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Saarbrücken is situated at an altitude of 190 m on the river Saar. It is the capital of Germany's state Saarland and is the administrative seat of the Stadtverband Saarbrücken, a special municipal collective, similar to a Landkreis (district or county). Saarbrücken has a population of about 181,000 (2005).

The 'castellum Sarabrucca' was first mentioned in a document of 999, a donation of the castle to the bishopric of Metz. The castle was the origin of the County of Saabrücken, which emerged around 1120. Under the counts of Saarbrücken, the town received its charter.

In 1353 Saarbrücken came in possession of the Walramic line of the House of Nassau. Two years later, the countries were divided between Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein and Nassau-Weilburg-Saarbrücken; the latter line was partitioned in 1442 between Nassau-Saarbrücken (Elder Line), and Nassau-Weilburg (Elder Line). After a temporary partition between 1547 and 1559, Saarbrücken was inherited by Weilburg in 1574. As the Counts of Nassau-Weilburg in 1526 had introduced the Reformation in their country, Saarbrücken also became Lutheran in 1574. The Younger Line of Nassau-Saarbrücken originated in 1629. This line was itself partionde in 1629 into Nassau-Saarbrücken, N.-Ottweiler, and N.-Usingen. Saarbrücken was inherited by Ottweiler in 1723, and together with Ottweiler fell to Nassau-Usingen (since 1688 a principality) in 1723. Only between 1735 and 1797 the County of Nassau-Usingen-Saarbrücken was partitioned from Usingen (1806 a Duchy; and finally inherited by Weilburg in 1816).

After 1741 Saarbrücken enjoyed a prosperous time. The collieries and iron smelting facilities provided the basis for the wealth of the county. In 1793 Saarbrücken was occupied by French troops and after the Treaties of Campo Formio /1797) and Lunéville (1801) the county was incorporated into France. After the Congress of Vienna (1815) the region was awarded to the Kingdom of Prussia (Province Grand Duchy of the Lower Rhine, 1822 Rhine Province).

With a contract of 1908, the formerly independent towns of Saarbrücken, Sankt Johann and Malstatt-Burbach were combined into a new, single municipality. However, the mayors of Saarbrücken and St. Johann disagreed about the future name of the combined community and decided to solve their dispute in a duel. Both men survived and the name Saarbrücken was finally chosen. The duel reportedly was the last one in Germany.

After World War I the Saarland was put under administration of the League of Nations. After a referendum the region was returned to Germany in 1935. During World War II Saarbrücken suffered severe damages by bomb raids in 1944. After the war the region was put under a French military government. In 1947 the region obtained a limited autonomy, but formed a customs union with France. In the Saar Statute of 1954, France and Germany agreed to put the Saar region under administation of the Western European Union. However, in a referendum in 1955 the population dismissed the Saar Statute and voted for rejoining Germany. In 1957 the Saarland was admitted into the Federal Republic of Germany as its 10th federal state.

The picture on glass no.1980 [above] is labeled "Wohnung Kaiser Wilhelm I. v. 9.–11. Aug. 1870 / St.-Johann-Saarbrücken, Partie an der Saar" ("Appartement [of] Emperor Wilhelm I from 9th until 11th August 1870 / St.-Johann-Saarbrücken, section at the Saar river"). The glass must have been produced later. The date shown on the glass is shortly after the outbreak of the French-Prussian War (19th July 1870). However, Wilhelm I, King of Prussia, was proclaimed first German Emperor on the 18th of January of the following year, one week after the French surrender (10th January 1871).