SALZBURG, DUCHY OF, a crown-land of the Austrian empire, bounded on the N. and N.E. by Upper Austria, E. by Upper Austria and Styria, S. by Carinthia and the Tyrol, and W. by the Tyrol and Bavaria; area, 2757 square miles. It is almost entirely mountainous, being occupied by that chain of the Alps called the Salzburg
Salzburg. Alps or the Tauern. These extend along the southern frontier, and send off many branches, forming glens and valleys of exquisite romantic beauty. The principal summits are the Wiesbach or Krummborn, 11,297 feet high; and the Kitzsteinhorn, 10,106 feet. The Salzach rises on the borders of Tyrol, and flows at first eastwards down the romantic valley called Pinzgau; then turns suddenly to the north, and traversing the equally fine valley called by its name, leaves Salzburg to join the Inn on the frontiers of Bavaria and Upper Austria. Almost all the rivers of the country discharge their waters into this, which is by far the most important. There are a number of lakes and many exceedingly beautiful waterfalls in Salzburg. Notwithstanding the mountainous nature of the surface, the valleys are in general very fertile, and a large proportion of the soil is productive. Corn is raised in considerable quantities, and excellent vegetables may be grown in sheltered spots; but it is the rearing of cattle that forms the chief support of the inhabitants. Of minerals, gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, manganese, and arsenic are obtained; salt, too, is extensively worked, especially in the great salt-works at Hallein. In many places there are mineral springs. The manufacturing industry of the country is, on the whole, not very highly developed. The present duchy of Salzburg was formerly an archbishopric, immediately dependent on the German empire. Christianity was introduced here among the heathen inhabitants by a Scotelman named Rupert, afterwards canonized, who found the land nearly a desert, and became the first bishop of Salzburg in 716. The see was afterwards raised to the rank of an archbishopric, and its occupant became primate of Germany, and was the only archbishop, besides the spiritual electors, who had a seat and voice in the diet. The privileges of these prelates were numerous; their temporal possessions gradually became extensive, and their revenues enormous. The Reformed doctrines early found admission into Salzburg, but the utmost severity was used to suppress them, until at last, in 1732, the Protestant states obtained leave for their fellow Protestants to leave the country, on which more than 30,000 departed, and settled in Prussia, Württemberg, and in the North American colony of Georgia. In 1801 the see was secularized, and given to the ex-Duke of Tuscany, with the title of Elector; but by the peace of Pressburg in 1806, it was annexed to Austria. From 1809 to 1815 Salzburg belonged to Bavaria; but in the latter year, with the exception of a small portion, it was restored to Austria. The inhabitants are almost all Germans, and of the Roman Catholic religion. Pop. (1854) 154,379.