1645-1646 - The Swedish occupation of Cieszyn and the destruction of the castle

The consequence of the growing antagonisms between Catholics and Protestants in Europe was the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). This war was one of the bloodiest and most devastating conflicts in the history of the continent. Military operations also included Silesia, and the fighting in the 1840s turned out to be particularly disastrous. For several months in 1645 and 1646 Cieszyn and the Duchy was under the occupation of the Swedish army. This tragic period saw numerous lootings, rapes and destruction. As a result, after the end of the war in 1648, the Duchy of Cieszyn was deserted, towns and villages largely destroyed, and the economy reversed by several decades.