Sixtus IV, born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. He was a powerful and influential figure in the Catholic Church during the Renaissance, and his papacy was marked by a number of important reforms and initiatives.
Sixtus IV was born in 1414 in Savona, Italy. He was the son of a fisherman, and he was educated at the University of Pavia. After graduating, he became a Franciscan friar and eventually rose to the position of cardinal. He was elected pope in 1471, and he took the name Sixtus IV in honor of his predecessor, Pope Sixtus III.
Sixtus IV was a strong supporter of the arts and sciences, and he was a major patron of the Renaissance. He commissioned the rebuilding of the Sistine Chapel, and he also commissioned the construction of the Sistine Bridge, which connected the Vatican to the Castel Sant'Angelo. He also commissioned the construction of the Sistine Library, which housed a large collection of books and manuscripts.
Sixtus IV was also a major reformer of the Catholic Church. He established the Congregation of the Inquisition, which was responsible for investigating and punishing heretics. He also established the College of Cardinals, which was responsible for electing the pope. He also reformed the papal bureaucracy, and he established the Papal States, which were a collection of territories under the direct control of the pope.
Sixtus IV was also a major political figure during his papacy. He was a strong supporter of the Italian city-states, and he was a major ally of Florence. He also supported the expansion of the Papal States, and he was a major opponent of the Ottoman Empire. He also supported the Spanish Reconquista, and he was a major ally of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
Sixtus IV was also a major supporter of the arts and sciences. He commissioned the rebuilding of the Sistine Chapel, and he also commissioned the construction of the Sistine Bridge. He also commissioned the construction of the Sistine Library, which housed a large collection of books and manuscripts. He also commissioned the construction of the Sistine Chapel frescoes, which were painted by Michelangelo.
Sixtus IV was also a major reformer of the Catholic Church. He established the Congregation of the Inquisition, which was responsible for investigating and punishing heretics. He also established the College of Cardinals, which was responsible for electing the pope. He also reformed the papal bureaucracy, and he established the Papal States, which were a collection of territories under the direct control of the pope.
Sixtus IV was a major figure in the Catholic Church during the Renaissance, and his papacy was marked by a number of important reforms and initiatives. He was a strong supporter of the arts and sciences, and he was a major patron of the Renaissance. He was also a major reformer of the Catholic Church, and he was a major political figure during his papacy. His legacy is still felt today, and his reforms and initiatives continue to shape the Catholic Church.