Model of the French man-of-war 'César'

In the early 19th century, ships of the line were the largest and most heavily armed of the warships. In the event of attack, they would sail behind one another, hence their name. The ships of the line built in Antwerp for the French navy were of the third or fourth classcarrying 80 or 74 cannons respectively on their two decks. The 'César' scarcely saw any action as part of the Scheldt squadron. After Napoleon, the vessel fell into Dutch hands and was sold to the British in 1821.