Francis commissions the architect Pierre Lescot in 1546 to erect the present west wing of the Louvre complex, which will transform the old château into the palace that we know today.

A project put forward by Serlio is set aside in favor of Lescot's, in which three sides of a square court are to be enclosed by splendid apartments, while on the east, facing the city, the fourth side is probably destined to be lightly closed with an arcade.

Festive corner pavilions of commanding height and adorned by pillars and statues are to replace the medieval towers.

Francis also imposes a series of new taxes and institutes several financial reforms.

He is not, therefore, in a position to assist the German Protestants, who are now engaged in the Schmalkaldic War against the Emperor; by the time any French aid is to be forthcoming, Charles will have already won his victory at the Battle of Mühlberg.

The causes of the war themselves—chiefly, the contested dynastic claims in Italy—are to remain unresolved until the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis brings the Italian War of 1551–59 and six decades of conflict to a close.