Founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the elite corps is recruited from a group of Swiss towns and villages that for centuries have provided the Vatican's security watchdogs with responsibility for ...

From Mercenaries to Guardians of Faith Founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the Swiss Guard began as mercenaries hired to ...

Renaissance and Reformation Papacy: Art and corruption The Renaissance Popes, including Pope Julius II (1503–1513) and Pope Leo X (1513–1521), were great patrons of the arts, funding masterpie ...

Although Pope Julius II tempted him to Rome with the prospect of a huge marble mausoleum, in fact, the Pope really needed someone to paint the entire ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo ...

From the style and decoration of the chair to his beard, this portrait of Pope Julius II is laden with meaning. The painting depicts Julius towards the end of his life, when he was battling a ...

In 1513, Giovanni de’ Medici was proclaimed pope, succeeding Julius II; he took the name Leo X. In 1861, delegates from seven states adopted the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.

Received commission to paint the Battle of Cascina 1505 Summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II; commissioned to create the tomb for the pope. Spent eight months in the quarries of Carrara selecting ...

For nearly two millennia, the papacy has shaped world history, standing at the intersection of faith, politics, and power. From its humble beginnings with St. Peter to its modern incarnation as a ...