The class was built as part of a construction program intended to provide scouts for the main battle fleet.

They were based on the preceding Forbin class, the primary improvement being the addition of armor to the conning tower.

After the first two ships were ordered, the navy requested competing proposals from private shipyards, and the design from Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde was selected, which became the Troude class.

The ship's propulsion system consisted of a pair of compound steam engines driving two screw propellers.

At a more economical speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), the ship could steam for 2,110 nautical miles (3,910 km; 2,430 mi).

In 1893–1894, Troude had her cofferdam replaced by a layer of highly sub-divided watertight compartments that covered the entire width of the deck.

[4] The contract for Troude was placed on 16 August 1886 with the Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde shipyard in Lormont.

[3][4] She was launched on 22 October 1888, was moved to Rochefort on 24–25 November for fitting-out, and was commissioned for sea trials on 6 December 1888.

On entering service, she was assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron, the main French battle fleet, and she departed Rochefort on 15 February.

[11] Later that year, she served as the flagship of Rear Admiral Édouard Pottier in the Levant Division at the start of the Cretan Revolt of 1897–1898.

[12] By 1898, the armored cruiser Amiral Charner had replaced Troude as the flagship, allowing the latter to return to France.

[15] She operated as part of the Newfoundland and Iceland Naval Division in 1904 in company with the protected cruiser Lavoisier, which was tasked with patrolling fishing areas off the coast of North America.