DELLA ROVERE FAMILY

Originally from Liguria, the della Rovere achieved prominence when Cardinal Francesco della Rovere was elected to the papal throne in 1471 asSixtus IV. Their social position and wealth were sealed when in 1503 Sixtus' nephew, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, was elected PopeJulius II. Sixtus had invested his nephew Giovanni with the lordship of Senigallia and this new title made possible Giovanni's marriage to Giovanna diMontefeltro, the daughter of the Duke of Urbino. As a result, the della Rovere became the rulers of Urbino in 1508 when the Montefeltro line died out. The della Rovere name is closely tied to some of the most important masters of the Renaissance, includingMelozzo da Forli, who worked for Sixtus;Raphael, Michelangelo, andDonato Bramante, who were employed by Julius II;Titian, who served Duke Guidobaldo della Rovere; andFederico Barocci, whose protector was Duke Guidobaldo II.

See alsoUrban VIII.