Born as Giuliano Della Rovere on December 5th, 1443, Julius was the nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, who built the Sistine Chapel. Although his relationship to Sixtus helped his early career, he was forced to flee Italy to avoid assassination attempts ordered by Rodrigo Borgia(Pope Alexander VI), and stayed in exile for ten years before Borgia's death made it possible for him to return.
<Tab/>As pope, Julius became one of the most powerful rulers of the Renaissance, and was more concerned with political matters than theological ones. …
