Helena Kurcewiczówna-Bułyha (born 1630) was a Polish noblewoman and the wife of Mikolaj Skrzetuski.
Biography[]
Helena Kurcewiczówna-Bułyha was born in 1630, the daughter of Wasyl Kurcewicz Bułyha, the Lord of Rozlogi and a vassal of Prince Michal Wisniowiecki. Her mother died in childbirth and her father was exiled for treason in 1634, and she was raised by her uncle Konstantyn, his wife Ewa Kurcewiczowa, and her cousins Wasyl Kurcewicz, Symeon Kurcewicz, Andrzej Kurcewicz, and Mikołaj Kurcewicz. Her aunt mistreated Helena because she coveted Helena's wealth, having her betrothed to her uncouth adoptive son, the Cossack Ivan Bohun, whom Helena disliked due to his violent tendencies, and who promised to waive Helena's dowry (Rozlogi) if they married. In 1647, Helena met Mikolaj Skrzetuski and fell in love with him, and Skrzetuski persuaded Princess Ewa to cancel Helena's betrothal to Bohun and arrange it so that Skrzetuski married Helena instead. Helena was ecstatic to marry Skrzetuski, as her prayers were answered, but they were soon separated when Skrzetuski returned to his military duties under Prince Jeremi Wisniowiecki. In 1648, Bohun discovered the breach in his betrothal with Helena, and he returned to Rozlogi with his drinking mate Jan Onufry Zagloba and massacred the Princess and her sons in revenge. Onufry helped Helena escape, having become disillusioned with Bohun's cruelty, and she took refuge at Bar fortress, where she was captured when Bohun stormed the fortress. She attempted to stab herself both during the fort's fall and when she was taken to the witch Horpyna to be held captive, dismaying Bohun, who was angry that she wouldl rather die than marry him. Helena was rescued by Skrzetuski's friends after Skrzetuski's servant Rzedzian spied on Bohun and found out where he kept Helena, and Helena was brought to an ailing Skrzetuski at Toporow during the Siege of Zbarazh in 1649. There, they had a heartfelt reunion after two years of separation, and the two married in Lviv, with Prince Jeremi walking Helena down the aisle. Skrzetuski and Helena went on to have 12 children and live in Burzec.