coat arms february polish nobleman general military commander career rose petty nobleman magnate holding highest offices commonwealth unprecedented commonwealth history july received office january weeks death given office military commanders crown remembered accomplished military commander regarded polish national hero status polish history acknowledged mention polish national anthem significant contributions fighting russo polish war polish swedish war use guerrilla warfare credited main reason eventual polish victory war biography early career born family estate southern poland nobility family date birth assumption documents exist prove doubt historians noted historians accept date historian argued father soldier participated wars late 16th early 17th century eventually polish queen austria historian notes family limited life chances points owned villages small town family wealth small siblings sixth brothers divided parts family resources stretched thin involvement queen court allowed boost son careers court influence able serve young known childhood family afford send university abroad brothers embarked early military career attended jesuit college achieving solid secondary education finishing schooling royal prince future king poland afford equipment needed join unit learned art war serving mercenaries joining companion junior cavalry officer spring officer age eighteen took battle commonwealth army stopped ottomans ended polish ottoman war years brutal mercenaries impact strategy years use means necessary including civilians achieve victory time took arms brother received nomination light cavalry regular army recruited siblings including unit served campaigns participating battle took uprising fought later polish swedish war light cavalry reconnaissance diversion raiding enemy territory serving brother promoted august year participated battle nearly killed years learned observing mastery military arts commanded polish army served poland swedish opponents earlier fought polish swedish war ended enlisted forces continued fight participating battle joined commonwealth forces fight new polish king war lasted war learned western tactics foreign mercenary troops december commanded raiding unit successfully raided russian lines spreading terror disrupting supply lines burned achievements war advanced rank light cavalry unit received land near war moved prestigious unit likely reduction royal army served private formation later served military adviser possibly accompanied king vienna married later year fought uprising rebellious participating battle led cavalry charge instrumental polish victory earlier year served military delegate parliament warsaw struggles years serve south eastern border home city took battle commonwealth forces dealt crushing defeat served seven army cavalry unit charge proved decisive moment battle bringing fame year light cavalry unit held rank took active battles uprising noble polish prisoners fell hands battle quickly participated defense surrendered september captured released autumn aftermath treaty served military judge member staff meeting new king poland fighting battle battle received title elected military deputy january according returning witnessed massacre polish prisoners aftermath battle scene reject notions compromise enemies commonwealth likely desired outcome notes historian questions presence concludes conclusive proof present massacre escalated hostilities surrounding hatred illustrating letter wrote soon battle promised military forces gathered given leave alive later year received territories king office crown led unit ukraine held lands attrition troops high campaign wounded continued suppression campaign following january took battle called ukraine warsaw king respected experience requested presence new war council convened discuss thread war sweden time reputation significant passed resolutions efforts reclaim ukraine held consideration ottomans temporarily allied commonwealth received office position member senate poland swedish sweden invaded poland distinguished defence eventually surrendered good terms retreating army remained loyal polish king army including senators temporarily joined vocal support king time found refuge abroad considering instrumental continuing support polish king rewarded lands office royal army led guerrilla warfare swedish troops type campaign authored despite objections time returned serve mobile swedish forces significant firepower proved vulnerable guerrilla style warfare defeated battle mid february later inflicted defeats notably battle april year tide war turned times year defeated battle battle defeats limited cases able retreat army good order direction popular rising swedish troops proved highly successful advice battle warsaw fought subsequent strategy ill effects defeat despite support king seen older established noble family arrogant newcomer prevented getting office year instead early year received office extraordinary title general vice commander royal forces position unofficial like authority field crown went accomplished commander magnate family commented famously salt fields hurts fact family built fortune salt trade agriculture smaller built military service money politics military experience decided office final battles instrumental defeating forces george battle aided danish swedish war fighting battle conclusion adjusted long outstanding differences poland sweden transferred eastern frontier war russia distinguished campaign won victories battle battle battle campaign marked popularity king attempted involve unpopular plan bypass traditions royal elections poland instead chose successor polish throne favored life previous king reputation unpaid military took dive criticized entire ransom russians paid prisoners military representatives demanded sanctions levied campaign took place end led army russians siege successful new uprising forced polish troops fall july received office january appointed field receiving news nomination desired years wounded called king feared magnate banished start rebellion recent wound infected died february near weeks receiving supreme distinction legacy received state funeral warsaw interred tomb chapel church founded left estates nephew long wealth gathered instead foundation family remembered able polish commanders times called greatest polish military expert hit run tactics notes longest serving major polish military commanders era participated large battles commanding seen instrumental defeating successful battles russians career rising simple noble family rank wealthy magnate unprecedented commonwealth history legend begun growing lifetime hero poems songs negative rumors popular years life survived death period enlightenment poland written poets writers biography cemented legend hero rescuing poland anarchy invasion legend stronger times poland 19th century artists polish period symbol patriotism reminder military successes appears poem significant portrayal trilogy particularly second book time pursuit retreating denmark particularly crossing entire army danish isle commemorated song polish napoleonic eventually polish national anthem words commemorating marine excursion island time second polish republic modern historical work begun analyzing history account begun emerging wrote foremost soldier noted faults brutality greed modern historiography includes works notes major figure polish history discussed extensively polish historiography subject interest foreign historians concluding major persona polish european history
Stefan Czarniecki