Background
Stefan Czarniecki was born on Poland in 1599.
Stefan Czarniecki was born on Poland in 1599.
Stefan Czarniecki learnt the science of war under Stanislaw Koniecpolski in the Prussian campaigns against Gustavus Adolphus (1626 - 1629), and under Wladislaus IV in the Muscovite campaign of 1633.
Stefan Czarniecki took an active part in all the subsequent wars with the Cossacks and received more disfiguring wounds than any other commander.
His energy and ability as a leader of guerillas hampered Charles X at every step, and though frequently worsted he from time to time inflicted serious defeats upon the Swedes, notably at Jaroslaw and at Kozienice in 1656.
It was he who brought King John Casimir back from exile and enabled him to regain his lost kingdom.
It was against his advice that the great battle of Warsaw was fought, and his subsequent strategy neutralized the ill effects of that national disaster.
On the retirement of the Swedes from Cracow and Warsaw, and the conclusion of the treaty of Copenhagen with the Danes, he commanded the army corps sent to drive the troops of Charles X out of Jutland and greatly contributed to the ultimate success of the Allies.
On the conclusion of the Peace of Oliva, which adjusted the long outstanding differences between Poland and Sweden, Czarniecki was transferred to the eastern frontier where the war with Muscovy was still raging.
In the campaign of 1660 he won the victories of Polonka and Lachowicza and penetrated to the heart of the enemy's country.
Czarniecki raised partisan-warfare to the dignity of a science, and by his ubiquity and tenacity demoralized and exhausted the regular armies to which he was generally opposed. See Ludwik Jenike, Stephen Czarniecki (Pol. )
Stefan Czarniecki married Zofia Kobierzycka.
