Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II was the greatest art patron of the papal line and one of the most powerful rulers of his age.
Giuliano della Rovere
Religious Leader
December 5, 1443
Sagittarius
February 21, 1513
69
Albissola, Italy
Giuliano della Rovere, who later became Julius II, was the leader of the Catholic Church and governed the Papal States from 1503 until his death in 1513. Known as the Warrior Pope, he is best remembered for commissioning Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. Additionally, he brought Raphael to the Vatican, supported the creation of the School of Athens fresco, and tasked Bramante with constructing a new basilica, which required tearing down the original St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Julius II was not only one of the most influential rulers of his time but also the papal line’s most significant art patron.