Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Mitau

MITAU (mē′tou), the capital of Courland, on the right bank of the Aa, 27 miles S. W. of Riga; has a castle, begun by Biron in 1738, and important manufactures, and a trade in grain and timber; founded in 1271 by the grandmaster of the Teutonic Knights. From 1798 to 1807 it offered an asylum to Louis XVIII. Pop. about 40,000.