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Why was Julius II concerned about Spanish influence in Italy near the end of his life?
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Julius II
Julius II, contemporary medallion; in the coin collection of the Vatican Library.
Toward the end of his life, Pope Julius II became concerned about Spanish influence in Italy because he feared that Spanish efforts to attain supremacy were simply replacing the French influence he had worked so hard to expel.1
As an exponent of Italian national consciousness, Julius II had successfully led efforts to drive the French from Italy, viewing the restoration and protection of the Papal States as the primary task of his pontificate. While he had previously formed alliances with Ferdinand II of Spain to counter French power, he grew wary of the shifting balance of power as Spanish ambitions for dominance in the region became apparent. His concern reflected a broader desire to maintain Italian independence from foreign hegemony.12