a fortified town of Prussian Saxony, capital of a circle of the same name in the government of Merseburg, on the Elbe, here crossed by a wooden bridge 1000 feet long, 40 miles N.E. of Leipzig. This was formerly the capital of Electoral Saxony, but it is chiefly noted for its connection with Luther, Malanethon, and other early reformers, whence it has been termed the cradle of the Reformation. Both of these held professorships in the university founded here in 1502, but removed to Halle in 1817 and they are both interred in the Schloss Kirche here. It was to one of the doors of this church that Luther affixed his ninety-five theses or arguments against the doctrine of papal indulgences to defend them, as was the fashion of the times, against all comers. His house or lodging in the old university buildings still remains almost unaltered. A colossal statue of the great reformer was erected in the market-place in 1821. Wittenberg has a gymnasium, ecclesiastical seminary, school of midwifery, and manufactures of woollen and linen stuffs, beer and spirits. It has several times suffered from sieges, particularly in 1756 and 1814, having on the latter occasion been taken by storm from the French after a siege of ten months. Pop. 10,842.