Mediterranean Fleet (France)

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Marine Nationale

Motto: Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline (“Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline”) Command Naval Ministers Maritime Prefect Components Force d'action navale Force océanique stratégique Aviation navale FORFUSCO Commandos de Marine Fusiliers de Marine Gendarmerie Navale Equipment Current Fleet Current deployments Personnel Ranks in the French Navy History History of the French Navy Future of the French Navy Ensigns and pennants Historic ships    battleships    cruisers    ships of the line    Sail frigates Historic Fleets Awards Croix de guerre Médaille militaire Légion d'honneur Ribbons

The French Mediterranean Fleet is one of the two major forces of the French Navy. It is based at the French port of Toulon to the east of Marseille. Its predecessor was the Flotte du Levant.

[edit] Levant Fleet

In Ancien Régime France the Levant Fleet (French: Flotte du Levant) was the part of the royal French navy based at Toulon, entrusted with Mediterranean operations. Its counterpart was the Ponant fleet, based at Rochefort or Brest. It was the forerunner of today's Mediterranean Fleet.

This fleet appeared in the portfolios of the secretaries of state in 1626, the same year as Richelieu was named "grand maître de la navigation". The two fleets were united in 1642, then split up again in 1661. The two fleets were put under the control of Colbert from 1662, whilst he was "intendant des finances" and "minister of state" but not "secretary of state" : he only became secretary of state in 1669 after having bought his way into the post. From then on, right up to the French Revolution, a secretary of state had responsibility for the whole fleet.