Dismantling and transporting a bell weighing more than three tonnes, even today, is a challenge. It was an even greater challenge in the early 18th century, as was hanging it up again.

In 1699 The then 17-year-old Charles XII Wittelsbach, King of Sweden for two years, did not expect that the Elector of Saxony Frederick August I, who was also King of Poland (August II), King Christian V of Denmark and Tsar Peter I, later known as the Great, had formed an alliance, known in later historiography as the Northern League. The aim of the agreement was to defeat Sweden and gain territorial acquisitions - Skåne was wanted by Denmark, Ingria and Karelia by Russia, and Inflants by Frederick Augustus I. However, Charles XII's army defeated its opponents one by one and the Swedish monarch decided to dethrone the Polish king.

The first actions during the Polish-Swedish war, known as the Great Northern War (1700-1721), worried the citizens of Toruń. At that time, the treasurer of the Prussian lands, Tomasz Działyński, appealed for the settlement of the back pay for the crown army that had been outstanding since 1694. However, this did not meet with support from the authorities of Gdańsk, Toruń or Elbląg. It was not until the summer of 1701, when there was a risk that Saxon troops would be stationed in these cities, that the subject of overdue taxes was raised again. However, no conclusion was reached, so the taxes were not settled either. Towards the end of 1702, a senate council was meeting in Toruń, so King August II was also in town and received the support of the convened body. For some time, the Wettin stayed in the city, in a tenement at the corner of the Old Town Square and Mariacka Street (the Wachschlager tenement).

At the beginning of the following year, the monarch decided to reinforce the Torun garrison by 2,000 and then 5,900 Saxon soldiers, who were to protect the city from the Swedish army. Despite initial protests from the city authorities, the troops were accepted and entered the city. Shortly afterwards, Charles XII's army began a siege of Toruń and also shelled it, as a result of which the city suffered severely. In addition, the prolonged blockade led to the city becoming more expensive and, in time, to the spread of dysentery and dysentery. On 14 October 1703, the Saxon garrison surrendered and allowed Swedish troops inside the city walls. Charles XII ordered the city's ramparts to be blown up to prevent another Saxon blockade in the future, and imposed heavy war taxes on the inhabitants. Over time, the Prussian nobility moved to the Swedish side, declaring an anti-Saxon stance in an attempt to protect their property from plunder and further financially draining contributions.

One of the most spectacular items taken out of Toruń was a Gothic bell with a diameter of over 1.5 metres and weighing more than three tonnes. It was taken from St James's Church by the Swedish army shortly after they entered the city. In 1702 there was a fire at Uppsala Cathedral, which suffered from the fire; the bells that had been in use up to then were also damaged. It was probably planned to melt down the Torun bell, but - according to legend - the priests persuaded one of the commanders to donate a working bell to Uppsala, and the damaged one was given to the army instead.

The new bell was named 'Thornan' (Thorn) and from around 1705 it was taken to Uppsala, and four years later it was hung in the north tower of the church. Other bells were also taken at the same time, but, for example, one cast in the 17th century broke and was probably melted down. "Toruńczyk" has the town seal of Chełmno (SIGILLUM BURGENSIUM IN COLMEN) on its surface, which suggests the place where it was cast, as well as a reference to St James. After it was taken away by the Swedish army, another inscription was also added, stating that it was taken with God's help from Toruń by King Charles XII in October 1703.