Paper short abstract:

During the 16th century the cooperation between France and the Ottoman Empire was ratified through a series of agreements that brought major economic and commercial advantages for the extremely Christian King.

Paper long abstract:

Andrea Doria's move to take up the command of Charles V's galleys in 1528 marked the end of Francis I's dream of having a fleet under his orders, able to break the Catholic monarchy's naval hegemony within the Mediterranean. This event was ill-fated for the ruler of the House Valois, not only from a geopolitical viewpoint as regards control of the route from Spain to the Kingdoms of Southern Italy, but also because Doria, in addition to his experience as an admiral, made available his own family's coffers and those of the most important, Genoese, noble family societies in his capacity as asentista of the Hapsburgs. This situation pushed Francis I to seek an alliance with the other great Mediterranean Empire - the Ottoman Empire - in order to find an ally that could guarantee protection at sea from the Spanish galleys. In this regard it is suffice to recall the role of Khayr al-Dīn Barbarossa and the port base of Toulon granted him by the king. At the same time said ally also had to be strategically important as a commercial partner in order to open up the monopoly of traffic in this neighbouring Eastern area to France through the port of Marseille. This led to the signing of various agreements and a strategic alliance that only came to an end with Napoleon.