 At that time Andrea Doria was a Genoese admiral in the service of Emperor and King of Spain Charles V (with whom the petty Massese state had allied so far).After Doria refused to fund him, Giulio set a plot against him together with Ottobuono Fieschi, Ottobuono Fieschi and other Genoese refugees, also backed by the Strozzi family of Florence and Pope Paul III.The aim was to enter the city and kill Doria, the Spanish ambassador and other members of the Doria party.