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Why did Julius II join the League of Cambrai?
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Julius II
Julius II, contemporary medallion; in the coin collection of the Vatican Library.
Pope Julius II joined the League of Cambrai primarily to restore the Papal States, which had been significantly diminished following the death of Pope Alexander VI.12
After the Borgia era, the Republic of Venice had seized and appropriated large portions of papal territory. By aligning himself with the major European powers—including France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Spain—Julius II sought to dismantle Venetian control over these lands. His participation in the alliance proved successful, as the defeat of Venetian forces allowed him to recover key cities in the Romagna and effectively restore the integrity of the Papal States.12