Jakob Fugger (1398 in

Augsburg Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the ...

– 1469 in Augsburg) was a German master weaver, town councillor and merchant, as well as the founder of the Fugger dynasty. He was later known as Jakob Fugger the Elder to distinguish him from his son

Jakob Fugger Jakob Fugger ''of the Lily'' (german: Jakob Fugger von der Lilie; 6 March 1459 – 30 December 1525), also known as Jakob Fugger ''the Rich'' or sometimes Jakob II, was a major German merchant, mining entrepreneur, and banker. He was a descendan ...

, who took over his father's company and oversaw its rise to be the largest and richest trading house in Europe.

Life

Jakob Fugger's father was Hans Fugger. Hans came from Graben to the free city of Augsburg as a Landweber in 1367. On his death in 1408, through hard work and consecutive marriages to two industrious and well off women, Hans left his family an on-going business and a large fortune. His widow Elisabeth Fugger-Gfattermann continued running the weaving and textile-trading side of the business until her own death in 1436. Her leadership was aided by Hans (initially) and by her sons

Andreas Fugger Andreas Fugger (1394, Augsburg – 1457, Augsburg), known as "der Reiche", was a German businessman. He was the oldest son of Hans Fugger and Elisabeth Gfattermann, making him the elder brother of Jakob Fugger the Elder. He was the founder of th ...

and Jakob (both apprenticed gold-workers). During the first three decades of the 15th century, the business thrived and the family amassed a considerable fortune. On his mother's death, Andreas assumed leadership of the lucrative, but still low-level, business. After splitting up the family business in 1454, Jakob started operating on his own. By 1461, Jakob was one of the twelve richest citizens of Augsburg.

Marriage and issue

On 13 April 1441, Jakob married

Barbara Bäsinger Barbara Fugger (1419 – 23 July 1497) was a German businessperson and banker. Biography Barbara Baesinger was born to a wealthy family in Augsburg, Germany. While still a teenager, she was married to textile merchant Jakob Fugger the Elder. S ...

, daughter of the

Münzmeister In medieval and early modern Germany, the ''Münzmeister'' ("mint master", the Latin term is ''monetarius'') was the head or manager of a mint, a moneyer with responsibility for the minting of coins, or specie. His duties were defined differently a ...

Franz Bäsinger. They had eleven children, including

Ulrich Ulrich (), is a German given name, derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements '' uodal-'' meaning "(noble) heritage" and ''-rich'' meaning "rich, powerful". Attested from the 8th century as the name of Al ...

, Georg and

Family tree

Sources

* Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München: ''Die Fugger im Bild. Selbstdarstellung einer Familiendynastie der Renaissance.'' Exhibition catalogue, Quaternio Verlag, Luzern 2010, . * Johannes Burkhardt: ''Das Ehrenbuch der Fugger''. Facsimile, transcription and commentary, 2 Bände, Wißner Verlag, Augsburg 2004, . * Götz von Pölnitz: ''Die Fugger.'' 6. Auflage. Mohr & Siebeck, Tübingen 1999, . * Franz Herre: ''Die Fugger in ihrer Zeit.'' 12. Auflage. Wißner-Verlag, Augsburg 2005, . 1398 births 1469 deaths Jakob the Elder German company founders 15th-century German businesspeople {{Authority control