Ostrołęka during the November Uprising 1830–1831

During the period of the Kingdom of Poland, Ostrołęka, as the capital of the Ostrołęka Oblast and its most populous city, was the local political and economic center of the region. The history of Ostrołęka during the November Uprising can be divided into three periods, inextricably linked with the general course of the uprising. The first is the time of mobilizing forces and resources for the uprising. At that time, Ostrołęka was a local mobilization center. It was here that the Kurpie battalion, the Płock cavalry squadron and the Mobile Guard were formed, which then formed the 17th Line Infantry Regiment. The second period is the time of the war struggle for control over the city with the clashes and skirmishes on February 24, March 26, and May 18. This stage ends with the defeat in the battle of May 26, 1831. The last period is the time when the city was occupied by the Russian army in no danger. Ostrołęka from the November Uprising came out largely destroyed and depopulated. As a result of military operations and the cholera epidemic, the number of inhabitants decreased by 42%. Ostrołęka was the most damaged city in the Płock Province, which was mainly due to the battle of May 26, 1831.