Stanislaw Koniecpolski

Stanisław Koniecpolski, (1590/1594 (estimated from various sources) - 11 March 1646) was a noble (szlachcic), magnate and Field and Great Crown Hetman of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. During his lifetime he won major military victories against the Turks, the Tatars and the Swedes. His coat of arms was Pobóg.

Childhood

Stanisław Koniecpolski was born around 1590/1594 (the year is not certain since there are several conflicting sources) in the szlachta and magnate family of Koniecpolscy in Koniecpol. His father was Aleksander Koniecpolski, voivode of Sieradz, a supporter of Zygmunt III Waza. His mother was Anna Sroczycka, daughter of Stanisław Sroczycki, voivode of Kamieniec, who brought into Koniecpolski family large estates on Podole.

Stanislaw Koniecpolski since the childhood had a speech impediment and throught his life he stuttered on longer words.

At the age of 15, his father influence got him the starostwo of Wieluń.

He studied on the University of Krakow (aka Academy of Cracow, Jagielonnian Univestity). After that he was sent by his father to gain experience at the royal court. He also undertook a few months long tour to France to learn foreign languages.

Early career

He chose the military career and in 1610 he took part in the Smolensk campaign. During the attack on the fortress, on 8th July1611 the collapsing walls killed his brother Przedbor. Stanislaw returned to Koniecpol with his body. On the autumn of the same year he rejoined the miliatry and under the command of Great Lithuanian Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz he took part in the Moscow campaign, to bring supplies to ensieged Polish forces in Kreml. During that time he was entrusted by the hetman with the important commanded the right flank of Polish forces.

Next year he joins the units of wojsko kwarciane on Ukraine under the command of hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, who had a great influence on his further career. In 1614 he received the command of forces tasked with destruction of rebellious units of wojsko kwarciane under Krawacki. On 17 May he won a victory at Rohatyn and captured Krawacki. In 1615 he married the daughter of Zółkiewski, Katarzyna, who died soon afterwards giving birth. Soon after the marriage he received a royal court official rank of podstoli koronny.

On 1615 and 1616 he gained experience on Ukraine fighting agaisnt Tatars ords but he failed to intercept the enemy. In 1617 alongside Żołkiewski he took part in fights against powerful Turkish army of Iskander pasha which ended with ceasefire. He also negotiated with Cossacks near Olszanica in Russia, where Cossack register was limited to 1000 and raids (chadzki) on Black Sea were forbidden.

On the Sejm of 1618, ignoring the opposition of magnate Zbarski and his allies, king Zygmunt III Waza granted the baton of Great Crown Hetman to Stanisław Żółkiewski and the baton of Field Crown Hetman to Koniecpolski.

Soon afterwards Koniecpolski was defeated by Tatars near Oryn, where he made a mistake of charging in the front of his army against overwhelming odds and barely made it out alive.

In 1620 Koniecpolski and Żólkiewski lead the army to Cecora to fight against the ord of Kantymir. The army numbered over 10,000 and important regiments inlcuded the private forces of magnates Koreccy, Zasławscy, Kazanowscy, Kalinowscy and [[Potoccy]. Koniecpolski commanded the right flank of the Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Cecora. On 19th September the Polish forces were defeated, but were able to retreat in the organised fashion. The morale of the army was low, and while Koniecpolski stopped the army from desintegrating on 20/21st September, during the later retreat the army collapsed and run towards the river. In the ensuing battle Żólkiewski was killed and Koniecpolski and many mangnates (Samuel Korecki, Mikolaj Struś, Mikołaj Potocki, Jan Żółkiewski, son of Stanisław and Łukasz Żołkiewski) were taken captive. They were transported to Białograd, to Iskander pasza, then near the Constantinopol to the Castle of Seven Towers. They returned to Poland on spring of 1623, when the diplomatic mission of Krzystof Zbaraski bought their freedom for 30,000 talars.

Koniecpolski soon had his revenge. Around the February of 1624 orda budziacka of Kantymir attacked southern realms of Poland once again. One of its armies was intercepted and destroyed on 6th February by Koniecpolski near Szmańkowice, forcing forces of Ali pasza to retreat towards Bukowina. The Kantymiur forces crossed the border on 5th June and hetman Koniecpolski crushed his forces on 20th June. Kantymir barely made it out alive. Koniecpolski used new strategy - light Cossack cavalry that was as fast as Tatars had driven them towards fortified postitions (tabor). He was awarded by the Sejm 30,000 zloty's and made a voivodship of Sandomierz.

On 1625 the Zaporoze's Cossacks have rebelled, allied with Szanhin Girej and tried to ally with Russia. Koniecpolski reasoned that Tatars had their share of trouble with Porta and budziacka orda of Kantymir won't be able to send major assistance. He gathered a 12,000 strong army of wojsko kwarciane and private units. He promised all Cossacks loyal to the Commonwealth fair treatment, while the rebels under Mark Żmajła death. On 25th October of 1625 near Kryków he attacked the Cossacks, who managed to stop the first attacks of cavalry and retreated towards the Kurukowski Lake. They managed again to stop the second offensive and Koniecpolski was 'in grave danger at one moment'. The conflict ended with ceasfire, Cossack register was set at 6,000 and they again promised to stop from raids on Black Sea.

In 1626 Tatars invaded again, razing and pillaging territories as far as voivodships of Bełsk, Halice and Lvov, while some advanced units reached cities of Tarnopol and Tremblowla. Small army of wojsko kwarciane under Koniecpolski managed to defeat the rear guard of main Tatar army, which crossed the borders with many treasures and slaves in jasyr. Later this year, fearing a repeat of the invasion, Koniecpolski violated the Sejm declaration and fielded an army of 8,000.

