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Jan Skrzetuski

Mikolaj Skrzetuski (1610-1673) was a Polish nobleman and soldier in the service of Poland-Lithuania during the mid-17th century. During the Khmelnytsky Uprising, he and the Ukrainian cossack Jur Bohun entered into a fatal rivalry over a Polish noblewoman, Helena Kurcewiczowna, whom Skrzetuski would ultimately take as his wife.

Biography[]

Mikolaj Skrzetuski was born in Roznow, Poland-Lithuania in 1610 to a family of Polish szlachta (lesser nobility), and he became a lieutenant in Prince Jeremi Wisniowiecki's armored hussar regiment. In 1647, he was sent as an envoy to the Crimean Khanate, and, during his return trip to Poland, he and his entourage rescued a stranger from brigands posing as Tatars. Skrzetuski introduced himself to the man, who called himself Abdank, and who said that he could perhaps one day repay Skrzetuski; when Skrzetuski asked the man why he was in a rush, the man said that he was carrying orders from the King. Skrzetuski and his entourage then marched further west to Czehryn (Chyhyryn), where he learned from a loyal Cossack friend, Andrzej Zacwilichowski, that he had accidentally rescued the rebel cossack leader Bohdan Khmelnytsky from an ambush by Daniel Czapliński's men.

Czaplinski then entered the tavern where Skrzetuski and Zacwilichowski were talking, and the boisterous and arrogant Czaplinski annoyed Skrzetuski by spilling his wine whenever he slammed the table in excitement as he mentioned that Khmelnytsky would likely be captured by his men. Skrzetuski then revealed that he had rescued Khmelnytsky from Czaplinski's men, and, when Czaplinski grew infuriated, Zacwilichowski told Czaplinski that Skrzetuski had not heard of the warrant for Khmelnytsky's arrest. Nevertheless, Czaplinski attempted to have Skrzetuski arrested, so Skrzetuski struggled with Czaplinski before throwing him out of the tavern and into the mud. The soldiers in the tavern cheered for Skrzetuski, who then made the acquaintance of the glory-seeker Jan Onufry Zagloba and the Lithuanian nobleman Longinus Podbipieta, the latter of whose sword skills impressed Skrzetuski so much that he convinced Podbipieta to join his entourage and enter into Prince Jeremi's service.

Dinner at Rozlogi

The dinner at Rozlogi

Skrzetuski and his party then proceeded further west towards Lubni, and, along the way, they came to the assistance of Princess Ewa Kurcewiczowa and her niece, Helena Kurcewiczowna, by helping their wagon out of a deep ford. Skrzetuski fell in love with Helena at first sight, even as she warned him that she would only bring trouble to him. Princess Kurcewiczowa invited Skrzetuski and his party to join her for dinner at her estate at Rozlogi, and, along the way, Skrzetuski formed a rivalry with the Princess' Cossack adoptive son and Helena's rival, Jur Bohun, as Skrzetuski's boast that he was afraid of no Cossack led to Bohun saying that he hated Poles, and nearly getting into a fight with Skrzetuski. While Helena said that Bohun and his Cossacks were bad men, the Princess said that, even while Bohun was quick to anger, she still loved him. The party then had a feast at Rozlogi, where the Princess had Bohun perform a song of the Cossacks' glory before tiring of its somber tone and having her servants play a lively Polish dance song, which led to the Poles, including Skrzetulski and Helena, dancing merrily. Bohun grew angry upon seeing the two nearly kiss, so he thrust his dagger onto the table; before he could pick a fight, Bohun was sent away.

Rzedzian telling Skrzetuski about Helena

Rzedzian telling Skrzetuski about Helena

That night, as Skrzetuski's servant and lesser nobleman Rzedzian helped Skrzetuski get ready for bed, Rzedzian told Skrzetuski that he had vouched for Skrzetuski to Helena, but that he had heard rumors that the Princess planned to give Helena to Bohun, as Helena owned Rozlogi, and, if she married Bohun, Bohun would let the family stay there. Skrzetuski praised Rzedzian for his cunning, and, the next morning, before leaving, Skrzetuski asked to speak with the Princess in private. Skrzetuski asked the Princess to let him marry Helena, and, when the Princess said that she was already promised to another, Skrzetuski guessed that she had been promised to Bohun, leading to the Princess growing defensive.

