The Novel

On the 500th anniversary of Jakob Fugger's death, the presumably richest man of all time, his hidden will is revealed.
The life-beaten local journalist Anton Pfaller and the brilliant historian Sophia Burda are suddenly swept into the vortex of this revelation. What initially appears to be a historical curiosity soon proves to be a puzzle that connects past and present inseparably.

The mere idea of an inheritance greater than anything imaginable sparks worldwide desire. While the Vatican remains silent, dark forces begin to act in the shadows.
Anton and Sophia come under the watch of these powers – and are forced to make decisions that will change their lives forever.

A novel about an ancient legacy, dark secrets, and the questions:

• Does love truly make one happy?
• Does the truth truly set one free?
• And does money truly make one rich?

Why this book? Why now?

Writing a book is a journey – one you can only complete once you have truly arrived. My fascination with Jakob Fugger, his life, and his legacy has accompanied me for many years. When you see how his foundation has endured for centuries, you inevitably ask yourself: Where did the rest of his immense fortune go? Should it not, through interest and compound interest, have reached unimaginable proportions?

Questions like these occupied my mind for a long time – but I had not yet reached the point where I could answer them in a book. Only through the death of my father, to whom this work is dedicated, did I become an heir myself. That experience was the key that allowed me to write *Fugger’s Legacy*.

The fact that 2025 also marks the 500th anniversary of Jakob Fugger’s death was coincidence or providence – perhaps both. I am grateful to be able to share this book now, and I wish all readers and puzzle-solvers the same joy that I had while writing and creating this story.

Anton’s Insta

Follow the main character Anton Pfaller on Instagram.
Anton’s journey on Instagram begins in November 2025 – even before the events of the novel take place.
Join him in the days and weeks leading up to the beginning of the story.

Starting December 30, 2025, you can follow Anton’s account in parallel with the events of the book.
If you haven’t read the book by then, beware of potential spoilers – though that might just make it more exciting.

Stay connected with Anton even after the story ends – who knows where his journey will lead next.

More Than Books

Follow “More Than Books” on Instagram – the author’s official account.
It’s about more than just books: behind-the-scenes insights, inspiration from history and the present, and thoughts on writing, researching, and riddles.

“More Than Books” is the best place to learn more about the author, his projects, and upcoming releases.
Stay tuned as new stories take shape – or as old secrets come to light again.

The Time of the Fuggers

Jakob Fugger lived during a period of great upheavals in Europe, an era when medieval structures met the early modern period. Politically, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation was a decentralized federation of hundreds of principalities, duchies, free imperial cities like Augsburg, bishoprics, and imperial knights. The formal "head of government" was the Holy Roman Emperor, who nominally held supreme authority over the empire. During Fugger's youth, Friedrich III. was emperor (reigned 1452–1493), followed by Maximilian I. (1493–1519), who modernized the imperial administration and tried to reduce territorial fragmentation. After Maximilian's death, his grandson Charles V became emperor in 1519, simultaneously King of Spain and ruler of vast colonies in America.

Augsburg, Fugger's hometown, was then a free imperial city, a kind of commercial and financial hub in the heart of Europe. Due to its location on key trade routes between Italy, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe, the city had strategic importance. The Fugger family leveraged the opportunities of international trade connections and built a global network ranging from textiles and spices to precious metals and credit transactions. Key trade and finance partners included the city-states of Venice, Florence, Genoa, the Habsburgs in Spain and Austria, the princes in the empire, and the popes in Rome. Particularly profitable were trade dealings with silver, copper, gold, and spices from long-distance trade.

Economically, the era was marked by emerging monetary centralization, the expansion of banking, and the rise of early capitalist structures. Assets like precious metals, high-quality fabrics (silk, velvet), spices, and rare books were highly valued. Money and credit were instruments of power – and Fugger exercised his entire financial acumen here.

Culturally, Europe was in the Renaissance: art and humanism flourished. Supporting artists, architects, and scholars was a status symbol for wealthy merchants. Fugger sponsored figures such as Albrecht Dürer, Hans Burgkmair, Tilman Riemenschneider, and Lucas Cranach the Elder. Books were valuable, mostly handwritten or reproduced in early prints by Johannes Gutenberg and his successors. Modern newspapers did not exist; information spread via printed pamphlets, letters, official notices, and word of mouth. Church news, political updates, or trade information was communicated through courier posts or public notices in the cities.

