Leonardo Fibonacci was born in Pisa, Italy around 1170. He was the son of Guilielmo Bonacci, who was a secretary of the Republic of Pisa and responsible, beginning around 1192, for directing the Pisan trading colony in Bugia, Algeria. Some time after 1192, Bonacci brought his son with him to Bugia. The father intended for Leonardo to become a merchant and so arranged for his instruction in calculational techniques, especially those involving the Hindu-Arabic numerals which had not …showed first 75 words of 305 total…

…showed last 75 words of 305 total…works that Frederick summoned him for an audience when he was in Pisa around 1225. After 1228, virtually nothing is known of Leonardo's life, except that by decree the Republic of Pisa awarded the "'serious and learned Master Leonardo Bigollo' (discretus et sapiens) a yearly salarium of 'libre XX denariorem' in addition to the usual allowances" (DSB). This stipend rewarded Fibonacci for his pro bono advising to the Republic on matters involving accounting and related mathematical matters.