Published: 2025-05-19

Military Garrisons in Vilnius in the Years 1717–1763

Tomasz Ciesielski
Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings
Section: Rozprawy i Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2025.32.1.13

Abstract

In 1717, a new deployment of both armies of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was carried out, establishing over 200 garrisons. However, military garrisons were not stationed in the two capital cities: Kraków and Vilnius. In Kraków, a military garrison was installed as early as 1720, but Vilnius did not receive a permanent state garrison until the end of the Wettin rule in the Commonwealth. Between 1717 and 1763, military units were stationed in Vilnius only during wartime or occasionally to provide military presence and security for major events held in the city. These included the inauguration ceremonies of Vilnius voivodes, the resumption of the Supreme Tribunal, or the sessions of the hetman’s military court. On such occasions, several dozen to several hundred state soldiers were temporarily deployed to Vilnius.

Keywords:

Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian army, Lithuanian artillery, Vilnius, garrison, Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł

Download files

Citation rules

Ciesielski, T. (2025). Military Garrisons in Vilnius in the Years 1717–1763. Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 32(1), 183–198. https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2025.32.1.13

Cited by / Share

This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.