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How did Pope Paul III strengthen the fortifications of Rome and the Papal States?
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Paul III
Paul III, contemporary medallion; in the coin collection of the Vatican Library.
Pope Paul III strengthened the fortifications of Rome and the Papal States by employing the architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and a team of other architects to oversee these defensive projects.1
The Pope took an active role in these efforts, frequently supervising the progress of these fortifications himself during his excursions throughout Rome and the surrounding countryside. These initiatives were part of a broader program of urban renewal and infrastructure development that the Pope championed during his pontificate to restore the city's prominence and security following the devastation of the 1527 sack of Rome.2