a district or marquisate of the circle of Franconia, in Germany. It is bounded on the west by the bishopric of Bamberg; on the south by the territory of Nuremberg; on the east by the palatinate of Bavaria and Bohemia; and on the north by Vogtland and part of the circle of Upper Saxony. It is about 50 miles in length from north to south, and 30 in breadth from east to west. It is full of forests and high mountains; the most considerable of the latter are those of Frichtelberg, all of them covered with pines. Here are the sources of four large rivers, the Maine, the Sala, the Eger, and the Nab. Since 1814 this marquisate has formed part of the territories of Bavaria.

a town of Germany, in Franconia, the capital of the marquisate of the same name. It has good fortifications, and is seated at the confluence of two branches of the river Maine. It was pillaged and burnt by the Hussites in 1432, and by the inhabitants of Nuremberg in 1573. E. Long. 11. 28. N. Lat. 50. 12.