Julius

Julius is the name of not less than three popes: ST. Julius I., Pope from 337 to 332; Julius II., pope from 1502 to 1513; and Julius III., Pope from 1550 to 1555, of which only Julius II deserves notice.

Julius II., an Italian by birth, was more of a soldier than a priest, and, during his pontificate, was almost wholly occupied with wars against the Venetians for the recovery of Romagna, and against the French to drive them out of Italy, in which attempt he called to his aid the spiritual artillery at his command, by ex-communicating Louis XII and putting his kingdom under an interdict in 1542. He sanctioned the marriage of Henry VIII with Catharine of Aragon, commenced to rebuild St. Peter's at Rome, and was the patron of Michael Angelo and Raphael.

Nearby pages
Julius Africanus, Julius Caesar Scaliger, Julius Charles Hare, Julius Furst, Julius Jakob, Julius Mohl