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===Background===The future Pope was born Giuliano della Rovere, in 1443, to a noble but impoverished family. His uncle became Pope Sixtus IV in 1471. As was the custom of the time, the Pope Sixtus appointed Julius to offices and granted him various awards. In 1471, while still a young man he was elected to a position as Cardinal. This position allowed Juliuis to not only acquire power, but it also allowed him to become quite wealthy.<ref> Shaw, Christine. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0631167382/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0631167382&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1016a64a009cb710580ff0b6770df245|Julius II: The Warrior Pope]</i>. (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1993), p. 127</ref> When his uncle died, he helped to arrange for an ally to be elected Pope. Julius aid to the new Pope positioned him to most powerful Cardinal in Rome, but he still failed to become Pope after the death of Innocent IV. [[File:Papacy 2.jpg |250px|thumb|left|St Peter's Basilica]]His hated enemy Rodrigo Borgia became Pope Alexander IV and Julius left Rome and spent time in Northern Italy.<ref> Shaw, p. 133</ref> He only returned to Rome after the death of Alexander IV. He eventually became Pope in 1503. At the time, Italy was in turmoil and had just entered a new and bloody phase in its history. Venice was becoming increasingly powerful and was threatening the balance of powerin Italy. In 1494 the French invaded Italy and occupied the Kingdom of Naples. This invasion started a period of war between France and the Holy Roman Empire for control of Italy. Julius was faced with an unprecedented situation - how to limit Venice's growing power and expel the French empire from Italy. Like every other Pope, Julius II was determined to maintain his independence and control over the Papal States. In order to preserve the status of the Papacy in Italy, he was obliged to enter into alliances and wars.

His hated enemy Rodrigo ===The Fall of the Borgia’s===Even before became Julius became pope he fear that the Borgias would try to assassinate him. Julius was worried that Cesare Borgia became Pope Alexander IV would try to seize the Papacy or create a dukedom out of the Papal States. Cesare was head of the Papal Armies and controlled much of the Papal States. Julius left Rome was a shrewd man and spent time in Northern Italyhe managed to outmaneuver and bribe Cesare Borgia into allowing him to become Pope.<ref> ShawSabatini, Raphael. <i>The Life of Cesare Borgia</i> London: Stanley Paul & Company, 1912), p. 133167</ref>. He only returned According to Rome after the death of Alexander IV. He eventually became Pope in 1503. Italy at the time Machiavelli, Cesare was in turmoil and had just entered a new and bloody phase in its historydestroyed by his failure to stop Julius rise. Venice was becoming increasingly powerful and was threatening Machiavelli stated "therefore, the balance of power duke erred in Italy. In 1494 the French invaded Italy his choice, and occupied the Kingdom of Naples. This invasion it was to start a period of war between France and the Holy Roman Empire for control cause of Italyhis ultimate ruin. Julius was faced with an unprecedented situation and one that was fraught with threats for Julius II and the Papacy" <ref> Machiavelli, Niccola. Like every other Pope<i>The Prince</i> (Hamondsworth, Penguin, Julius II was determined to maintain his independence and his control of the Papal States. In order to preserve the status of the Papacy in Italy1992), he was obliged to enter into alliances and warsp. 45</ref>

[[File:Papacy 2.jpg |200px|thumb|left|St Peter's Basilica]]==The Fall of the Borgia’s==Julius faced a great challenge to his position even before he became Pope. He was a mortal enemy of the Borgias and he feared that they would try and assassinate him. Julius was also worried that It is not clear why Cesare Borgia would seize the Papacy or create a dukedom out of the Papal States. Cesare was head of the Papal Armies and control much of the Papal States. allowed Julius was a very shrewd man and he managed to deceive or bribe Cesare Borgia into allowing him to become Pope<ref> Sabatini, Raphael. The Life of Cesare Borgia. London: Stanley Paul & Company, 1912), p. 167</ref>. This according to Machiavelli was a fateful mistake "therefore, the duke erred in his choice, and it was the cause of his ultimate ruin." <ref> Machiavelli, Niccola. The Prince (Hamondsworth, Penguin, 1992), p. 45</ref>. There is still much debate as to why Cesare did this. Julius was able to rally effectively rallied an anti-Borgia collation to his side and he allied himself with the powerful Orsini and other noble families and . Ultimately, with their these families help he was able to take control of the Papal army, which was mostly composed primarily of mercenaries. Cesare was effectively powerless without the support of his army and he fled to Naples, where Julius managed to persuade the local ruler to imprison him. Later Cesare was sent to Spain and the power of the Borgia’s in Italy was broken forever. Julius according to many commentators at the time saved the Papacy from becoming a puppet of Cesare Borgia. Julius II also secured the Papal States as a single entity and denied Cesare Borgia the opportunity to carve a principality for himself from Papal Lands.<ref> Sabatini, p 115</ref>.

