GLÜCKSTADT, a town of Denmark, capital of the
duchy of Holstein, on the right bank of the Elbe, where it receives the small river Rhin, 28 miles N.W. of Hamburg. This town was founded by Christian IV. in 1616, and fortified in 1620. In 1627-8 it was in vain besieged for fifteen weeks by Tilly. In 1815 its fortifications were demolished, and in 1830 it was made a free port. It is the seat of several courts, and has a gymnasium, navigation school, &c. Its arsenal is now used as a prison and workhouse. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in trade and navigation. Glückstadt is connected by railway with Altona, Kiel, and Rendsburg. It is traversed by several canals, but is very deficient in water for culinary purposes, so that the rain has to be carefully preserved in cisterns. Pop. (1849) 6186.