An exceptional account of how a man defied the most powerful ruler of his time, thereby changing the course of European history. Throughout the 16th century, wars raged across Europe as kings and republics vied for wealth and power. However, one man surpassed all these medieval princes of Christianity: Suleiman the Magnificent. As the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, he governed 25 million people from Constantinople; his realm stretched from Persia to the Atlantic Ocean. Turning his attention to Europe, Suleiman attacked Rhodes, the fortress island of the Knights of St. John, but he faced Gabriele Tadini – an Italian who rose to prominence due to his genius as a military engineer.

This is an exciting story about the Crusader knights and gunpowder, about spies and tunnels, and about a crossroads in history when the medieval era gave way to the Renaissance. By exploring Italian sources in depth, Edoardo Albert combines the story of a humble man living in a remarkable period and executing extraordinary strategic works. Through his life, we discover how military tactics and fortifications changed rapidly thanks to the discovery of gunpowder, and how Europe, divided by ambitions and religion, avoided falling into the hands of one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known, thanks to a humble engineer.

Pages: 304, Year of Publication: 0602, Dimensions: 15.8x15.8cm