Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the League of Cambrai victory help restore the Papal States?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Medallion depicting Pope Julius II — Julius II Julius II, contemporary medallion; in the coin collection of the Vatican Library.

The League of Cambrai was instrumental in restoring the Papal States because it allowed Pope Julius II to reclaim territories that had been seized by the Republic of Venice following the death of Pope Alexander VI.12

After joining the anti-Venetian alliance in March 1509, Julius II leveraged the military pressure exerted by the league's forces—specifically the French victory at the Battle of Agnadello—to recover key cities in the Romagna region. By aligning with major European powers against Venice, Julius II successfully reversed the territorial losses that had left the Papal States in ruin under the previous administration. This strategic move served his primary pontifical goal of consolidating and restoring papal authority over central Italian lands.12