HEILIGENSTADT

heiligenstadt, a town of germany, in prussian saxony, on the leine, 32 m. e.n.e. of cassel, on the railway to halle. pop. (1905), 7955. it possesses an old castle, formerly belonging to the electors of mainz, one evangelical and two roman catholic churches, several educational establishments, and an infirmary. the principal manufactures are cotton goods, cigars, paper, cement and needles. heiligenstadt is said to have been built by the frankish king dagobert and was formerly the capital of the principality of eichsfeld. in 1022 it was acquired by the archbishop of mainz, and in 1103 it came into the possession of henry the proud, duke of saxony, but when his son henry the lion was placed under the ban of the empire, it again came to mainz. it was destroyed by fire in 1333, and was captured in 1525 by duke henry of brunswick. in 1803 it came into possession of prussia. the jesuits had a celebrated college here from 1581 to 1773.