How did Fra Giocondo defend Padua against French artillery in 1509?

To defend Padua against French artillery in 1509, the monk-engineer Fra Giocondo implemented a strategy that moved away from traditional, vulnerable high-walled fortifications.1

His defensive approach included the following key measures:

• Lowering the Walls: He cut down the city’s existing medieval walls, as high, vertical masonry was highly susceptible to being breached by heavy siege cannon.1
• Broad Ditch and Flanking Fire: He surrounded the city with a wide ditch. To protect this perimeter, he constructed projections extending into the ditch that featured gunports set at a low level, allowing defenders to sweep the area with flanking fire.1
• Resistant Ramparts: By utilizing low, earthen ramparts, he created a defense that was far more resistant to cannon shot than the stone walls they replaced.1

These innovations proved highly effective; the French and their allies found that their artillery had little impact on the low-profile defenses. After several failed and costly assaults, the besieging forces were forced to withdraw.1