Historia mieszkańców Bydgoszczy do 1772 roku

Abstrakt

The first residents of the newly chartered city, who were brought by the founders (1346), were of German origin. However in the second decade of the 15th century, they were a minority. It resulted from the fact that the German settlers stopped coming to the area after the first colonization campaign and migration of Polish people from the nearby villages and towns. In the late 16th century, population of Bydgoszcz and its suburbs was around 4,000-5,000. In the period between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century many residents, including vogts and mayors, were involved in trade activities in the State of the Teutonic Knights. The commercial character of the city, related to its location on the Brda River and connection of the Vistula River with Gdańsk, dominated until the first partition of Poland. The most popular trade craft was beer making. Brewing developed outside the guild. The first craftsmen who established local guilds were butchers and potters. In the late 16th century, there were 12 guilds in the city. Religious buildings (monasteries, churches and hospitals) funded by the local townsmen confirm their affluence. Church fraternities flourished and religious celebrations were popular pastimes, although secular leisure activities were also common. The fall of the city was initiated by the war with Sweden in 1626-1629 and the earlier plaque (1623). Numerous calamities (fires) took place during the war of 1655-1660. Population size dropped most likely to 2,000. There were even fewer residents after the takeover of power by Prussia in 1772 (between 1,000 and 1,500).