Stanisław Żółkiewski

Infobox Szlachcic
name=Stanisław Żółkiewski


caption=
family=Żółkiewski
CoA=Lubicz
father=Stanisław Żółkiewski (father)|Stanisław Żółkiewski
mother=Zofia Żółkiewska|Zofia née Lipska
consorts=Regina Żółkiewska|Regina née Herburt
children=Stanisław Żółkiewski
Katarzyna Żółkiewska
born=1547
born_in=Turynka near Lwów, Poland
death=October 7, 1620
died_in=Battle of Ţuţora near Iaşi

Stanisław Żółkiewski (1547 – 1620) was a Polish nobleman, magnate and military commander. He was first European invader of Russia to seize Moscow and the only one who captured the capital of this country. [In 1812 Napoleon captured Moscow but actual Russian capital was then Sankt Petersburg.]

He took part in many military operations both in Poland and on its southern and eastern border. He held a number of notable posts in the administration of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, including the castellan of Lwów (from 1590), voivod of Kijów Voivodship and Great Chancellor of the Crown (from 1618). Following 1588 he was also a Field Crown Hetman, in 1613 promoted to Grand Hetman of the Crown. During his lifetime he won major military victories against Muscovy, the Ottoman Empire and Tatars.

Żółkiewski attended schools in Lwów, was well read and spoke foreign languages. He was secretary to King Stefan Batory. Between 1594 and 1596 he defeated the Cossack uprisng of Severyn Nalivaiko. In 1607 he defeated the Zebrzydowski's Rebellion in the battle of Guzów. In 1610 he achieved yet another brilliant victory in the battle of Kłuszyn against Muscovy. As an effect of his successful campaign, Żółkiewski seized Moscow and has taken the tsar Vasiliy Shuyskiy captive during the Dymitriads. He supported the election of Władysław IV Waza for tsar and the idea of personal union between the Commonwealth and Muscovy.

Since 1612 he was a teacher and tutor of Stanisław Koniecpolski, future hetman and military commander. Both in 1612 and 1617 he commanded military campaigns to Moldavia (Moldavian Magnate Wars) and Ukraine. Despite his old age (he was over 70), he continued his active service as a military commander until the very end.

Żółkiewski was killed on 7 October, 1620 during the Polish retreat after the battle of Cecora against the Turks in Moldova near Prut river, during the Moldavian Magnate Wars. After the battle, his body was desecrated, his head cut off and sent to Constantinople as a war trophy. It was later bought by his widow, together with Żółkiewski's son who was taken captive during the battle. His body was buried in the family church in Żółkiew (now Zhovkva, Ukraine). His death gave rise to a veritable legend about the Christian knight slain by the pagans in defense of the Holy Faith [Mikoś, 1996]

Works

* "Początek i progres wojny moskiewskiej" ("On the Beginning and the End of the Muscovite War", also known as "Beginning and Progress of the Muscovy War") - memoires describing his campaigns and diplomatic activity, written in the third person, is a concise account of a Polish-Muscovite War (1605-1618).

Notes

References

* "Hetmani Rzeczypospolitej Obojga Narodów"; Bellona, Warsaw, 1994 ISBN 8311082758
* Michael J. Mikoś, "Polish Baroque and Enlightenment Literature: An Anthology". Ed. Michael J. Mikoś. Columbus, Ohio/Bloomington, Indiana: Slavica Publishers. 1996. 104-108. ISBN 0893572667 (contains short bio and "Satire III: On Burdens and Oppressions of Peasants in Poland." )