 In 1170, Louis VII extended the privileges of the river merchants even further; only the boatmen of Paris were allowed to conduct commerce on the river between the bridge of Mantes and the two bridges of Paris; the cargoes of other boats would be confiscated.This was the beginning of the close association between the merchants and the king.The arrangement with the river merchants coincided with a great expansion of commerce and increase in the population on the Right Bank of the city.