thumb|Lwów in a lithograph from 1618 In 1434, the Ruthenian domain of the Crown was transformed into the Ruthenian Voivodeship. In 1444, the city was granted the staple right, which resulted in its growing prosperity and wealth, as it became one of the major trading centres on the merchant routes between Central Europe and Black Sea region. It was also transformed into one of the main fortresses of the kingdom. As one of the largest and most influential royal cities of Poland, it enjoyed voting rights in the Royal elections in Poland, alongside other major cities such as Kraków, Poznań, Warsaw or Gdańsk.Polska Encyklopedia Szlachecka, t. I, Warsaw 1935, p. 42 During the 17th century, it was the second largest city of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with a population of about 30,000.
thumb|lwów in a lithograph from 1618 in 1434 the ruthenian domain of the crown was transformed into the ruthenian voivodeship in 1444 the city was granted the staple right which resulted in its growing prosperity and wealth as it became one of the major trading centres on the merchant routes between central europe and black sea region it was also transformed into one of the main fortresses of the kingdom as one of the largest and most influential royal cities of poland it enjoyed voting rights in the royal elections in poland alongside other major cities such as kraków poznań warsaw or gdańskpolska encyklopedia szlachecka t i warsaw 1935 p 42 during the 17th century it was the second largest city of the polish–lithuanian commonwealth with a population of about 30000