Editing Płock (section)

===Modern era===
[[File:POL Płock COA 1.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.60|Expanded representational coat of arms of Płock]]
In the early modern period, Płock was a [[Royal city in Poland|royal city of Poland]]<ref name=AP/> and capital of the [[Płock Voivodeship (1495–1793)|Płock Voivodeship]]<ref name=MAL/> within the larger [[Greater Poland Province, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Greater Poland Province]]. The 16th century was the golden age of the city,<ref name=MAL/> before it suffered major losses in population due to [[Plague (disease)|plague]], fire, and horrific warfare, with [[Polish–Swedish wars|wars between Sweden and Poland]] in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 17th century, the Swedes destroyed much of the city, but the people rebuilt and recovered.<ref name="history"/> In the late 18th century, it took down the old city walls, and made a New Town, and after Germans of Prussia partitioned Poland [[Second Partition of Poland]], they filled Płock with many German migrants.<ref name="history"/>

In the [[Second Partition of Poland]] in 1793 the city was annexed by [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]].<ref name=MAL/> The Polish 4th and 5th Infantry Regiments were formed in Płock in 1806.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gembarzewski|first=Bronisław|title=Rodowody pułków polskich i oddziałów równorzędnych od r. 1717 do r. 1831|year=1925|language=pl|publisher=Towarzystwo Wiedzy Wojskowej|location=Warszawa|page=54}}</ref> From 1807 it was part of the short-lived Polish [[Duchy of Warsaw]], within which it was the capital of the [[Płock Department]]. In 1815 it became part of [[Congress Poland]],<ref name=MAL/> later on fully annexed by the [[Russian Empire]]. The Polish 3rd Rifle Regiment, which later fought against Russia in the [[November Uprising]], was stationed in Płock.<ref>Gembarzewski, p. 75</ref> In 1827 [[Fryderyk Chopin]] visited Płock. In 1831, the last [[sejm]] of [[Congress Poland]] was held in the [[Płock Town Hall]].<ref name=MAL/> It was a seat of provincial government and an active center; its economy was closely tied to major [[grain trade]]. It laid out a new city plan in the early 19th century, as new residents continued to arrive. Many of its finest buildings were constructed in this period in the [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] style. In 1820 the Płock Scientific Society was founded,<ref name=pwn/> and in the late 19th century the city began to industrialize.<ref name="history"/> In 1863 local Poles fought in the [[January Uprising]] against Russia.<ref name=pwn/> The leader of the uprising in the Płock region, [[Zygmunt Padlewski]], was executed by the Russians in Płock in May 1863.<ref name=MAL/> In 1905, large demonstrations of Polish youth and workers took place in Płock.<ref name=pwn/>

[[File:Gerson View of Płock.jpg|thumb|right|Płock in 1852, by [[Wojciech Gerson]]]]

During [[World War I]], Płock was occupied by [[German Empire|Germany]] from 1915 to 1918,<ref name=MAL/> and in 1918 Poland regained independence, and Płock was immediately reintegrated with Poland. In August 1920, the city became famous for its successful heroic defense against the Soviets during the [[Polish–Soviet War]].<ref name=pwn/><ref name=MAL/><ref name=onet>{{cite web|url=https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/warszawa/rocznica-odznaczenia-plocka-krzyzem-walecznych-za-obrone-przed-bolszewikami/pm38jd7|title=Rocznica odznaczenia Płocka Krzyżem Walecznych za obronę przed bolszewikami|website=Onet|date=8 April 2016 |access-date=6 November 2020|language=pl}}</ref> 250 Polish defenders, including 100 civilians, were [[killed in action|killed]] in the battle.<ref name=onet/> In 1921, Marshal [[Józef Piłsudski]] visited Płock and awarded the city with the [[Cross of Valour (Poland)|Cross of Valour]], making Płock the second Polish city to be awarded with a Polish military decoration (shortly after [[Lwów]]).<ref name=onet/>