VERDEN, a duchy of Germany, in the circle of Lower Saxony. It is bounded on the east and south by that of Lunenburg; on the west, by the Weser and the duchy of Bremen; and on the north, by the duchies of Bremen and Lunenburg; extending both in length and breadth about 20 miles. It consists chiefly of heaths and high dry lands; but there are good marshes on the rivers Weser and Aller. In 1712, the Danes wrested this duchy from Sweden, and, in 1715, ceded
it to the king of Great Britain, as elector of Hanover; which cession, in 1718, was confirmed by the Swedes. The inhabitants are Lutherans.