biography
| name: |
Julius II
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originally Giuliano della Rovere
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1443–1513)
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| biography:
| Pope (1503–13), born in Albizuola, NW Italy, the nephew of Sixtus IV. He became a monk in 1468, was created cardinal by his uncle in 1471, and was endowed with many wealthy estates. While Alexander VI was pope, Giuliano had to go into exile for fear of his life. Once elevated to the papal chair, his public career was mainly devoted to political and military enterprises for the re-establishment of papal sovereignty in its ancient territory, and for the extinction of foreign domination in Italy, for which end he joined the League of Cambrai (1508). He is best known as a liberal patron of the arts; he employed Bramante for the design of St Peter's begun in 1506, had Raphael brought to Rome to decorate his private apartments, and commissioned Michelangelo for the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and for his own tomb. His military exploits inspired Erasmus's satire Julius Exclusus. |
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