KONIGSBERG, ki?niKs-bhrN. A city of Prussia, ea pital of the Province of East Prussia, and a strong fortress. situated on the Pregel. about five miles from its entrance into the Frisehes Haff, in latitude 54° 43' N. and longi tude 20° 30' E. (Slap: Prussia. .1 1). It lies on both banks of the Pregel :mil on a small island in the river, and is composed of the three quarters of Altstadt and L;ibenicht on the right bank. and Kneiphof on the island. and several former suburbs on both banks of the river. The fortifications consist of a main wall (with 12 forts) on both sides of the river. and the fort of Friedrichsbur", on an island at the western end of the city. The chief public buildings are found mainly in the old quarters on the right bank of the river. The Kneiphof is the best laid-out por tion of the city and contains the town hall and the residences of the wealthy merchants. The newly restored Gothic cathedral, also in this sec tion, was begun in the fourteenth and completed in the sixteenth century, and contains a. fine ehoir. In the adjoining 'Stott Kantiana' is the grave of Kant, who was a native of the town. The Sehlosskirche is interesting as the place where Frederick I. and William I. were crowned. Above the church is the immense Mosko•iter saal, one of the largest halls in Germany. Among the most prominent secular buildings is the palace, situated in the Altstadt. It was begun in the thirteenth century, and is an extensive building containing Government offices, the Archives, and the Prussia Museum, besides the royal apartments. The Government buildings, the exchange, and the university are modern buildings of architectural merit. KOnigsberg has a fine statue of Frederick 1., and a bronze monu ment to Kant. The university was founded in 1544, and in the seventeenth century had 2000 students. The number at present is less than 1000. There are 131 professors and teachers. Its library contains 225.000 volumes. The frescoed anla is noteworthy. The other educational insti tutions of the city include the royal gymnasium, founded in 169S; the municipal gymnasium of the Altstadt, founded in 1335 as a parochial school: the Kneiphof municipal gymnasium, dating from 1304; the Wilhehnsgymnasium, two 'real' school., a semingry for female teachers, and
a number of art and special schools.
Kiinigsberg is administered by a chief burgo master, a burgomaster. and a board of magis trates of 25 and a municipal council of 102 mem bers. The city owns the water-works, a gas and an electric light plant, and abattoir. The man ufactures comprise various imn products. includ ing machinery and locomotives, wood products. spirits, tobacco and cigars, matches, pianos, amber goods, flour, cement, mineral waters, and marchpane. Konigsberg is a very important centre in the commerce between Russia and Ger many. The approach by water having been found inadequate for heavy ships,the important KOnigs berg Ship Canal, from the city to PiIlan. on the Bay of Danzig, was opened in 1901. Other exten sive harbor improvements are planned. The chief articles of trade are agricultural products, amber. tea, wood. spirits. petroleum. coal, colonial wares. leather products, and chemicals. The annual value of the commerce, which has latterly some what fallen off owing to Russian duties, is about $100,000,000. Kilnigsberg is the centre of the Prussian amber trade. Population, in 1890, 161, 666; in 1900. 189,483, chiefly Protestants.
The Altstadt of KOnigsberg owes its founda tion to the Teutonic Knights, who built a castle there in 1255. Destroyed by the Prussians in 1263, it was built on its present site, and obtained municipal rights in 1246. Dffienicht and Kneip hof became cities in 1300 and 1327 respectively. In 1457 the palace of K;;nigsherg became the residence of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order, and from 1525 to 1618 was the residence of the dukes of Prussia. The three towns were united in 1724. in 1758 Kffiligsberg was occupied by the Russians, and in 1807 by the French.
lioNIGSatiTTE, ki?nitis-likete. A town in the Province of Silesia, Prussia, 35 miles east northeast of Ratibor, and about 7 miles from the Russian frontier (Nap: Prussia. H 3). It has extensive smelting-works, and there are coal mines near. Population, in 1890, 36.507; in 1900, 57.375. Kiinigshiitte was formed in 1869 by the consolidation of various townships.