a city of Western Germany, Grand Duchy of Hesse, and province of Rhenish Hesse, near the left bank of the Rhine, 26 miles S.E. of Mayence. This is one of the oldest, and in the early history of Germany was one of the most important, towns in the country. It occupies the site of the Roman Barbetomagus, which subsequently took the name of Augusta Vangionum, from the Vangiones, in whose territory it was. After its destruction by Attila the Hun about the middle of the fifth century, it was rebuilt by Clovis in 496. It afterwards became the seat of many Frankish and Carlovingian kings. Charlemagne resided here for a time, and held in the vicinity those rude legislative assemblies, called, from the month in which they were held, Mai Lager. Worms was also the seat of many imperial diets, the best known of which is that of 1521, when Luther appeared before the Emperor Charles V. At this time the city contained about 40,000 inhabitants, and even at the end of the thirty years' war they amounted to about 30,000. In 1689, however, it was burned by order of Louis XIV.; and since that time it has never regained its former prosperity. Latterly, however, it has begun to improve, and its population is now about double what it was in 1800. The town is still surrounded by its old walls, flanked at intervals by handsome and massive towers. The most remarkable edifice is the venerable cathedral, founded here in the eighth century, but not finished till 1110. It is 470 feet in length, by 116 feet in breadth, and has two towers at each end, Worthing Worms is the seat of a Protestant consistory, and has a gymnasium and other schools; manufactures of leather, tobacco, &c.; and some trade in agricultural produce, and the fine wines produced in the vicinity. It contained in 1852 9630 inhabitants.