Markus Fugger

Background

He was the eldest son of Anton Fugger. On his father"s death in 1560, he and his brothers Hans and Jakob jointly managed their father"s business.

Career

When they split up the business in 1575, Markus took its northern division. With other family members, he took over part of the Fuggerhäuser in Augsburg. He was interested in church history, acted as a patron to artists and collected books and antiquities, taking on Nikolaus Juvenel as a portrait painter in Augsburg.

He organised sumptuous parties with hour-long firework displays.

Achievements

• He achieved several high offices - chamberlain to Archduke Ernest of Austria, Kammerpräsident, member of the kurbayrische (Bavarian) council, Pfleger (reeve) in the Landshut, and city-pfleger in Augsburg.