Known as Nordschwabens freundliche Mitte (North Swabia's Frendly Center), Donauwörth is a city in the German State of Bavaria (Bayern), in the region of Swabia (Schwaben). It is said to have been founded by two fisherman where the Danube (Donau) and Wörnitz rivers meet.
It is historically important to Germany as the site of one of the incidents which led to the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In 1606, the Lutheran majority barred the Catholic residents of the town from holding a procession, causing a violent riot to break out.
Donauwörth was again the scene of war in 1704, the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713). The Duke of Marlborough was marching from Flanders to Bavaria and came to the Danube river. The French decided to make a crossing of the Danube at Donauwörth, where they were surprised by Marlborough's troops and after heavy fighting pulled back. This allowed Marlborough to capture Donauwörth and cross the Danube without problems.
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Last updated: 05-10-2005 02:44:19
Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46