Page "Vilnius" Paragraph 13

The 17th century brought a number of setbacks.

The Commonwealth was involved in a series of wars, collectively known as The Deluge.

During the Russo-Polish War ( 1654 – 1667 ), Vilnius was occupied by Russian forces ; it was pillaged and burned, and its population was massacred.

During the Great Northern War it was looted by the Swedish army.

An outbreak of bubonic plague in 1710 killed about 35, 000 residents ; devastating fires occurred in 1715, 1737, 1741, 1748, and 1749.

The city's growth lost its momentum for many years, but the population rebounded, and by the beginning of the 19th century its population reached 20, 000.