Della Rovere

The Della Rovere (pronounced [della ˈroːvere]; literally "of the oak tree") were a powerful noble family at the time of the Italian Renaissance. The family had humble origins in Savona, in Liguria, and acquired power and influence through nepotism and ambitious marriages arranged by two Della Rovere popes: Francesco Della Rovere, who ruled as Sixtus IV from 1471 to 1484; and his nephew Giuliano, who became Julius II in 1503. Sixtus IV built the Sistine Chapel, which is named after him. Julius II was a patron of Michelangelo, Raphael and other Renaissance artists, and initiated the demolition and rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica. Also the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome was the family church of the Della Rovere. Members of the family were influential in the Church of Rome, and as dukes of Urbino, dukes of Sora and lords of Senigallia; the title of Urbino was extinguished with the death of Francesco Maria II in 1631, and the family died out with the death of his granddaughter Vittoria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany.