The New International Encyclopædia/Kaiserslautern

KAISERSLAUTERN, kī'zẽrs-lou'tĕrn. A prominent and thriving town of the Bavarian Palatinate, Germany, situated on the Waldlauter, 42 miles by rail west of Mannheim (Map: Germany. B 4). It has fine schools, hospitals, an industrial museum, a municipal theatre, and all the modern improvements. The most prominent church is the Protestant. The principal industries comprise spinning factories (worsted and cotton), and manufactories of sewing and other machines, boilers, bells, furniture, and shoes. There are also extensive railway shops and ironworks. The trade in lumber and fruit is extensive. The town is of ancient origin. In the twelfth century Frederick Barbarossa built a fine palace here. It was demolished during the Spanish War of Succession. Kaiserslautern became a free Imperial city in the thirteenth century, but lost its independence in 1357, when it passed to the rulers of the Palatinate. It became French in 1801, and passed to Bavaria in 1816. It was the seat of the Provisional Government during the uprising in the Palatinate in 1849. Population, in 1890, 37,047; in 1900, 48,306.