===League of Cambrai===[[File:Borgia Three.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Cesare Borgia- Julius' great enemy]]Julius was a restless and ambitious man. He was eager to extend the power of the Papacy after years of decline. In recent years, Venice had extended its power in Northern Italy at the expense of the Papal States. This decline was exacerbated by the fall of the Sforza dynasty in Milan. Venice was slowly becoming one of the greatest powers in the Mediterranean. Venice accomplished by leveraging its massive navy and trading networks into a formidable empire. Julius sought to maintain the balance of power in Italy and saw Venice as the chief threat to the Papal States. Furthermore, the Venetians had encouraged vassals of the Pope to revolt in the Papal States and occupied several cities in the Papal States.<ref> John Julius Norwich. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679721975/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0679721975&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c355b583109e2af36c61232ad83d9fc7 A History of Venice]</i> (New York: Vintage Books, 1989, p. 345)</ref>  Julius built a large Papal army and formed a military and diplomatic alliance called the League of Cambrai. It included many major Italian states and France. The French king’s army allowed Julius to recapture some key cities such as Bologna and Rimini from Venice. The League of Cambrai army met the Venetian army at Agnadello. (1509)<ref> Norwich, p. 356</ref> At this battle, the Venetians were decisively defeated and to retreat in Northern Italy. At one point, it appeared that Venice would even be captured. Venice was only saved after a desperate defense of Venice that was aided Venice’s navy. Julius, actually was not interested in Venice's complete defeat. Instead, he wanted a weakened Venice and once that was achieved persuaded the other members of the League to end the war. A few years later in 1510, Julius was able to reconcile with the Venice.<ref> Norwich, p. 377</ref> Julius successfully restored the balance of power with the help of the League of Cambrai. Furthermore, for the first time in many years, a Pope had full control of the Papal States. However, while this made it easier to govern the Papal States, Julius lacked the powerful enough city-state to challenge the French after the defeat of Venice. Essentially, defeating Venice Julius was forced to work with the French monarch and Emperor Charles V because they lacked a military that could challenge him directly.<ref> Norwich, p. 415</ref> ===Holy League===Julius II became concerned even before the Cambrai League’s victory at Agnadello of the growing power of the French. The French king, Francis I was a hugely ambitious monarch and had direct or indirect control of large areas of the north of Italy.<ref> Mallett, Michael and Christine Shaw. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0582057582/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0582057582&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=589df5407c544ee8dc846923248df7de The Italian Wars, 1494–1559: War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe]</i> (Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited, 2012), p. 89</ref> Julius was concerned that France could become the dominant power in Italy and the Papacy could ultimately be reduced to a dependency of the French Empire. Julius II was a powerful advocate of Papal independence but he also hated the French as outsiders and referred to them as ‘barbarians’.  <dh-ad/> In order to curb the growing power of the French he formed a new alliance, that became known as the Holy League. Julius negotiated a settlement with Venice in 1510 because he wanted to use them to control France. That same year he created the Holy League which was composed of the Swiss Cantons, Spain, several Italian City-States and Venice.<ref> Shaw, p. 134</ref> Later that year, Julius personally led an attack on the French held town of Mirandola, which he captured. The French were left very exposed in Italy. They were also defeated by the Swiss at the Battle of Novarra in 1513. Julius was too ill to savor his victory and in the end, the victory of the Holy Alliance was not as decisive as he had hoped.  Pope Julius died soon after the Battle of Novarra and without him the Holy League fell apart. He alone was capable of holding such a disparate collation and the League dissolved. Without the League the French were once again able to regain their control of Northern Italy after the defeat of the Swiss at Marignano in 1515.<ref> Mallet and Shaw, p. 113</ref> The French were not driven from Northern Italy until the 1550s by the Spanish armies commanded by Phillip II. The Holy League had initially been very successful and had greatly limited French power in Italy, if Julius had not died, it is quite possible that the League could have expelled Francis I entirely from Italian territory. <ref> Guicciardini, Francesco.<i>The History of Italy</i>. Translated by Sydney Alexander. (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1984), p. 117</ref> After the dissolution of the League, the future of Italy was to be decided by two foreign powers, the Valois dynasty in France and the Habsburg (the emperors of Germany and kings of Spain). Some historians have blamed Julius for allowing the Hapsburg dynasty to become entrenched in Italy. This criticism is probably unfair because had Julius lived, he would have been more effective at limiting their power. He was always guided by the principle of the balance-of-power in Italy and would have surely formed an anti-Hapsburg League.<ref> Mallet and Shaw, p. 113</ref>

