When is the earliest opportunity for France to acquire Algeria.

After having looked at the methods which France used to get Algeria in the 1800s is it possible for them to do so earlier in history. The only credible threat i can see against France in this instance would be the Ottomans, however even during the early 1700s they were a declining state with only nominal control of the Maghreb countries.

As such i would like to know the earliest time when the French had both the military capability and the political will to attempt a capture of the Algerian coastline. (i believe that the hinterland would be a much longer and more difficult campaign that can be talked about later)
 
I'd believe after the War of Spanish Succession. After 1715 the "Bourbon Alliance" was in a desperate naval race with Great Britain and the United Provinces, slowly catching up and being on the losing side in the Mediterranean. I could imagine that they could get the idea of acquiring the Barbary ports to secure the area for themselves and to counteract the British presence on Gibraltar and the Eastern Mediterranean by acquiring ports for themselves.

So probs after 1721 (the Mississippi Bubble) and before 1756 (the Seven Years war). In the ensuing period they were way too indebted for such a costly operation.
 
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