Julius II (1443 to 1513): Warrior pope elected through bribery, father of three daughters, who led campaigns himself

Giuliano della Rovere was loaded with bishoprics by his uncle Sixtus IV. The Catholic Encyclopedia reports that before his election he was the father of three daughters and that he used bribery in the elections of 1484 and 1503. As pope he led campaigns against Perugia and Bologna, concluded the League of Cambrai against Venice and placed the city under an interdict. At the same time he issued a bull against simony.

Life dates

1443-1513 (about 70 years old)

Country

Italy

Institutions

Holy See

Category

Financial misconduct, Violence

Level of evidence

B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

Background

Course of events

1. Julius was born at Savona in 1443. His uncle Sixtus IV loaded him with offices: the Catholic Encyclopedia lists numerous bishoprics, abbeys and revenues. He reigned from 1 November 1503 to 21 February 1513.
   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Julius, Julius II.

   „pope from the 1st of November 1503 to the 21st of February 1513, was born at Savona in 1443“

   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Julius, Julius II.

   „He was loaded with favours during his uncle’s pontificate“

2. As pope he enforced temporal power by arms. In 1506 he subdued Perugia and Bologna, in 1508/09 he concluded the League of Cambrai against Venice and placed the city under an interdict. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls him impatient, irascible, ambitious and warlike and reports that he himself marched against Mirandola in January 1511.
   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Julius, Julius II.

   „placed the city of Venice under an interdict“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Julius II

   „the impatient, irascible, ambitious, and warlike Julius II“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Julius II

   „he marched against Mirandola which he took on 20 January, 1511“

Response of the Church

1. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, his private life was far from stainless: before his election he was the father of three daughters. For the election of Innocent VIII he resorted to bribery, and for his own election he made great promises to the cardinals and likewise bribed.
   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Julius II

   „before he became pope he was the father of three daughters“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Julius II

   „he did not scruple to resort to bribery“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Pope Julius II

   „To ensure his success he made great promises to the cardinals, and did not hesitate to employ bribery.“

2. On 14 January 1505 he issued a bull against simony in papal elections, which the Lateran Council confirmed in 1513.
   Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Artikel Julius, Julius II.

   „His bull of the 14th of January 1505 against simony in papal elections was re-enacted by the Lateran council“

See also

• 301-1911 · 1610 years

  Simony: the buying and selling of spiritual offices and graces, from the 4th century to the Roman Curia

  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Financial misconduct
• Person 1414-1484 · about 70 years old

  Pope Sixtus IV (Francesco della Rovere)

  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Financial misconduct
  • Murder

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Julius (Julius II.), in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 15, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Julius II, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1910), Bd. 8, 1 January 1910. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.