Marseilles - History II by Kuznetsov_Sergey
1481 Marseilles and Provence are united to the Kingdom of FranceOn his death bed, Charles II dictated his will by which he left Provence to Louis XI. This meant that the city was absorbed into the Kingdom of France. However, this union, which had been much sought after by the trading community, who saw the advantages in abolishing the frontiers which isolated them from the fairs in Lyons, did not bring peace. An arsenal was built and a fleet of warships had to be reconstituted. Marseilles was to prove its allegiance to the monarchy.
In 1516 Francois I visited the city which received him with much pomp and ceremony. Miranda, the King's commissioner, had the city's ramparts reconstructed.
The Chateau d?If was built to defend the bay from marauders.
In 1535, Francois I formed an allegiance with the enemies of Christianity, the Turks. This treaty gave Marseilles a major role in trade with the East. At the same time as it expanded as a trading centre, Marseilles also developed as a naval base.
