Jono Kazimiero Vazos laikų Vilnius (1648-1668)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Jonas Kazimieras, 1609-1672 (Jonas Kazimieras Vaza, Jonas I Kazimieras, Jonas II Kazimieras, Jan II Kazimierz Waza); Lenkijos-Lietuvos valstybė; 17 amžius; Maskvos okupacija, 1655 (Pirmoji Vilniaus okupacija); Miestas; Miestiečiai; Vilniaus gyventojai; Vilnius; Citizenry; City; Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; Lithuanian XVII c. history; Occupation by Moscow; Polish-Lithuanian state; Vilnius; Vilnius' population.

ENThe twenty-year period of reign of Jonh Casimir Vasa (Lit. Jonas Kazimieras Vaza, Pol. Jan II Kazimierz Waza, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1648-1668, 1672) coincided not only with twenty years of continuous war and the beginning of the downfall of the joint Polish-Lithuanian state, but also with the end of the flourishing of Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and one of the greatest periods of decline in its history. According to an engraving of Vilnius created by Tomasz Makowski in 1600, it should have been an European Gothic city featuring rather ornate churches and palaces. Of course, the image of the city would have been altered significantly as a result of the fire of 1610, but as the household census data from 1636 show, the city recovered quite quickly. It is highly likely that the city’s panorama was markedly different in the mid-17th century when Baroque elements, new churches and palaces would have started appearing, undoubtedly the number of brick houses would have also increased as by then they accounted for over 60% of the houses within the city wall limits (in the Old Town). A network of streets was also formed at this stage. According to various calculations, in 1654 the population of Vilnius ranges from 10,000 (E Karge) or 14,000 (M. Łowmiańska), to approximately 40,000 (J. Morzy and A. Tamulynas). As the recently released 1636 household census data reveals, within the city wall limits there were over 700 various houses (possessions), and if at least on average 10 people lived in these houses then there could have been around 7,000-9,000 inhabitants in the Old Town. Suburbs of a reasonable size grew beside basically each of the city wall’s gates. In this respect, we could agree with David Frick’s recent calculation that prior to “The Deluge”, the population of Vilnius could have been around 20,000, or perhaps several thousand less.Practically all researchers agree that Vilnius’ population was reduced by around half during the war of 1655-1661 and as a result of the plague of 1657, so we may presume that post-liberation and up until the end of John Casimir’s period of reign, Vilnius’ population could have been between 7,000 and 10,000. When summarizing the history of Vilnius during John Casimir’s period of rule, it should be noted that during the first seven years (1648-1655) even though the city did not flourish, it most certainly developed as any normal average Central European city, with its own particularities and problems. Unfortunately, the six years of occupation by Moscow and other rigours of the time essentially halted the city’s evolution well over one hundred years. During the last seven years of John Casimir’s reign the city very slowly healed its sores, but as it appears, these scars never completely healed and it decreased in significance. The image of Vilnius following the calamities of the mid-17th century was changed radically, the city became rather humble, with modest palaces but ornate Baroque churches. We could say that the city’s overall development appeared to freeze in time until the very end of the 18th century (recalling the calamities of the early 18th century - war and an epidemic of the plague, fires in the middle of the century and the general stagnation of the state). [From the publication]