Clement VII

Pope Clement VII, born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici in 1478, served as Pope from 1523 to 1534. He is known for his tumultuous papacy during the Renaissance, which was marked by the Sack of Rome in 1527. Clement VII's reign was characterized by political struggles between powerful families, the Protestant Reformation, and his efforts to maintain the Papal States. He is perhaps best remembered for his role in the formation of the League of Cognac against the Holy Roman Empire and for commissioning notable works of art, including those by Michelangelo.