Saxony

(saks'o-ne,) a kingdom of Europe, N.E. Germany, bet. N. Lat. 50° 10′-51° 28′, and E. Lon. 11° 55′15°, b. N. and N.E. by Pru ia, S. by Bohemia and Bavaria, and W. by the Saxon duchies. Area, 1,718 Ger. sq. miles. In shape an irregular triangle, the apex of which points to Bavaria, the S. parts of the State are mountainous, with the Erzgebirge for its Bohemian frontier. Soil is generally highly fertile, well cultivated, and drained by the rivers Elbe, Plei e, Saale, . At least one-fourth of the surface is woodland; and two-thirds of the remainder under tillage, yielding the cereal ia, vegetables, fruits, flax, hemp, hops, . Cattle-and sheep-breeding is an industry largely engaged in. The mineral wealth of S. is both rich and abundant. The chief ores consist of silver, cobalt, tin, bismuth, nickel, iron, lead; coal is also extensively mined, as well as porcelain earth, and great varieties of precious stones are found. The smelting of metals is centralized in large establishments belonging to the govt. As a manuf. country, S. stands foremost among German States; fabricating woollen and cotton stuffs, laces, embroideries, ., on the most extended scale. The fine porcelain, too, known as Dresden china, is an important article of export. The many fairs of Leipzig are the chief commercial medium. The kingdom is divided into the 4 govts. (or circles) of Dresden, Leipzig, Zwickau, and Bautzen. Its chief urban centres are Dresden (the C.), Leipzig (renowned for its University, and the chief seat of the German book-trade), Chemnitz, Zwickau, and Freiberg. The govt. is a limited and hereditary monarchy, under political va alage to Pru ia since 1866. The Saxons are, taken as a unit, the most superior of German peoples-physically, intellectually, and industrially. The national debt at the end of 1870 stood at 114,981,125 thalers ($$3,936,221). The army forms the 12th army division of the German empire. For centuries an indep. State under the title of an Electorate, S. was formed into a kingdom in1806; and, taking part with Austria against Pru ia in 1866, she shared the consequences of the latter's triumph by paying an indemnity of $8,000,000, ceding the strong fortre of Königstein, and enrolling herself a member of the N. German Confederation under Pru ian leadership. In the Franco-German war of 1870-1, the Saxon troops distinguished themselves under command of the Crown Prince. Pop. 2,423,401. [s. 800]