JULIUS II

Julius II: translation

(Giuliano della Rovere, r. 1503-1513)

Nephew of PopeSixtus IVwho raised him to the cardinalate upon ascending the throne in 1471. Elected to the papacy in 1503, Julius set out to expand the Papal States by capturing the Romagna, Perugia, andBolognaterritories the papacy had once owned. In 1508, he joined theLeague of CambraiagainstVenice, which resulted in the recovery of Rimini and Faenza. His other major political concern was to free Italy from the French. In 1511, he formed the Holy League with Venice, Spain, England, Switzerland, and the Holy Roman Emperor. In 1512, the Swiss defeated the French in Novarra, and Parma, Piacenza, and Reggio Emilia were annexed to the Papal States. The victory was short-lived as Julius died in the following year. The league was dissolved, and the French captured Lombardy. Julius is best remembered for his art patronage.Michelangelopainted theSistine ceiling(1508-1512) under his papacy andRaphaeltheStanza della Segnatura(1510-1511), both at the Vatican.Donato Bramantesubmitted his design for NewSt.Peter'sunder Julius' patronage (1506), and Michelangelo rendered the pope'stomb(1505-1545) originally intended for St. Peter's, but eventually placed in the pope's titular Church of San Pietro in Vincoli,Rome.