Skrzetuski then said that Bohun wanted to rob the estate from them, causing the Princess' four sons to draw their blades. Skrzetuski then said that the Prince would burn the palace and the family would rot in the dungeon, while Skrzetuski said that he would let the family stay in Rozlogi and would not ask for rent. The Princess told Skrzetuski not to give away what wasn't his, but Skrzetuski said that, if the Princess gave him Helena, he would appease the Prince's wrath. The Princess then asked her sons what they thought, and the eldest told her to tell them whether they should agree or kill Skrzetuski. The Princess warned that Bohun would seek revenge, but she said that secrecy was imperative, and agreed to Skrzetuski's request. Skrzetuski then asked if the Princess wouldn't betray him, but she said that she wished she could. Skrzetuski pointed out that the Princess didn't even bother to ask what Helena thought, so the Princess decided that they should go and ask her.

Skrzetuski embracing Helena

Skrzetuski embracing Helena

The Princess then knocked on Helena's door and told her that Skrzetuski was to be her betrothed if she wished, and, when an excited Helena asked if it was true, Skrzetuski responded, "As God in Heaven." Helena then ran to Skrzetuski and embraced him, having prayed to the Virgin Mary to let her marry Mikolaj the night before.

Skrzetuski then returned to Lubni with his entourage, where he reunited with his dear friend, Michal Wolodyjowski, and introduced Podbipieta to Wolodyjowski, as the two men were both great swordsmen. The two old friends told Podbipieta that Wolodyjowski had scarred Skrzetuski during a sword fight over a woman, and Skrzetuski then excitedly told his friend that he had fallen in love and proposed. He then reported to Prince Jeremi Wisniowiecki, who told him that he had chosen a good woman to marry, but said that Skrzetuski's success in Crimea was rendered meaningless, as there would be no war with Turkey, as the Senators would not let the King have his will. The Prince told Skrzetuski to expect a rebellion, and, after hearing that Khmelnytsky had gone to the Sich, he told Skrzetuski that he had seen Khmelnytsky in combat, and that it had been years since the Cossacks had such a leader. The Prince decided that he should send a spy to the Cossacks, and Skrzetuski volunteered to do so, despite the Prince pointing out that he had just arrived. The Prince deduced that Skrzetuski wanted to visit the Princess on his way back to Ukraine, and, when the Prince realized that Skrzetuski had saved Khmelnytsky's life, he agreed to Skrzetuski's request and gave him letters to some of the atamans and asked Skrzetuski to find out who Khmelnytsky was allying with.

Skrzetuski sailing up the Dnieper

Skrzetuski sailing up the Dnieper

Skrzetuski visited Rozlogi along the way, and he told Helena that he would be back in a month, telling her that a priest awaited them in Lubni, and that envoys were untouchable. Skrzetuski and his party then sailed up the Dnieper on a boat, but Skrzetuski grew concerned when he did not see any fishing boats, and another member of his entourage suggested that the fishermen must have run off to the Sich. Skrzetuski then went to sleep, and, after waking up from a dream of Helena, he sent a reluctant Rzedzian back to Rozlogi to carry letters to Helena's family and warn them to go to Lubni, as a war was imminent. Rzedzian was sad to leave his master's side, but he sailed off on a rowboat.

Skrzetuski as a captive

Skrzetuski as a captive

Shortly after landing on the other bank of the Dnieper, Skrzetuski and his party were located at their camp by a party of Cossacks who demanded to know who they were. Skrzetuski said that he was an envoy to the head Ataman, but the Cossack leader Havrylo Eduardovych Lazarenko said that he would take Skrzetuski to the ataman tied up. Skrzetuski hit the leader across the head, leading to a fight in which Skrzetuski's party was massacred and he was badly wounded and captured. In April 1648, he arrived in the Zaporizhian Sich as a captive, and Khmelnytsky discovered the Prince's letters telling the Chief Ataman to betray him and requesting Tatarchuk and Ivan Barabash to meet the envoy's needs. Khmelnytsky and the other atamans decided that, since the Chief Ataman did not hide the letters, the Chief Ataman could be trusted. However, he saw Tatarchuk and Barabash as traitors, and he had the two men thrown onto the spears of an angry mob below. Skrzetuski was then brought before the leaders of the Sich and Tugay Bey of the Crimean Khanate, and Tugay Bey persuaded the rowdy Cossacks to settle down and not kill Skrzetuski, whom he recognized from the Crimea.

