JULIUS II

born Dec. 5, 1443, Albisola, Republic of Genoa died Feb. 21, 1513, Rome original name Giuliano Della Rovere greatest art patron of the papal line (reigned 150313) and one of the most powerful rulers of his age. Although he led military efforts to prevent French domination of Italy, Julius is most important for his close friendship with Michelangelo and for his patronage of other artists, including Bramante and Raphael. He commissioned Michelangelo's Moses and paintings in the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's frescoes in the Vatican. Additional reading Ludwig von Pastor, Geschichte der Ppste, vol. 2 (1889; The History of the Popes, vol. 6, 1898), is the standard work of papal history; E.P. Rodocanochi, Histoire de Rome: Le Pontificat de Jules II, 15031513 (1928), the main French work on Julius; and G.B. Picotti, La politica italiana sotto il pontificato di Giulio II (1949), a study of Italian politics at the time of Julius. Two more recent biographies are C. Fusero, Giulio II (1965); and L. Bindi Senesi, Giulio II (1967).