BRAUNSBERG, a town of Germany, capital of a subdivision of the district of Konigsberg, East Prussia, 38m. S.W. of Konigs berg, on the Passarge, 4m. from its mouth in the Frisches Haff. Pop. 15,353. The castle of Braunsberg was built by the Teutonic knights in 1241, and the town was founded ten years later. In 1284, the bishop of Ermeland, who resided there, per mitted it to join the Hanseatic League. After numerous vicissi tudes it fell into the hands of the Poles in 152o, and in 1626 was captured by the Swedes who kept possession till 1635. It fell to Prussia by the first partition of Poland in 1772. It is a local agricultural centre. Its numerous Roman Catholic institutions include a philosophical and theological high school.