Carlo Doria was the second born son of Giovanni Andrea I Doria. In 1595 his father gave him the Palazzo Doria Tursi in the Strada Nuova in Genova. In 1623 he was in command of the Spanish Naval Squadron stuolo or squadra di Genova of Philip IV, and was involved in the Relief of Genoa in 1625. He was President of the Council of Italy and commandant of the Spanish fleet in Italy. Later he was Spanish ambassador to Vienna and at the Diet of Regensburg in 1630. In 1630 he fought and lost the battle of Veillane during the war of Mantuan Succession.