AUGSBURG, ougebvrK ( Lat. Augustus, the Roman Emperor who built it + Ger. Burg, fort. stronghold : anc. Augusta Vindc/iroruni, Augusta of the Vindelici). Capital of the Bavarian Gov ernment district of Sualda and Neuberg, situ ated in latitude 4S° 21' N., longitude 10° 54' E., about 1625 feet above sea-level, on the point of land formed by the junction of the rivers Wertach and Lech, 39 miles west-north west of Munich by rail (Map: Germany, D 4). It has a mean annual temperature of about 45° F. It consists of the inner town and six suburbs, and in spite of the fact that its ancient forti fications have been removed, and their place taken by broad avenues and squares, the town still presents a distinctly medbeval appearance, several of the streets, such as the .Iacoberstrasse and Barffisse•gasse, being rich in buildings of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries. The main thoroughfare is the handsome Ma xim ilian strasse, lined with numerous interesting build ings and adorned with three tine bronze foun tains. Several of the churches are fine Gothic structures, notably the cathedral, begun in 995 as a Romanesque basilica, but altered in the Fourteenth Century to the Gothic style, with fine bronze doors, old stained-glass windows, and several altar-pieces by llolbein the elder. Among the others may be mentioned the Church of Saint Anna, dating from the Fifteenth Century, with several valuable altar-pieces; and the beautiful memorial chapel of the Fugger family; the two churehes (Roman Catholic and Protestant) of Saint Ulrich, the former being particularly rich in ornamental metal work; and the Church of the Holy Cross, dating from the Twelfth Century. The most notable of the secular buildings is the handsome Renaissance Rathaus, built in 1615-20, by Elias Holl, and containing the famous so called Golden Hall, one of the finest halls in Germany; the former palace of the prince bishops in which in 1530 the Augsburg Confes sion (q.v.) was presented to the Emperor; and the Finger House, with rich frescoes, illustrat ing the history of the town. There is a picture gallery, containing a number of paintings belong ing to the old German school, as well as several spo•imens of early Dutch masters. There are also a number of learned societies, a library with 200, 000 volumes, and a collection of archives, contain ing many valuable documents relating to the early history of Germany. The town contains a
fine theatre, opened in 1877, and publishes six daily newspapers. The charitable and benevolent institutions are numerous, and sonic of them were founded in the beginning of the Thirteenth Century. .Augsburg has increased considerably in industrial importance during the Nineteenth Century. It contains large cotton and woolen mills, chemical works, pape•-inills, and machine shops, which give employment to a third of its people. Population, in 1890, 75,523; in 1900, 88,700. the majority Roman Catholic.
Augsburg was founded in the year B.C. 15. It was laid waste by the Huns in the Fifth Century, by Charlemagne in the Eighth, and by Well of Bavaria in the Eleventh ; it rose each timeonly to greater prosperity. In 1276 it beeame a free city of the Empire, and remehed the summit of its prosperity toward the end of the Fourteenth Century. About this time (13OS ) its aristo •eratie government was set aside for a democratic constitution, which lasted for 170 years, till the aristo•raey, favored by Charles V., regained the ascendency. At the time of the Reformation it was one of the most flourishing cities of Europe, preiMiinent in commerce, mawnfa•tures, and art. By the side of Nuremberg it was an emporium of the trade between northern and southern Europe, and its merchants were prinecs whose shins were in all seas. (See FruGmt.) It was also the cen tre of German art, as represented by the Ilolheills, Burgkinair, Altdorfer, and others. Many diets of the Empire were held in Augsburg. and the leading events of the Reformation arc associated with its name. (See Arnsuunu CoxrEssioN.) The discovery of America, and of the road to India by the Cape. together with its sufferings during the Thirty Years' War, destroyed the town's prosperity. It lost its freedom with the aboli tion of the German Empire in 1806. and was incorporated with Bavaria. Consult: Die Chron iken der schwabisehen Statile, Augsburg ( Leipzig, 1865-96) ; Lewis, "The Roman Antiquities of Augsburg, and Eatisbon," in Vol. NIX111...1reh ffological Journal (London, 1891). .