The language of worship remained Latin far into Fugger's life; sermons and Bible readings were in Latin, though people increasingly understood translations into the vernacular, especially in cities. Religion played a central role in daily life, reflected in Fugger's founding of the Fuggerei, providing housing for the needy and promoting a Christian way of life.

Everyday life and leisure varied greatly by social class. City residents engaged in crafts, trade, or simple tasks. Wealthy citizens enjoyed music, theater, hunting, festivals, and courtly banquets. Art, architecture, and literature expressed status and education.

Historically, the era was marked by major events:

• The discovery of America (1492) by Christopher Columbus opened new trade routes and prospects for resources and wealth.
• The Italian Wars (1494–1559), fought over control of Italy between France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire, shaped political alliances and trade routes.
• The Reformation began in 1517 with Luther's theses in Wittenberg, a movement that profoundly changed church and politics.
• Plague epidemics and recurring famines were constant threats to population and economy.

This epoch, where trade, finance, church, and art were closely intertwined, formed the foundation for Fugger's rise. His life demonstrates how a single merchant, through skill, networks, and capital, could influence the world of his time – economically, politically, and culturally. Many developments from this period still resonate today: financial systems, Europe's role in global trade, promotion of art and culture, and the foundations of social institutions in cities like Augsburg.

Jakob Fugger

Jakob Fugger, born in 1459 in Augsburg, is considered one of the most influential merchants and bankers of the Renaissance. Through his entrepreneurial foresight and outstanding financial dealings, he amassed a fortune that made him not only the richest European of his time, but by today’s estimates possibly the richest person in world history – measured by the share of his wealth relative to the then GDP.

Particularly noteworthy is his close relationship with Pope Leo X, which afforded him political influence and lucrative financial transactions. Fugger played a decisive role in financing the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. His wealth was not an end in itself: he used it to promote art, architecture, and religion. Among the artists and architects he supported were well-known names like painter Albrecht Dürer and sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider.

In Augsburg, Fugger left a lasting legacy: the Fuggerei, the world's oldest existing social housing complex, providing homes for needy citizens. His deep-rooted religiosity influenced many of his decisions; he was a devout Christian, using his wealth for social, religious, and cultural purposes.

After his death in 1525, his fortune was officially divided among heirs. Parts of his trade and banking operations continued, while the foundations he established, such as the Fuggerei, still exist today, keeping the memory of his vision alive in Augsburg. Jakob Fugger is still recognized as a visionary whose influence on economy, church, art, and social matters extends far beyond his lifetime.

Appendix Secretus

Archivist Bellini is at the end of his craft. The Appendix Secretus eludes even his experienced hands. What he cannot decipher is now before you: a final message, hidden between lines, symbols, and layers. Can you help unravel the secret?

The Appendix Secretus is no ordinary puzzle. It is a multi-level challenge: what appears as pure cryptography at first glance goes deeper – layer by layer, with each solution revealing a new hurdle. Only those who overcome the first level will reach the next.

Alone, it will be difficult, perhaps even impossible. Yet just like Anton and Sophia in the novel, you are not forced to go this path alone. Collaboration, patience, and acumen are the keys to revealing the hidden path. Those who dare are rewarded – already with the experience of being part of a greater quest.

And for the first to fully decode the Appendix Secretus: all that the key grants access to will be revealed. Which doors those are remains hidden – until you stand before them yourself.

Fugger Code

In the shadow of the great puzzle lies a second thread: the Fugger Code. It is subtly hidden in every edition of the novel – in the standard edition as well as in every special edition. Those who pay attention will find it.

The Fugger Code is less complex than the Appendix Secretus, yet far from trivial. It requires alert mind, perseverance, and the willingness to recognize patterns where others see only the surface. Those who crack it open the door to further layers and stages of the code.

Alone one may fail – together, however, the chances grow. Just as Anton, Sophia, and Johann complement each other in the novel, collaboration is also recommended here. Every discovery, every piece brings the group closer to the hidden goal.

And whoever deciphers the Fugger Code to the end gains more than just a solution: knowledge, insight, and understanding that extends beyond the pages of the novel.