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Why did Pope Paul III travel to Nice in 1538?
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Paul III
Paul III, contemporary medallion; in the coin collection of the Vatican Library.
Pope Paul III traveled to Nice in 1538 as part of his ongoing diplomatic efforts to mediate between Emperor Charles V and King Francis I.1
The Pope sought to persuade these two monarchs to cease their long-standing wars and instead unite their forces against the Ottoman Turks, who posed a significant threat to the coasts of Italy and other parts of Christendom. Throughout his pontificate, Paul III employed careful diplomacy to avoid siding with either monarch, aiming to maintain peace and protect the interests of the Papal States.1