Mieszkańcy Sieradza w XVII i XVIII wieku – studium demograficzne

Abstract

In the days of the First Polish Republic Sieradz was the capital of the voivodeship and the county, the seat of the district and magistrate courts as well as the offices of the district authorities. In the sixteenth century it was the most significant city of the voivodeship of Sieradz. However, over the years its role has decreased considerably. In the first half of the seventeenth century Sieradz belonged to a group of medium-sized cities. In the early thirties of the seventeenth century about 2200–2300 people lived in Sieradz. But after the wars of the mid-seventeenth century the number of its inhabitants fell to 1100–1200 people. In the mid-seventies of the seventeenth century Sieradz was inhabited by about 550–800 people. In the middle of the next decade, the number of the residents of the city was only about 450. At the beginning of the eighteenth century town slowly began to overcome the demographic crisis and in 1703 its population was estimated at 900–925 people. During the Great Northern War Sieradz had been affected by all possible misfortunes of war. This led to a further decrease in the number of its inhabitants. In 1716 there were only 630 residents of the city. In the end of 1723 and the beginning of 1724 Sieradz was inhabited by only a little over 400 people. Only at the end of the existence of the First Polish Republic the number of its inhabitants has increased significantly. Censuses from the years 1789–1793 show that about 1250 people lived in Sieradz at this time. This means that compared to the turn of the years 1723 and 1724 its population had almost tripled.