November 1, 1503

The voice of Cardinal-deacon Raffaele Riario rang out over the crowd: Papam habemus! Reverendissimum Dominum Cardinalem Sancti Petri ad Vincula, qui vocatur Julius Secundus!

Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere was elected after the quickest election in the history of the conclave, only one scrutiny required that was immediately met with the unanimous consent of the College of Cardinals. There were rumours the French-alligned Cardinals would try to block the election of Della Rovere however certain events transpired that made it clear that his election was inevitable and preventing it would only increase any existing animosity.

"What transpired?" the Catholics of Rome asked. "Good question!" nobody in particular responded. Two weeks after his election it was clear that the most holy Pius III was on his last legs, or leg rather. His operations were unsuccessful and fever was setting in. Wasting no time, Cardinal Della Rovere went to work. Rumours were abound of Cardinal Carafa after the French Cardinals preferred him after the candidacy of d'Amboise was ruled out. Many Italian Cardinals were now looking for a strong opponent. Sforza and Medici were brought into the Della Rovere camp with promises of support for temporal causes and a position as a palatinate Cardinal respectively. Carafa was also bribed with positions and cash which caused him to endorse Della Rovere, whom nobody could accuse of being a French agent.

The Venetian Domenico Grimani appeared to be papabile during the final days of Pope Pius III. Spectacularly wealthy and the son of a Doge of Venice, he was suitable to the Italian and also relatively neutral to Borgia and French aligned Cardinals. However the bloc of Borgia and Spanish Cardinals remained uncourted.

Grimani's efforts were all for naught however. In the early hours of the morning on October 30, a seemingly impossible deal was struck between the Duke Cesare Borgia, and Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere. The two former enemies had met in the the Palazzo della Cancelleria, residence of Raffaele Riario who guaranteed the safety of both the Duke and the Cardinal.

There, they agreed to the following conclave capitulation:

-A General council to be held within two years

-Cardinals to be consulted on creation of new cardinals and other matters

-Agreement of a supermajority of cardinals for the pope to declare war

-Agreement of a supermajority of cardinals to appoint or depose lieutenants of the church (vicars of the Papal States)

-Cardinals to be consulted on appointments to the stations of Gonfalonier and Captain-General

Della Rovere agreed and thus the Spanish Cardinals and Borgia aligned cardinals such as Sigismondo Gonzaga and Alessandro Farnese fell in line. With Della Rovere possessing all the required votes required for election he was elected Pope by essentially unanimous consent, receiving every vote but his own, after only two hours.

May God bless his reign.