saint-Malo and purchased for the Navy in February 1675 – sold 1692. , (ex-Fidele) 40–44 guns, design by Pierre Le Brun, launched November 1677 at Brest – deleted 1698. Ferme class, designed by François Chapelle, with 20 × 12-pounder, 20 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns: , 40–46 guns, launched 29 January 1678 at Toulon – renamed Laurier in June 1678; sold April 1692. , 40–46 guns, launched 31 March 1678 at Toulon – deleted 1698. , 40–44 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 2 November 1678 at Le Havre – sold 1689. , 40 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 3 November 1679 at Le Havre – condemned 1695. Solide class, designed by F. Hendrick with 20 × 12-pounder, 20 × 6-pounder and 4 × 4-pounder guns: , (ex-Railleuse) 44 guns, launched 6 November 1683 at Dunkirk – wrecked August 1694 off Tortuga. , (ex-Trompeuse) 44 guns, launched 20 November 1683 at Dunkirk – condemned August 1705 and abandoned. , 44–48 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 17 November 1684 at Le Havre – sold September 1689. , 48–52 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 20 October 1687 at Le Havre – taken to pieces 1736. , 50 guns, design by Laurent Coulomb, launched 22 June 1688 at Toulon – captured by the English Navy in January 1695, added to the RN under the same name. , 40 guns, design by Howens Hendrick, launched July 1689 at Dunkirk – broken up 1718. , 44 guns, design by Etienne Salicon, launched 20 January 1691 at Le Havre – burnt off Orkney June 1703. Opiniâtre class, designed by Honoré Malet with 20 × 12-pounder and 20 × 6-pounder guns: , 40 guns, launched July 1691 at Rochefort – deleted 1699. , 40 (later 36) guns, launched August 1691 at Rochefort – broken up 1717. , 40 guns, design by François Le Brun, launched 28 May 1695 at Brest – deleted 1708.