The "Navarchos Miaoulis," as it was formally named, had been constructed in 1878 at the famed Forges et Chantiers shipyard in the French town of La Seyne, following designs by Lagan, and funded by the National Fleet Fund.

It arrived at the port of Piraeus in October of 1879, originally classified as a "Battleship.

The engines produced 2,200 ihp and used 1 propeller for a speed of 15 knots.

[2] Navarchos Miaoulis was built by Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée in France.

She was purchased by Greece as part of their program of naval expansion after the unsuccessful Cretan uprising of 1866.