League of Cambrai===Pope Julius II===Julius Julian was a restless and ambitious man. He was eager to extend the power one of the Papacy after a period of relative decline. In recent years Venice had extended its power greatly most powerful secular rulers in Northern Italy, especially after the fall of the Sforza dynasty in Milanand Europe. Venice was slowly becoming Julius did not neglect the greatest power in the North and this together with its massive navy, empire, Papacy and its trading networks made it arguably the greatest Italian powerChurch. Julius wanted He proved to be an able administrator and helped to maintain reform the balance government of power in Italy and saw Venice as a threat to his own the Papal States. FurthermoreJulius, the Venetians had encouraged vassals unlike his predecessors and many of his successors, was committed to reforming the Pope to revolt in Church. He was well aware that the Papal States Church was corrupt and occupied several cities in the Papal States<ref> John sought to dramatically reform it. Julius Norwich. A History of Venice issued bulls (New York: Vintage Books, 1989, p. 345orders)</ref>. Julius established a large Papal army and formed a military and diplomatic alliance called that forbade simony (the League selling of Cambrai. It included Church offices) and reformed many major Italian states and crucially France. The French king’s army allowed Julius to recapture some key cities such as Bologna and Rimini from Venicemonastic orders. The League of Cambrai army met the Venetian army at Agnadello (1509)<ref> NorwichShaw, p. 356118</ref>. At this battlePope Julius II was also a capable administrator and he reformed the curia,the Venetians were decisively defeated and they lost much of their territories in Northern ItalyPapal bureaucracy. It seemed at one stage that even Venice would be captured and only a desperate defense and Perhaps his greatest achievement was the Republic’s naval forces that saved it from total defeatFifth Lateran Council. Julius, it seems did not want This was convened to eradicate corruption in the complete defeat of Venice Church and he seems to have persuaded the other members of the League to end the war. Soon after many abuses in 1510 the Papacy had become reconciled Papal government. This Council despite its good intentions did not manage to the Venetian Republic <ref> Norwich, p. 377</ref>. The balance of power had been restored by achieve much because behind it Julius II and his League died before many of Cambrai on the Italian peninsulaintended reforms could be implemented. Furthermore, for If Julius II had managed to reform the first time in many Church this could have changed history as only four yearsafter his death, Martin Luther nailed his theses to a Pope had full control of the Papal StatesChurch Door. However, the most powerful Italian City-State If Julius II had been greatly weakened and this was able to mean that there was no single power that carry out his reforms he could rival the power of the French monarch and have prevented a schism in the Emperor Charles V<ref> Norwich, p. 415</ref>Church.

[[File:Still many of Julius IIs plans were thwarted or never came to fruition. Perhaps his most concrete achievements and successes were in the arts. He was one of the greatest patrons of the arts in Renaissance Italy. Julius was able to secure the services of Michelangelo, by paying him (or threatening him) into working in Rome. He commissioned the great Florentine, who preferred sculpting to painting - to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This is commonly regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance.<ref> Shaw, p. 118</ref> Julius also paid Raphael to paint four rooms in the Vatican, that are widely considered to be his masterpieces. Perhaps his most ambitious project was the rebuilding of the Basilica of St Peter’s, which had become dilapidated over the course of the centuries. He hired Bramante, the great architect to design a new Basilica. Julius’ project was completed by Pope Leo X. ===Conclusion===Julius II was one of the greatest Renaissance Popes. He stabilized the Papal States and held the French Empire at bay. Julius also engineered the downfall of the Borgia Threeclan and possibly saved the Papal States from being partitioned.jpg|200px|thumb|He was also a great patron of the arts and he has left|Cesare Borgia- the world an unprecedented number of artistic and architectural masterpieces. Julius' great enemy]]also had some notable failures. Despite all his efforts at reforming the Church, his untimely death stalled his reform efforts.

