Pope Julius II

Ascension to papacy

A rivalry had, however, gradually grown up between him and Rodrigo Borgia, and on the death of Innocent VIII in 1492 Borgia by means of a secret agreement with Ascanio Sforza succeeded in being elected over della Rovere by a large majority, under the name of Alexander VI. Della Rovere at once determined to take refuge at Ostia, and in a few months afterwards went to Paris, where he incited Charles VIII to undertake the conquest of Naples. Accompanying the young king on his campaign, he entered Rome along with him, and endeavoured to instigate the convocation of a council to inquire into the conduct of the pope with a view to his deposition, but Alexander, having gained a friend in Charles's minister Briçonnet, by the offer of a cardinal's hat succeeded in counterworking the machinations of his enemy. On the death of Alexander in 1503 Della Rovere supported the candidature of Cardinal Piccolomini of Milan, who was consecrated under the name of Pius III, but was then suffering from an incurable malady, of which he died in little more than a month afterwards. Della Rovere then succeeded by dexterous diplomacy in winning the support of Cesare Borgia, and was elected to the papal dignity by the unanimous vote of the cardinals.

Related Topics:
1492 - Ascanio Sforza - Della Rovere - Alexander VI - Ostia - Paris - Charles VIII - Naples - Rome - Briçonnet - 1503 - Milan - Pius III - Cesare Borgia

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