🇬🇧 Sovereign of the Seas — The "Golden Devil" of the English Navy

Built for King Charles I in 1637, the first true three-decker warship ever built. The Dutch called her the "Golden Devil" for her extraordinary gold carvings. She fought in the Anglo-Dutch Wars and was never defeated in battle.

• 🇬🇧 British Royal Navy — built 1637 for King Charles I
• 👑 First three-decker warship in history
• ✨ Called "Golden Devil" by the Dutch — covered in gold carvings
• ⚔️ Anglo-Dutch Wars — never defeated in battle
• 📐 Dimensions: 85L x 25W x 79H cm
• 🪵 100% handcrafted in solid wood — Vietnam
• 🚢 Shipping to Europe

A King's Vanity Project

Charles I demanded the construction of an enormous "Great Ship" in 1634, funded by the deeply unpopular "Ship Money" tax — a levy that would later fuel the English Civil War. Construction began at Woolwich Dockyard under master shipwright Peter Pett.

Launch and the "Golden Devil"

Launched on 13 October 1637, she carried 102 bronze guns and was covered bow to stern in elaborate gilded carvings. Dutch sailors nicknamed her the "Golden Devil" — a name capturing both her firepower and her dazzling appearance.

A Long and Storied Career

She served for sixty years, fighting in the Battle of Kentish Knock, the Four Days' Battle, and the Battle of Beachy Home among others — never once defeated in battle. She was finally lost to an accidental fire at Chatham around 1696.

Specifications

Each piece is entirely handcrafted — slight variations in finish are part of its authentic character.