The French Navy is set to celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2026, marking the date of the Saint-Germain Edict signed by Cardinal Richelieu in 1626. However, the origins of the French naval force can be traced back to the 16th century with the creation of the Levant and Ponant Navies. These early naval forces operated in the Mediterranean and the English Channel-Atlantic regions, representing a shift from temporary maritime units to a more permanent naval presence under royal authority. The concept of a formal navy began in the 1520s with the institutionalization of these two fleets, in response to the military challenges faced during the reign of King Francis I (1515-1547). The term "Marine" became the official name for France’s naval forces during this period, replacing earlier terms like "fleets" or "naval armies," which were used to describe temporary groupings of armed ships. This shift signified a growing recognition of the need for a structured and continuous naval presence. Under Francis I, the French coastline was divided into two regions: the Levant for the Mediterranean and the Ponant for the English Channel and Atlantic. This led to the establishment of the "Marine," a new naval administration responsible for managing the fleet. Key developments included the creation of naval bases and relay ports, which could support and maintain the fleet. The port of Le Havre, established in 1517, was a crucial milestone in this effort, providing a secure location for arming and maintaining the fleet. Additional ports such as Brest, Nantes, Marseille, and Toulon were developed to support naval operations, enabling the maintenance of squadrons of ships, including galleys, which were favored for their maneuverability and combat effectiveness. A professional naval body was also formed, including notable figures such as Jacques Cartier and Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, who were captains of the Ponant Navy. This body included sailors, officers, and specialists, some of whom were foreign experts. A system of quarterly payments for officers was introduced, with training based on a patronage model. These naval forces played a significant role in French diplomacy, as seen in exploratory voyages to the Americas by Cartier and Roberval, which were part of Francis I’s broader political strategy. These operations showcased the navy’s ability to project power across vast distances, even though some military campaigns, such as a large-scale attack on England in 1545, ended in tactical failure. Efforts to design a "perfect" warship were made at Le Havre, but the project failed due to the ship's excessive weight. Other specialized ships, such as galleons and galleys, were constructed, and naval officers like Jean de Clamorgan contributed to shipbuilding knowledge, writing a manual on the subject that, unfortunately, was lost. While the Levant and Ponant Navies laid the foundation for a professional French navy, the Wars of Religion and the political instability of the late 16th century weakened this development. It was not until the 17th century, under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, that these two Navies were unified into a single, more cohesive French Navy.