Khmelnytsky talking to a captive Skrzetuski

Khmelnytsky talking to a captive Skrzetuski

Khmelnytsky then ransomed Skrzetuski from Tugay Bey for 4,000 thalers, as he remembered that Skrzetuski had previously saved his life. Khmelnytsky then told Skrzetuski that he was free to go if he promised not to tell the Prince of the Cossack-Tatar alliance; Skrzetuski said that he could not promise that, so Khmelnytsky said that he would not let Skrzetuski go until he was ready for war. Skrzetuski asked if that was because some Pole seduced Khmelnytsky's wife, causing Khmelnytsky to angrily shout, "Silence!" Khmelnytsky then told Skrzetuski that Czaplinski had killed his son, and he said that people would not follow him if he was seeking personal revenge. As only the magnates and the nobles were happy, and theirs was the land and the freedom, the Cossacks were treated like scum. He also asked if the Cossacks were shown any gratitude for fighting on the Polish side, and asked where their privileges were. Khmelnytsky lamented that the nobles wanted to turn free Cossacks into serfs, and that he declared war on the nobles, not the king. He then said, "The King is our father, and Poland is our mother." Skrzetuski rebutted that Khmelnytsky was selling out both to the Tatars, and Khmelnytsky asked if the Cossacks should let themselves get butchered like the rebels of the past. He said that the magnates were killing their mother (Poland), and that it was because of them that Ukraine wouldn't join Poland-Lithuania's alliance against the Turks, Tatars, and Muscovy. Skrzetuski asked Khmelnytsky who had given him the right to be Poland's judge and executioner, and why he didn't let God dispense justice, Khmelnytsky told Skrzetuski that, when the Cossacks complained to the King, he responded, "Haven't you any guns and sabers?" Skrzetuski reminded Khmelnytsky that the King of Kings would say, "Forgive your foes, as I forgave." Khmelnytsky then said that he didn't want war with Poland, and that, if Poland gave the Cossacks back their rights, he would send the Tatars away. The Ataman then ran in and warned Khmelnytsky that the Poles were marching against them, and Khmelnytsky turned to Skrzetuski and told him, "War."

Skrzetuski at Zhovti Vody

Skrzetuski at Zhovti Vody

Skrzetuski was taken along with Khmelnytsky on a prisoner cart and witnessed the Battle of Zhovti Vody, a crushing Polish defeat. His hopes of a Polish victory were lost when the Polish hussars' charge on the first day of battle was repelled by musket fire and the Cossack spearmen, and the deteriorating weather conditions led to the second Polish cavalry attack a day later being impeded by the muddy ground. At the same time, Rzedzian was captured by Cossacks and taken to Bohun, who read the letters meant for the Princess and discovered the Princess' betrayal. Bohun retaliated by riding to Rozlogi and killing the Princess' sons, while one of his men threw a knife at the Princess' throat and killed her. Zagloba, who had befriended Bohun, was horrified by these actions and, in the middle of the night, helped Helena escape the estate by getting the Cossack soldiers drunk, visiting an injured Bohun and telling him that he was going to Lubni to fetch a doctor and a hangman for Bohun and that he would never drink with him again (while also silencing his calls for help by putting a pillow over his mouth), and then rode to Czehryn with Helena, while Bohun and his men fell for Zagloba's trick and rode to Lubni. While the Cossacks were gone, the peasants proceeded to burn and loot the estate and blame it on Bohun in case that the Prince found out. On hearing from a passer-by that Czehryn had fallen to the peasants amid a great slaughter, Zagloba decided to take Helena to the fortress of Bar, although it was a very far ride; the passer-by was later captured, interrogated, and hanged by Bohun after revealing that the two were headed to Czehryn. The two of them then fled to Khmelnytsky's forces with the villagers of Demianowka after spotting Bohun's men and telling the villagers that they were the Prince's men, and were there to kill them.

