Pu?tusk : Poland
The town was destroyed several times. The first was due to Lithuanian raid in 1262. In 1324 the town was yet again seized – this time by Lithuanians – looted and burnt to the ground. In 14th century Pu?tusk became the seat of all bishops of P?ock. The town was again burnt by Lithuanians in 1368, but after the Union of Krewo the Lithuanian raids were stopped and the town quickly recovered. By 15th century Pu?tusk merchants became one of the most important and rich in Poland. The town (located on the Che?mno Law in 1257) was granted with a privilege of organizing 9 grand markets a year and 2 small markets a week. The city also gained much profit from exporting wood and grain to Gda?sk, as well as from mead and beer production.
Around 1405 the Mayor House was constructed. In 1449 the gothical church was added to the city’s facilities. In 16th century the castle was rebuilt by many famous Italian architects, among them Giovanni Babtista of Venice and Bartolomeo Berecci and Giovanni Cini of Siena.
In 1566 one of the first public theatres in Poland was opened. In 16th century the town was visited by many notable persons, among them Jan Kochanowski, king Zygmunt III Waza and Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski. In 1530 the first printing house in Masovia was opened there.
On April 21, 1703 a decisive battle was fought in Pu?tusk, where the Swedish army under Charles XII defeated, and captured a large part of, the Saxonian army under Graf von Steinau. The town and the castle were then conquered by Polish forces under Marshal Wincenty Gosiewski, but were then recaptured by the Swedish forces who looted and destroyed it. After the Partitions of Poland the town was annexed by Prussia. The Polish forces of Gen. Antoni Madali?ski stationed in Pu?tusk in 1794 declined to obey Prussian orders and started their march towards Krakw. This marked the start of Ko?ciuszko Uprising.
