The history of the French navy, from capetians to the present day, by an Admiral historian. In France, a fundamentally terrian nation, the navy has often been perceived as a somewhat insolvent, if not marginal, institution that is discarded as soon as threats accumulate on the northern and eastern borders. And yet, the history of the French navy of war, from the 18th century to the present day, is rich in lessons, marked by setbacks, but also by moments of glossary. While the defeat of Trafalgar or the collision of the fleet in Toulon in 1942 were painful episodes, they should not hide the undeniable successes of Richelieu or Napoleon III, such as the quality and exploits of men of the Royale in the eighteenth century. Rémi Monaque covers all aspects of the issue — political, technical, strategic... — and outlines seven centuries of history. The Franco-British rivalry on the sea thus appears to be central, while the shift from sailing to steam navy marks a deep break. Finally, thanks to the testimonies gathered and his own experience, the author explains the latest developments of the 20th century, in particular the development of the coastline and the central role of the navy in nuclear deterrence. An executive summary.