==While the Holy League==under Julius II became concerned even before served as a counterweight to the Cambrai League’s victory at Agnadello of the growing power of the French. The French king, Francis I was a hugely ambitious monarch and had direct or indirect control of large areas of the north of they failed to expel them from Italy<ref> Mallett, Michael and Christine Shaw. The Italian Wars, 1494–1559: War, State and Society in Early Modern Europe (Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited, 2012), p. 89</ref>. Julius This was concerned that France could become the dominant power in Italy and the Papacy could ultimately be reduced to a dependency of the French. because Julius II was a powerful advocate of Papal independence but he also hated the French as outsiders architect and referred to them as ‘barbarians’. In order to curb the growing power of driving force behind the French he formed a new alliance, that became known as the Holy League. The League comprised the Swiss Cantons, Spain, Venice and several Italian City-States and was formed in 1510<ref> Shaw, p. 134</ref>. In that year, Julius personally led an attack on the French held town of Mirandola, which when he captured. The French were left very exposed in Italy and they were defeated by the Swiss at the Battle of Novarra in 1513. Julius was too ill to savor his victory and in the end, the victory of the Holy Alliance was not as decisive as it had first seen. Pope Julius died soon after Novarra and without him the Holy League fell apart. He alone was capable of holding such a disparate collation together and soon the League was dissolved. Without the League the French were once more able to regain retrieve their old superiority in Northern Italy after they won a great victory over the Swiss at Marignano position in 1515<ref> Mallet and Shaw, p. 113</ref>. They were only driven from Northern Italy by the Spanish armies of Phillip II in the 1550s. The Holy League had initially been very successful and had greatly limited French power in Italy, if Had Julius had not died, lived it is quite possible highly likely that the League could he would have expelled Francis I entirely from Italian territory <ref> Guicciardini, Francesco. The History of Italy. Translated by Sydney Alexander. (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1984), p. 117</ref>. After driven out the dissolution of the League, the future of Italy was to be decided by two foreign powers, the Valois dynasty in France French and then turned his attention towards the Habsburg, who were Emperors in Germany and kings of SpainHapsburgs. Some historians have blamed Julius for allowing the Hapsburg’s to become entrenched in Italy but It is possible that if he had Julius lived, longer he would could have certainly sought to limit their powers. He prolonged the Renaissance, which was always guided ended by the principle of the balance-Hapsburg domination of-power in Italy and would have surely formed an anti-Hapsburg League<ref> Mallet and Shaw, p. 113{{MediaWiki:AmNative}}</refdiv class="portal" style="width:85%;">.

==Pope Julius II==Related DailyHistory.org Articles====Julian was one of *[[Why did the most powerful secular rulers in Italy and also in Europe. Julius Italian Renaissance End?]]*[[How did not neglect the Papacy and Bubonic Plague make the Church. He proved to be an able administrator and helped to reform Italian Renaissance possible?]]*[[What was the government role of the Papal States. Julius unlike his predecessors and many of his successors he was committed to reforming Popes in the Church. He was well aware that Renaissance?]]*[[What were the Church was corrupt and he tried to reform it. Julius issued bulls (orders) that forbade simony, that is causes of the selling of Church offices and reformed many monastic orders<ref> Shaw, p. 118</ref>. Pope Julius II was also a capable administrator and he reformed Northern Renaissance?]]*[[How did the curia, Renaissance influence the Papal bureaucracy. Perhaps his greatest achievement Reformation?]]*[[What was the Fifth Lateran Council. This Borgias contribution to Renaissance Italy?]]*[[What was convened to eradicate corruption in the Church relationship between faith and to end the many abuses reason in the Papal government. This Council despite its good intentions did not manage to achieve much because behind it Julius II died before many of the intended reforms could be implemented. If Julius II had managed to reform the Church this could have changed history as only four years after his death, Martin Luther nailed his theses to a Church Door. If Julius II had been able to carry out his reforms he could have prevented a schism in the Church.Middle Ages?]]</div>

==Julius II=References===Many of Julius IIs plans were thwarted or never came to fruition. Perhaps his most concrete achievements and successes were in the arts. He was one of the greatest patrons of the arts in Renaissance Italy. Julius was able to secure the services of Michelangelo, by paying him (or threatening him) into working in Rome. He commissioned the great Florentine, who preferred sculpting to painting to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This is commonly regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance<ref> Shaw, p. 118<references/ref>. Julius also paid Raphael to paint four rooms in the Vatican, that are widely considered to be his masterpieces. Perhaps his most ambitious project was the rebuilding of the Basilica of St Peter’s, which had become dilapidated over the course of the centuries. He hired Bramante, the great architect to design a new Basilica. Julius’ project was completed by Pope Leo X. ==Conclusion==Julius II was one of the greatest Renaissance Popes. He had many achievements. It was his drive that formed an alliance, that curtailed the ambition of the Venetians when they were threatening to dominate Italy. This Pope also engineered the downfall of the Borgia clan and possibly saved the Papal States from being partitioned. He was also a great patron of the arts and he has left the world an unprecedented number of artistic and architectural masterpieces. Julius also had some notable failures. Despite all his efforts at reforming the Church he achieved nothing, mainly because of his sudden death. Then there was the failure of the Holy League to expel the French from Italy. This was because, Julius the architect and the driving force behind the League and when he died the French were able to retrieve their position in Italy. Had Julius lived it is highly likely that he would have driven out the French and then turned his attention to the Hapsburg. In this way, he could have helped to prolong the Renaissance, which was arguably ultimately extinguished by the Hapsburg domination of Italy.