Editing Pope Clement VII (section)

===Under Pope Adrian VI===
[[File:Paus Adrianus VI (1459-1523) Rijksmuseum SK-A-513.jpeg|thumb|Portrait of Pope Adrian VI in the [[Rijksmuseum]]]]

When Pope Leo X died on 1 December 1521, Cardinal Giulio was "widely expected to succeed him"—but instead, during the conclave of 1522, the College of Cardinals elected a compromise candidate, [[Adrian VI]] of the Netherlands.<ref name="Strathern"/> Of why this happened, historian [[Paul Strathern]] writes, "it was common knowledge that [Cardinal Giulio] had been Leo X's most able adviser, as well as manager of the pope's financial affairs. The fact that Leo X had blithely ignored his cousin's advice, on so many occasions, was widely seen as being responsible for the plight of the papacy—not the influence of Cardinal Giulio de' Medici. On the contrary, Cardinal Giulio appeared to be everything that Leo X was not: he was handsome, thoughtful, saturnine and gifted with good taste. Despite this, many remained steadfast in their opposition to his candidacy."<ref name="Strathern"/>

In conclave, Cardinal Giulio controlled the largest voting bloc, but his enemies forced the election to a stalemate.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/SV1521.html|title = Sede Vacante 1521–1522}}</ref> Among them were Cardinal [[Francesco Soderini]], a Florentine whose family had lost a power struggle to the Medici "and held a grudge"; Cardinal [[Pompeo Colonna]], a Roman nobleman who wanted to become Pope himself; and a group of French cardinals who "were unwilling to forget Leo X's treachery to their King".<ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref name="Strathern"/>

Realizing that his candidacy was in jeopardy, "Cardinal Giulio now chose to make an astute tactical move. He declared modestly that he was unworthy of such high office; instead, he suggested the little-known Dutch scholar Cardinal Adriaan Boeyens, an ascetic and deeply spiritual man who had been tutor to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Cardinal Giulio was sure that Cardinal Boeyens would be rejected—on the grounds of his obscurity, his lack of political expertise and the fact that he was not Italian. The selfless suggestion that had been made by Cardinal Giulio de' Medici would then demonstrate to all that he was in fact the ideal candidate. But this move backfired badly, Cardinal Giulio's bluff was called and Cardinal Boeyens was elected as Pope Adrian VI."<ref name="Strathern"/>
 
During his 20-month papacy, Adrian VI "seemed to set great store by Cardinal Medici's opinions&nbsp;... And all the other cardinals were kept distinctly at arm's-length."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pickle-publishing.com/papers/triple-crown-adrian-vi.htm|title = Pope Adrian VI: Proceedings of the Conclave that led to his election}}</ref> In this way, Cardinal Giulio "wielded formidable influence" throughout Adrian's reign.<ref>{{cite web |first=J. P. |last=Adams |url=http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/SV1521.html |title=Sede Vacante and Conclave of 1521–1522 |publisher=California State University, Northridge |access-date=2016-03-27}}</ref> Splitting time between the Palazzo Medici in Florence and the [[Palazzo della Cancelleria]] in Rome, Cardinal Giulio "lived there as a generous Medici was expected to live, a patron of artists and musicians, a protector of the poor, a lavish host".<ref>{{cite book|first=Christopher|last=Hibbert|author-link=Christopher Hibbert|title=The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall|year= 1999}}</ref>

====Assassination plot of 1522====
In 1522, rumors began to swirl that Cardinal Giulio—lacking legitimate successors to rule Florence—planned to abdicate rule of the city and "leave the government freely in the people".<ref name="oll.libertyfund.org"/> When it became clear that these rumors were untrue, a faction of mostly elite Florentines hatched a plot to assassinate him and then install their own government under his "great adversary", Cardinal [[Francesco Soderini]].<ref name="webdept.fiu.edu">{{Cite web|url=https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios1503.htm#Soderini |first=Salvador |last=Miranda |work = The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church: Biographical Dictionary |title=SODERINI, Francesco (1453-1524)}}</ref><ref name="oll.libertyfund.org"/> Soderini encouraged the plot, exhorting both Adrian and [[Francis I of France]] to strike against Giulio and invade his allies in Sicily. This did not happen. Instead of breaking with Giulio, Adrian had Cardinal Soderini imprisoned.<ref name="webdept.fiu.edu"/> Afterward, the principal conspirators were "declared rebels", and some were "apprehended and beheaded; by which means Giulio was again secured [as leader of Florence]."<ref name="oll.libertyfund.org"/>