It is historically important to Germany as the site of one of the incidents which led to the Thirty Years' War (1618�1648). In 1606, the Lutheran majority barred the Catholic residents of the town from holding an annual Markus procession, causing a riot to break out.
Donauw�rth was again the scene of the Battle of Schellenberg (or Battle of Donauw�rth) on 2 July 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702�1713). The battle was named after the village and high ground behind the city. The Duke of Marlborough was marching from Flanders to Bavaria and came to the Danube river. The French decided to make a crossing of the Danube at Donauw�rth, where they were surprised by Marlborough's troops and after heavy fighting pulled back. This allowed Marlborough to capture Donauw�rth and cross the Danube without any problem. About 5,000 French troops were drowned trying to escape
