c. 1240-1296

Italian Astronomer and Mathematician

Campanus of Novara, also known as Johannes Campanus, is best known for his edition of Euclid's (fourth century B.C.) Elements, which remained the standard text for teaching Euclidean geometry throughout the late Middle Ages. His Theorica planetarium was also very influential, helping to popularize the planetary equatorium, an instrument for astronomical measurement, in Europe.

Campanus, who referred to himself as Campanus Novariensis, a Latinized version of his Italian name, was born in Novara, Lombardy, as his name suggests. Little is known of his early years, and his birth date can only be approximated. He was a close friend of Panteléon, patriarch of Jerusalem. When Panteléon was elected pope in 1261, becoming Urban IV, Campanus was made one of his chaplains. Urban also bestowed upon Campanus the rectorship of the Church of Savines (1263) and a canonicate of...