's life
1. Born to a large family in 1538 - the second of six children.
2. Grew up in a rural farming community in northern Italy.
3. Attended the University of Padua and studied mathematics, astronomy, and anatomy.
4. Taught at the University of Pisa until he was dismissed due to his open opposition to the Church.
5. Moved to Rome and published several books, including a treatise on artillery and propellants.
6. Appointed by Pope Paul III as a "master of fortifications."
7. Was hired by Pope Paul IV to design new defenses for Rome.
8. Invited to France by Francis I to assist in the defense of Paris.
9. Helped to build the first bastion of the Bastille and the exterior fortifications around the city.
10. Offered refuge in England by Queen Elizabeth I and tasked with rebuilding the forts in Dover and Portsmouth.
11. Conducted many surveys, yielding maps and designs for fortifications.
12. Granted exclusive rights to import new weaponry, such as cannons and gunpowder.
13. Invested in two ships to transport the guns back to England, but they went missing en route.
14. Married Michele Tori, a French noblewoman, in 1591.
15. Died in London in 1593, leaving behind a son.