upon the death of pope alexander vi in 1503, venice occupied several territories in the northern papal states. when julius ii was elected as alexander's eventual successor, the venetians expected their seizure of papal territory to be tacitly accepted, as julius had been nicknamed "il veneziano" for his pro-venetian sympathies. but instead the new pope excommunicated the republic and demanded the land be returned.. the republic of venice, although willing to acknowledge papal sovereignty over these port cities along the adriatic coast and willing to pay julius ii an annual tribute, refused to surrender the cities themselves. in 1508, julius formed an alliance called the league of cambrai, uniting the papal states with france, the holy roman empire and several other christian states.