a city of Bavaria, in the circle of Lower Franconia and Aschaffenburg. It is pleasantly situated on the right bank of the Maine, here crossed by a stone bridge, 23 miles E.S.E. of Frankfort. It is surrounded by walls on every side, but that towards the river is indifferently built, and the streets are mostly narrow and crooked. On a commanding eminence stands the palace of Johannisburg, a large square edifice with a tower at each angle, and magnificent gardens attached. It was founded by the elector of Mentz in 1606, and is at present the ordinary summer residence of the king of Bavaria. Aschaffenburg has seven churches, one of which is an old Gothic building with the tombs of its princes; a public library of 22,000 volumes; a picture-gallery, gymnasium, lyceum, and an ecclesiastical seminary. Its manufactures are woollens, soap, leather, and coloured paper; and it has a considerable trade in timber, wine, and tobacco. Lat. 49° 58' 28", N. Long. 9° 8' 50" E. Pop. 10,000.

The principality of Aschaffenburg, which derived its name from this city, comprehended an area of 336 geographical square miles. It originally formed part of the electorate of Mentz, and in 1803 was made over to the archchancellor, Archbishop Charles of Dalberg; and in 1806 it was annexed to the grand duchy of Frankfort; and in 1814 was transferred to Bavaria in virtue of a treaty concluded on 19th June between that power and Austria. Conjointly with Lower Franconia it now forms a circle of the kingdom of Bavaria.