City (pop., 2002 est.: 271,276), capital of Hesse , southern Germany.
It is situated on the Rhine River . The Romans fortified it in the 1st century AD; it has been noted since then for its hot saline springs. Made an imperial city in 1241, it passed to the counts of Nassau in 1255. It was capital of the duchy of Nassau from 1806 to 1866, when it passed to Prussia . After World War I it was the seat of the Rhineland Commission under French and British occupation (1918–29). In 1946 Wiesbaden became the capital of the newly created state of Hesse. It was particularly noted for its spa in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was frequented by Johann W. von Goethe , Johannes Brahms , and Fyodor Dostoyevsky . It continues to be a popular resort. It has printing firms, publishing houses, and film studios, and it is noted for its Sekt (sparkling wine).