Liegnitz

Liegnitz, a town of Prussian Silesia, on the Katzbach, 38 miles W. by N. of Breslau. The town dates from the end of the 10th century. In 1163 it was chosen by the Dukes of Lower Silesia as their place of residence, and from 1241 to 1675 it was the capital of the principality of Liegnitz. In the neighbourhood (Wahlstadt) the Mongols in 1241 defeated the Poles, and filled nine sacks with the ears of their slaughtered foes. Liegnitz came into the hands of Prussia in 1742. Here in 1760 Frederick the Great routed the Austrians under London, and in 1813 Blücher defeated the French (Katzbach). It is now a place of great and varied industrial activity: iron-foundries, machine-shops, pianoforte-factories, and manufactures of woollens, cloth, hats, and gloves, with turnery, brick-making, and pottery, indicate the chief branches. Pop. (1875) 31,442; (1890) 46,874.