Donauwörth

Donauwörth, an ancient town of Bavaria, situated at the confluence of the Wörnitz and the Danube, 25 miles NNW. of Augsburg by rail. It was formerly a free imperial city of considerable importance, but it has now sunk into an insignificant place of 4000 inhabitants. In 1606 the inhabitants, who had adopted the Reformed doctrines, attacked a Roman Catholic procession of the Host, for which in 1607 the town was placed under the ban of the empire, and severely punished in consequence. In the Thirty Years' War that followed it was twice stormed, by the Swedes and by the Bavarians. It is likewise associated with the name of Marlborough, who carried the intrenched camp of the French and Bavarians near here in 1704; and, on the 6th October 1805, the French, under Soult, obtained a victory here over the Austrians, under Mack.