FUGGER, fook'er, or fug'ger, the name of a wealthy and illustrious German family of Suabia, descended from a weaver, who origin ally lived in the environs of Augsburg, about 1300. They were at first successful in selling clothes, but afterward extended their dealings and became merchants, accumulating an im mense fortune. Reaching the height of their affluence at the commencement of the 16th cen tury, they rendered considerable services to the Emperors Charles V and Maximilian, by mak ing them large advances. These princes be stowed titles of nobility on the Fugger family, and they soon became connected with the best blood of Germany. Promoted to the highest dignities of the empire, they did not an more neglect the pursuits of commerce.
riches were always forthcoming for the provement of their birthplace, Augsburg, where they erected some handsome monuments and founded philanthropical institutions. The best known of them are the three brothers, Ulric, James and George; and afterward Raymond and Antony, both sons of George. Ulric ceived for his loans to Maximilian the ship of Kirchberg, and the seigniory of senhorn, which afterward remained in the session of his family. He was a great courager of learning. Antony and Raymond
bore, to a great extent, the expenses of the
pedition of Charles V against Algeria,
ing from him the permission to coin money.
ry One day, at an interview with the emperor, Antony, as a mark of his regard and esteem, threw into the fire all the title-deeds and securities which Charles had deposited with him. Toward the close of the 18th century the family withdrew altogether from trade, confining themselves to the management of their landed estates. Count Anselm Maria of Babenhausen, of the Wellenberg line (b. 1776; d. 1821), was raised by the Emperor Francis II to the dignity of a prince of the empire. The principality of Babenhausen was annexed to Bavaria in 1806, and Leopold Fugger Baben hausen (1827-85), grandson of the first prince, was a hereditary Imperial councilor, and lord high-chancellor of Bavaria. He was succeeded by his brother Karl Ludwig Maria Fugger (b. gt9 l), who in 1891-93 was president of the Bavarian Reichsrat. Consult Jansen,