In the late 15th century, the financial empire of the Fugger Brothers blanketed ... around the fortress city of Augsburg, where the family fortune began. Brother Jakob was the genius of the ...

Hans' son, Jakob Fugger, expanded the family's business, becoming one of the wealthiest men in Augsburg. Jakob's son, known as Jakob Fugger II, was born in 1459. Although his father died when he ...

was better known simply as Jakob Fugger the Rich. His family were textile merchants in the German city of Augsburg, but Fugger succeeded in expanding the business across almost all of Europe.

I'll leave the last word to Jakob Fugger, however. He was the one who controlled the sale of indulgences. If you visit his tomb in Augsburg today, you can see these words prominently displayed ...

the view stretches as far as the Alps -- located just one hour away by car from Augsburg. The city's Renaissance history is closely linked to one of its most famous sons: Jakob Fugger, the ...