About the Work This book combines the pleasant with the useful. The pleasant aspect is the insight into the life realities of famous individuals from seven centuries, their values and preferences as reflected in their wills, the disputes that arose upon their death, and not least, a look into their financial circumstances, which are vividly described and made comprehensible according to today's standards. The book is useful in that it demonstrates that certain considerations regarding inheritance arrangements have remained unchanged for centuries, while also highlighting newer developments that should be taken into account to prevent inheritance disputes. Content: The book contains 29 biographical sketches of prominent figures and institutions such as: - Kriemhild (Nibelungenlied) - Erasmus of Rotterdam - Martin Luther - Immanuel Kant - Ludwig van Beethoven - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.