EMDEN, a maritime town of Germany, in the Prussian province of Hanover, near the mouth of the Ems. Pop. 34,112. Emden (Emuden, Emetha) first mentioned in the 12th century, was sold in 1252 to the bishops of Munster, but the epis copal provosts and castellans soon established their practical in dependence. Towards the end of the 14th century the town gained a considerable trade owing to the permission given by the provost to the pirates known as "Viktualienbriider" to make it their market, after they had been driven out of Gothland by the Teu tonic Order. In 1402, after the defeat of the pirates off Heligoland by the fleet of Hamburg, Emden was besieged, but it was not reduced by Hamburg, with the aid of Edzard Cirksena of Greetsyl, until 1431. The town was held jointly by its captors till when Hamburg sold its rights to Ulrich Cirksena, who became count of East Friesland. In 1544 the Reformation was introduced, and in the following years numerous Protestant refugees from the Low Countries found their way to the town. In 1595 Emden be came a free imperial city under the protection of Holland, and was occupied by a Dutch garrison until 1744 when, with East Friesland, it was transferred to Prussia. In 1810 Emden became the chief town of the French department of Ems Oriental; in 1815 it was assigned to Hanover, and in 1866 was annexed with that kingdom by Prussia. The Ems once flowed beneath its walls, but is now 2 m. distant, and connected with the town by a broad and deep canal, divided into the inner (or dock) harbour and the outer (or "free port") harbour. The latter since the construction of the Ems-Jade and Dortmund-Ems canals, has been deepened to 38 ft., thus allowing the largest sea-going vessels to approach its wharves, while canals bring the town into communication with most of East Friesland, of which it is the commercial capital. Its waterways and its gabled mediaeval houses give it the appearance of an old Dutch, rather than of a German, town. The Reformed "Great Church" (Grosse Kirche) is a large Gothic building com pleted in 1455 and the Gasthauskirche was formerly the church of a Franciscan friary founded in 1317. The Rathaus (town hall) was built in 1574-76, on the model of that of Antwerp, with a lofty tower, and contains an interesting collection of arms and armour. There are schools of commerce, navigation and teleg raphy. Emden trades in agricultural produce and live-stock, horses, timber, coal, tea and wine. The deep-sea fishing industry of the town is important. Machinery, cement, cordage, wire ropes, tobacco, leather, chemicals, etc., are manufactured and shipbuild ing is carried on. Emden is also of importance as the station of the submarine cables connecting Germany with England, North America and Spain.