The 1895–96 programme of naval construction for the Royal Navy included provision for four Second-class cruisers of the Arrogant class.

[nb 1] While most contemporary Royal Navy cruisers were intended for trade protection, the Arrogant class was designed to operate with the main battle fleet, finishing off crippled enemy ships by ramming.

While the protective deck had a similar thickness 1.5–3 inches (38–76 mm) compared to that of the preceding Eclipse class, the ship's conning tower had much thicker protection than normal, with 9 inches (230 mm) of armour to resist close-range enemy shells.

[1] The Arrogants, like many of the armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy, were often criticised by the contemporary press,[4] with the 1896 Brassey's Naval Annual considering that the class’s armament and speed were "hardly satisfactory",[5] with unfavourable comparisons made to armoured cruisers being built for export,[5] and ships in service with France and Germany.

[1] HMS Gladiator collided with the American liner SS Saint Paul in a heavy snowstorm off the Isle of Wight on 25 April 1908, sinking with the loss of 27 men.