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Glückstadt

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Glückstadt, a town of Germany in Schleswig-Holstein, on the right bank of the Elbe, at the confluence of the small river Rhin, and 28 miles NW of Altona, on the railway from Itzehoe to Elmshorn. Population (2004) 12,600.

History

Glückstadt was founded by Christian IV of Denmark in 1617, and fortified in 1620. It soon became an important trading centre, intended to compete with Hamburg, also located on the Elbe.

In 1627-28 it was besieged for fifteen weeks by the imperialists under the Count of Tilly without success. In 1814 it was blockaded by the allies and capitulated, whereupon its fortifications were demolished. In 1830 it was made a free port. It came into the possession of Prussia together with the rest of Schleswig-Holstein in 1866. Its name translates to English literally as "Luck City" or "Fortune City".

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