Its 1655 and the Swedish 'Deluge' is at its high water mark. Warsaw and Cracow have fallen, the Muscovites occupy half of Lithuania, the King and the remnants of his army are in exile, and resistance is feeble. The Swedish King Charles was once welcome by many Poles, but his armies have proven to be oppressive military invaders. After fighting Catholics for 30 years, they are ready to loot any churches they encounter, and commit other sorts of theft and rapine with regularity. Only the sacred monastery of Jasna Gora, at Czestochowa, is resisting. A powerful Swedish army lays siege. Then, as the weeks pass, a miracle. Not only is the monastery holding, but the example of resistance unites the Commonwealth, and within a year the invaders are driven back. See the movie or read the novel Potop (The Deluge, the Nobel Prize winning work by Henryk Sienkiewitz) for colorful details.

In 1655, the Swedish army was composed of all-Europe forces (mostly Germans, Poles, Czechs, plus some of most everything else Protestant like Scotch and Dutch and even English. Even some Swedes, although there were no Swedish regiments present). Their commander was a Czech. Defending the monastery were a few hundred Poles and Germans and whoever else present. There were minor partisan Polish activities outside the lines, which grew in strength and menace as the siege progressed, eventually seriously affecting the supply situation.

Follow this link to Siege history , Chronology, and detailed Order of Battle.

The Event - (This description is oriented toward potential participants, rather than spectators.  For general spectator information click HERE ) 

(What happened to Doylestown? click here for an answer)

UPDATE June 3,4

 A solid candidate site has been found - the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation at Ridley Creek Park just south of Philadelphia - and arrangements are under way. 

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