a city of Germany, and capital of a county of the same name, in the circle of Upper Saxony. E. Long. 12. 55. N. Lat. 51. 35.

Mansfeld (Peter Ernest, count of), was descended from one of the most illustrious families in Germany, and which has produced the greatest number of distinguished characters. In 1552, he was taken prisoner at Ivoz, where he commanded; and he was afterwards of great service to the Catholics at the battle of Montcontour. In consequence of his great talents, he was employed in affairs of the utmost delicacy and importance. Being made governor of Luxembourg, he maintained tranquillity in that province, while the rest of the Low Countries was a prey to the horrors of civil war. In testimony of their gratitude, the States caused the following inscription to be placed on the gate of the hotel de ville: In Belgio omnia dum valet civile bellum, Mansfeldus bello et pace fidus, hanc provinciam in fide servat et quaestu illae- jam, cum summo populi consensu et bilari jucunditate. He was afterward appointed to the command of the Low Countries; and died at Luxembourg, March 21. 1604, at the age of 87, with the title of Prince of the Holy Empire. His mausoleum in bronze, which is to be seen in the chapel bearing his name, and adjoining to the Church of the Recollets at Luxembourg, is an admirable work. Four highly finished weepers, with which this monument was ornamented, were carried off by Louis XIV. when he took this city in 1684. To a love of war, Mansfeld united a taste for the sciences; and he was a lover and encourager of the arts; he possessed a great and elevated mind; but, like many heroes ancient and modern, he was greedy of gain and lavish of blood. Abbé Schannat has written the history of the count of Mansfeld in Latin; printed at Luxembourg, 1707. Charles prince of Mansfeld, his lawful son, signalized himself in the wars of Flanders and Hungary; and died without issue in 1595, after having beaten the Turks who attempted to relieve the city of Gran (Strigonia), which he was besieging.

Mansfeld (Ernest de), the illegitimate son of Peter Ernest by a lady of Malines, was educated at Bruxelles, in the principles of the Roman Catholic religion, by his godfather Ernest archduke of Austria. He was employed in the service of the king of Spain in the Low Countries, and in that of the emperor in Hungary, together with his brother Charles count of Mansfeld. He was legitimated on account of his bravery. Mansfeld, bravery by the emperor Rodolphus II.; but his father's posts and possessions in the Spanish Netherlands having been refused him, contrary to promises which he had received, he, in 1615, joined the party of the Protestant princes. Being now become one of the most dangerous enemies of the house of Austria, who called him the Attila of Christianity, he let himself, in 1618, at the head of the rebels in Bohemia, and got possession of Pilsen in 1619. Though his troops were defeated in several battles, he was able to penetrate into the palatinate. He there took several places, ravaged Alsace, made himself master of Haguenau, and defeated the Bavarians. At length he was totally defeated by Wallstein, at the battle of Dassow, which happened in the month of April 1626. He gave over his remaining troops to the Duke of Weimar, and intended to pass into the Venetian States; but fell sick in a village between Zara and Spalatro, and there expired, A.D. 1626, aged 46. The procurator Nani thus describes him: "He was bold, intrepid in danger, and the most skilful negociator of the age in which he lived. He possessed a natural eloquence, and well knew how to infuse himself into the hearts of those whom he wished to gain. He was greedy of others wealth, and prodigal of his own.—He was full of vast projects and great hopes, and yet possessed neither lands nor money at his death." He did not wish to die in his bed; but dreffled himself in his finest robes, put on his sword, sat up, leaning upon two domestics, and in this position, highly becoming a warrior, breathed his last. But of all the actions of this great captain and singular man, the following is without doubt the most extraordinary: Having got the most certain information that Cazell, in whom of all his officers he placed the greatest confidence, had communicated his plans to the Austrian chief, he showed neither passion nor resentment at his treachery, but gave him 300 rix-dollars, and sent him to count Buquoy, with a letter expressed in these words, "Cazell being attached to you and not to me, I send him to you, that you may have the benefit of his services." The opinions of men were divided about this action, and it was as much censured as applauded. Be this as it may, Ernest is deservedly esteemed one of the greatest generals of his age. There never was a leader more patient, more indefatigable, more inured to toil and hardship, to watchings, to cold, and to hunger. He raised armies, and ravaged the enemy's territories with an incredible celerity. The Hollander said of him, that he was bonus in auxilio, carus in pretio; that is, that he rendered great services to those who employed him, but that he made them pay well for it.

Mansfeld (Henry-Francis, count of), was of the same house with the former, and signalized himself in the wars for the Spanish succession. He died at Vienna on the 8th of June 1715, at the age of 74, after being a prince of the Holy Empire, a grandee of Spain, field-marshal general of the emperor's armies, general of artillery, ambassador to France and Spain, president of the Aulic council, and great chamberlain to the emperor.