Prince Jeremi finding Skrzetuski

Prince Jeremi finding Skrzetuski

Skrzetuski continued to be brought along by Khmelnytsky's army as they continued to win several victories, witnessing the Battle of Korsun on 26 May 1648. Afterwards, Khmelnytsky decided to set Skrzetuski free, escorted by Tatars (as the Prince liked to impale Cossacks). Skrzetuski returned to Rozlogi, where he was shattered to see the town burned down and abandoned. There, he reunited with Prince Jeremi, Podbipieta, and Wolodyjowski, who were dismayed to see Skrzetuski non-vocal and traumatized. Prince Jeremi had Skrzetuski head out on a scouting mission as he and his army burned down the village in retaliation for the looting of the estate, and, when the army advanced and ran into a group of marauders (whom they slaughtered), Skrzetuski and Podbipieta reunited with Zagloba, who told Skrzetuski that Helen was alive, and had gone off to the safety of Bar. However, when the Poles arrived at Bar, they found that the castle had fallen to the Cossacks, and Bohun captured Helena and left her with a witch, Horpyna. Just as she had done at Bar, Helena attempted to stab herself to avoid having to marry the crude Bohun.

Skrzetuski embarking on his spying mission

Skrzetuski embarking on his spying mission

By September 1648, the Polish army encamped at Pilawice, where Prince Jeremi confided in Skrzetuski that he was unable to control much of his army, as the Cossacks were disorderly and many of his troops accused him of cruelty, while his three commanders were cowards. He said that all of the men were ready to follow Skrzetuski, but Skrzetuski said that he would be proclaimed a rebel if he led them. The Prince persuaded Skrzetuski to spy on Khmelnytsky, as he knew nothing of the enemy, and Skrzetuski told Zagloba and his other friends that they would be going to Khmelnytsky's camp to find out his plans. Along the way, Zagloba was captured while crashing a peasant wedding and was told by Bohun that Helen was alive, and Zagloba managed to escape with the help of Wolodyjowski and Podbipieta, who stormed the village and routed the Cossacks. Bohun then told Skrzetuski of Helen's survival, causing Skrzetuski to shout with glee. Zagloba predicted that Bohun would go to Kyiv, so Skrzetuski said that he would follow him, and Wolodyjowski said that he would scout for his friend.

Skrzetuski leaving Zbarazh

Skrzetuski leaving Zbarazh

During the ride, however, a few rugged horsemen rode up to the column and said that the end of Poland was near, claiming that Khmelnytsky's army ambushed and destroyed Prince Jeremi's main army, and that Jeremi had fled to Zbarazh. Skrzetuski and his men made their way to Zbarazh, where Prince Jeremi was arguing with Senator Adam Kisiel and other high nobles about the succession to the monarchy, as King Wladyslaw IV of Poland, whom both the Poles and Cossacks loved, had recently died. Skrzetuski and his party supported continued war, while Kisiel wanted peace, and Kisiel warned Prince Jeremi that, if he went against the will of the Commonwealth, it would be Prince Jeremi and not Khmelnytsky who would be called a rebel. Prince Jeremi then called an end to the meeting, but Skrzetuski stayed behind and requested to be sent to the negotiations. Prince Jeremi asked if Skrzetuski was in favor of the talks, but Skrzetuski said that he wanted to find his betrothed. While Skrzetuski accompanied the Polish legation, Bohun was concurrently sent by Khmelnytsky to carry a letter to Prince John II Casimir Vasa, absolving him from arrest by Wolodyjowski and Zagloba. However, Wolodyjowski challenged Bohun to a duel, in which Wolodyjowski cut Bohun across the chest and left him for dead.

Skrzetuski at the peace talks

Skrzetuski at the peace talks

In February 1649, Skrzetuski, Senator Kisiel, and the other delegates met with Khmelnytsky and his commanders at their headquarters in Kyiv, where Khmelnytsky said that the Poles were too late to appease him with a baton, saying that the Cossacks were more powerful. Maksym Kryvonis countered Kisiel's claim that war would be mutually destructive, saying that war would only lead to the destruction of Poland. During a toast, Khmelnytsky approached Skrzetuski and said that he liked him, not for saving his life, but for grabbing Czaplinski by his neck and throwing him in the mud. Khmelnytsky then asked how he could repay Skrzetuski, who said that he wanted Bohun so that he could duel him. Khmelnytsky revealed that he had sent Bohun with some letters, but Skrzetuski responded that Bohun had kidnapped and hidden his betrothed. Khmelnytsky promised to send men to help Skrzetuski search for her, and that, when Bohun returned, he would order him to stand against Skrzetuski. Meanwhile, Skrzetuski's friends met up with Rzedzian, who reunited with them and told them that Helena was in a witch's lair in the Devil's Valley; Rzedzian had found that out from Bohun; Rzedzian had pretended that he had become a masterless man in league with the Cossacks before becoming Bohun's medic. He had patched up Bohun's wounds after his duel with Wolodyjowski, and Bohun had Rzedzian escort him to the witch's lair at the banks of the Dneister, where he had also hidden the Princess. Wolodyjowski, Podbipieta, and Zagloba rode to the valley, where Zagloba killed the witch's servant Czeremis and Wolodyjowski shot the witch, before recovering Helen and telling her that Skrzetuski was looking for her in Kyiv. The party was beset by Tatars, forcing them to part ways; Rzedzian and Helena fled into the woods, while Podbipieta rescued Wolodyjowski and Zagloba. Afterwards, all of the Crown forces, including Skrzetuski, were assembled at Zbarazh.

