Jakob Fugger was the richest banker in history, a man so powerful that kings and popes depended on his wealth. He didn’t just make money—he rewrote the rules of finance and shaped European history in ways few people realize. From financing emperors to legalizing interest on loans, Fugger’s influence went beyond business—he funded wars, controlled the Church’s finances, and helped spark the Reformation by bankrolling the sale of indulgences. His financial empire introduced early banking practices that paved the way for modern capitalism. So how did one banker rule Europe without ever wearing a crown? And how did his medieval banking system influence the way we handle money today? Let’s uncover the forgotten story of Jakob Fugger, the banker who changed history.
Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f1P-nr-z5mXEjIQKADNx44ziEph3k33gBSHLy3DArC8/edit?usp=sharing
Music credit:
- Tom Fox - Waiting For A While (JHTNR2262)
***⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - The Banker Who Ruled Europe
03:10 - Fugger’s Rise to Power
07:16 - Fugger's corrupt deal with the Church
10:46 - Legalizing Interest
16:27 - The Reformation
19:47 - Fugger's legacy
Keywords:
- Jakob Fugger
- Richest man in history
- The banker who ruled Europe
- History of banking
- How money shaped history
- Finance history
- Rise of capitalism
- Banking and the Reformation
- The origins of modern banking
- Medieval banking system
- How banks changed the world
- The man who financed kings