geographer and globetrotter Evliya Çelebi (B 1611, D March 1682) visits Timișoara. According to him (in Seyahatname/The book of travels), the locality had more than 36,000 inhabitants (living in 10 suburbs—1500 houses—around the fortress) and the fortress's garrison numbered 10,000 soldiers. In the fortress existed 1200 houses, more than 400 shops, 4 public baths, 3 restaurants and confectioneries, 7 schools. 1688 – The East Banat is conquered by the Habsburg monarchy's general Veterani (born in Venice). 1688 – The Turkish garrison of Timișoara rises against the Ottoman authorities. 1696 – The imperial troops led by Frederick Augustus I besiege Timișoara unsuccessfully. 1716 – Prince Eugene of Savoy takes the town from the Turks. The population consisted of 235,000 Romanians and about 100,000 Serbian and mixed families. 1722–1726 – First wave of German colonists (Danube Swabians) under Emperor Charles VI. 1728/1771/1783 – Digging and regularization of the Bega channel. The Bega was transformed into a navigable channel (115 km) which connected the Banat with other European riverways. The first attempt to regulate the Bega and Timiș rivers were made under the Ottoman occupation by A. Cornaro when some work was done in the Budinț-Chizatau zone. The first steps were made between 1728–1732 under Count Florimund Mercy's leadership. 1728 – A tobacco mill is set up in Timișoara. The factory, modernised in the 20th c. wa still functioning in the middle '90s. 1753 – The first mention of an organized theatre of Timișoara. A German group of actors performed theatre plays in the town between May–November. Timișoara is the third town in the Empire, after Vienna and Budapest with a permanent theatre season. 1760 – Timișoara is the first town in the Empire where the public lighting using suet candles and lamps with oil and grease is introduced. 1763–1772 – Second wave of German colonization under Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. 1782–1786 – Third wave of German colonists under Emperor Joseph II. 1738–1739 – Epidemic of plague. 1762–1763 – Epidemic of plague. 1771 – The first printing house/owner Mathäus Heimerl, in Fabric quarter. 1781 – 21 December: Joseph II's decree regarding the privilege of imperial Free city Timișoara. 1788 – Ottomans captured Temeșvar during Austro-Turkish War (1787–1791). 1789 – Ottomans looted it during retreat. 1796 – The Magic Flute was performed in Timișoara five years after its premiere in Vienna. 1815 – Printer Joseph Klapka – the future mayor – sets up