Election of Pope Sixtus IV (1471)

Timeline

1. 1471Rome · RomePope Paul II died on July 26, 1471, and the papacy entered an interregnum. The Italian states watched the election closely, as the new pope's diplomatic leanings would directly affect the balance of power among Venice, Milan, Naples, and Florence.
2. 1471Apostolic Palace · VaticanAfter several days of deliberation, the College of Cardinals elected the Franciscan friar Cardinal Francesco della Rovere as the new pope, taking the name Sixtus IV (in honor of St. Francis). Of humble origin but highly learned, the result drew the attention of envoys from various states and was seen as a pope likely to intervene actively in peninsula affairs.
3. 1471–1472Rome · RomeAfter taking office, Sixtus IV promoted his relatives (Riario, Rovere, etc.), pushed for the militarization and territorial expansion of the Papal States, and launched cultural projects such as the Sistine Chapel. He initially reconciled with Venice and Naples, but conflicts with Ferrara and Florence gradually intensified, setting the tone for a series of conflicts in the 1470s.