Podbipieta and Skrzetuski at the Siege of Zbarasz

Podbipieta and Skrzetuski at the Siege of Zbarasz

On 10 July 1649, Khmelnytsky and his army arrived at Zbarazh, where Khmelnytsky sent a messenger to request a meeting with Prince Jeremi at the castle the next day. Khmelnytsky and Islam III Giray's massive Cossack and Tatar army attacked the castle the next afternoon. Skrzetuski and Podbipieta charged into battle together as Zagloba inadvertently captured an enemy banner by throwing a bomb over the walls and causing the banner to fly over his shoulders. Skrzetuski wounded Tugay Bey in battle, while the attackers were defeated. The Tatars and Cossacks made a second attempted attack, but Wolodyjowski mined underneath the Tatar siege tower and destroyed it with a gunpowder trap. That night, Podbipieta cut off the heads of three Tatar janissaries whom Islam Giray's lover and commander Subaghazi had sent to attack the walls. The next day, however, as the castle's rations ran low, Skrzetuski and his friends told the Prince that they volunteered to send news to the King of the siege, and the Prince told them that they should attempt to make it out one-by-one; if one died, another would pick up where he left off. Podbipieta volunteered to be the first messenger, now that he had fulfilled his vow.

Podbipieta's friends mourning his loss

Podbipieta's friends mourning his loss

The next day, Podbipieta's arrow-ridden corpse was borne atop a Tatar siege tower, so Skrzetuski and his friends stormed the tower to avenge their fallen friend. They slew the attackers and cut down their friend's body, which they greatly mourned. Skrzetuski volunteered to go second, and he was able to stealthily swim out of the fortress. In August 1649, he made his way to King John II Casimir Vasa at Toporow, and a beleaguered Skrzetuski told the King that the army at Zbarazh was starved and short of gunpowder. He also reported that the Khan was there with all of his troops, but the King insisted that the army march out that same day.

Skrzetuski waking up at the royal castle

Skrzetuski waking up at the royal castle

Skrzetuski was fed, bathed, and rested overnight at the royal castle, where he found that Rzedzian had come to his side to serve him once again and nurse him back to health. Skrzetuski told Rzedzian of Podbipieta's death from arrows, which shook Rzedzian, while he said that the others were still alive when he left. He then had Rzedzian give him water, and Rzedzian said that it was good that the others were still alive. When Skrzetuski asked how Rzedzian had made it there, he said that he had fled while the two officers held off the Tatars, causing Skrzetuski to say that he thought Rzedzian would be more loyal. Rzedzian said that he and a fourth rider escaped, but halted himself, saying that the doctor had ordered him not to say anything more. An enraged Skrzetuski grabbed Rzedzian and asked who else was with him, and Helena then walked into the room, leading to an emotional reunion between the two in which they embraced and kissed.

Skrzetuski and Helena celebrating their friends' arrival

Skrzetuski and Helena celebrating their friends' arrival

Shortly after, the Khan signed a treaty with King John II Casimir, and Bohun called on the other Cossacks to defend their fame and storm Zbarazh. They were repelled by Wolodyjowski's riflemen, and, not long after, a recovered Skrzetuski and Helena were elated to see their friends arrive at Toporow. They celebrated peace at last, and that Prince Jeremi himself would walk Helena down the aisle at her wedding with Skrzetuski. The elation was cut short when a tied-up Bohun was brought into the courtyard, having been spared by the Prince and left for Skrzetuski to deal with. Skrzetuski cut loose Bohun's bonds, even as Bohun warned him that he would go back to Khmelnytsky, and he gave him a sword and let him ride off on his horse. Skrzetuski and Helena went on to marry in Lviv, and they had 12 sons and at least one daughter, living in Burzec. He died in 1673.

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