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Preliminary design work in December 1896 was for a {{convert|7300|t|LT|sp=us|adj=on|0}} ship armed with ten {{convert|164.7|mm|adj=on|sp=us|1}} guns, two in single-[[gun turret]]s fore and aft of the superstructure and the remaining eight in [[Casemate#Single casemates (1889 onwards)|casemates]], protected by a {{convert|70|mm|adj=on|sp=us}} [[waterline]] [[armor belt]]. The {{lang|fr|Conseil de travaux}} thought that the belt protection was too weak and that it needed more endurance. The [[naval architect]] [[Louis-Émile Bertin]], recently appointed as the Director of Naval Construction ({{lang|fr|Directeur centrale des constructions navales}}), agreed and revised the design, sacrificing one pair of guns for more armor and additional coal, which increased its displacement. The {{lang|fr|Conseil}} accepted his revised design on 4 May 1897, although complaining about the deleted guns.<ref>Jordan & Caresse, pp. 79–80</ref>
''Dupleix'' was ordered from one of the naval dockyards on 18 December and orders for the other two followed on 28 December. Six months later, the {{lang|fr|Conseil}} proposed revising the armament, exchanging the single-gun turrets and the casemated guns for four twin-gun turrets, two replacing the turrets on the [[centerline (nautical)|centerline]] and two [[wing turret]]s, one on each [[broadside]], and adding four {{convert|100|mm|adj=on|1|sp=us}} guns in casemates. By this time, preliminary work had already begun on ''Dupleix'' and Lockroy, recently returned to office, suggested suspending work on the ships while studies were done. Bertin opposed the changes, but produced drawings by early March 1899, despite the work load on his designers who were focused on other projects, and they were approved by the Minister on 6 April. The changes greatly retarded the progress on the two ships ordered from private dockyards, which had already been laid down in early 1899.<ref>Jordan & Caresse, pp. 81–82</ref>
==Design and description==
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