War against the Swedes

The Tatars did not invade, but Swedes under Gustavus Adolphus did. The Koniecpolski army (4,200 light cavalry, 1000 dragons, 1000 infantry) was rushed to the Prusy Królewskie with amazing speed. Strengthened by some units, he had 10,000 men against over 20,000 of Swedes. Using tactics of small mobile units striking at enemys communication lines and smaller units, he managed to stop the Swedish attack and force the units under Axel Oxenstierna into defensive.

The Sejm agreed to raise money for the war, but the situation of Polish forces was difficult. Lithuanian forces were dealt a serious defeat in december of 1626 near Koknese on Inflanty and retreated behind Dźwina river. Swedish planned to strike on Koniecpolski from two directions - Oxenstierna from direction of Vistula and Johann Streiff von Lawentstein and Maxymilian Teuffl from Swedish Pomorze. The flooding of Vistula disrupted their plans and allowed Koniecploski to intercept the enemy units coming from Pomorze. On March/April (dates vary) of 1627 near Czarne (Hamersztyn) they forced the Swedish forces to retreat inside the city, and three days later to surrender, leaving their banners and insignia. Some Swedish soldiers and mercenaries changed sides at that time. This victory also made the elector of Branderburg declare his support for the Commonwealth, and the Lithuanian forces resumed offensive in Inflanty.

In May 1626 Swedes were reinforced by Gustaw Adolphus, who landed in Piława with over 8,000 soldiers. During the crossing of Vistula near Kieżmark in the vicinity of Gdańsk he met Polish forces, was wounded in the hip and forced to retreat. In July he lead forces to lift the siege of Braniew, and lay Siege to Orneta. Koniecpolski responded with sudden attack and capture of Gniew. Gustaw was reported to be impressed by the speed of Koniecpolski reaction. Koniecpolski with around 7,800 men (including 2,500 cavalry and hussaria) tried to stop Swedish army from reaching Gdansk near Tczew. On 7-8 August the battle with Swedish forces (10,000 men including 5,000 infantry)took place near the swamps of Mołtawa. Swedish wanted to provoke Polish forces into an attack and destroy them with infantry fire and artillery, but Koniecpolski decided not attack. Swedes then took the initiative and attacked with cavalry, but didn't manage to draw Polish forces in the range of their fire. The consequent Swedish attacks managed to deal severe damage to Polish cavalry units, but didn't manage to cripple the army (which morale was kept high thanks to Koniecpolski). The battle ended when Gustaw Adolphus was once again wounded and Swedes retreated.

After that battle Koniepolski saw the need to reform the army and strengthen the firepower of infantry and artillery to match the Swedish units. Swedes on the other hand learned arts of cavalry attacks, charges and melee combat from Poles.

In 1628 Polish forces lacking funds were forced to stop offensive and switch to defensive. Gustaw Adolphus captured Nowy and Brodnica. Koniecpolski contrattacked by using his small forces most efficiently - fast cavalry melee attacks combined with fire support of infantry and artillery, and using fortifications and terrain advantages. The funds for the war were increased after the battle of Górzno, were Stanisław Potocki was defeated. Austria send help to the Commonwealth in the form of units under feldmarshall Jan Jerzy Arnheim.

The final battle took place on 27 June of 1629 near Trzciana. Swedes attacked in the direction of Grudziądz, were stopped and retreated to Szturm and Malbork. Koniecpolski attacked the rear guard lead by Jan, count of Ren and destroyed it, as well as a counteratack by Swedish raitars, who were pushed in the direction of Pułkowice, were another counterattack was lead by Gustaw Adolf and 2,000 raitars. This counterattack was also stopped, and the Swedish forces were saved by the last backup units lead by feldmarshall Herman Wrangel, who finally managed to stop the Polish attack. Gustaw Adolf said after the battle I have never been in such a bath. 1,200 Swedes were killed, including the count of Ren and son of Wrangl, Jan Wilhelm Reingraff, few hundreds were captured. Polish loses were under 200 hurt and injured.

However this victory was not followed politically and militarly. Ceasefire in Stary Targ on 26 October of 1629 was in favour of the Swedes, who got the right to tax Polish trade (3,5% on the value of goods) moved through Baltic and kept control of many cities in Prusy Królewskie.

Koniecpolski had no major influence over the negotiations, as he was quickly called back to Ukraine, to crush yet another uprising of Cossacks, thsoe time lead by Taras Fedorowicz.

The Great Crown Hetman

In 1630 Taras executed Hryćka Czarny, who opposed the uprising and captured the fortress of Korsyń. Koniecpolski laied siege to Perejasław, but lacking support of artillery and infantry, couldnt break the walls. Cossacks lacking supplies agreed to negotiations, and on the 8 June the Kurukow agreement was reinstated. Koniecpolski opinion was that harsh punishment should be dealth to all rebels, but Cossacks situation in the long run should be remedied not by military supression, but by fairer and more equal treatment, like an increase in the number of Cossack soldiers (rejestr) and regular payment of wages.

In 1632, few months before his death, Zygmunt III Waza awarded to Koniecpolski the position of Great Crown Hetman. After king's death, hetman supported the election of son of Zygmunt, Władysław IV Waza. In return, after the election, Władysław rewarded Koniecpolski with the office of the castellan of Cracow.

In 1633 Koniecpolski thwarted the Turks attacks on the Commonwealth, defeating their forces on 4 July under Sasowy Róg and 22 October at Kamieniec Podolski. Those defeats and tough stance of Koniecpolski convinced the Turks to sign a new treaty on 19 September 1634, which repeated the statements of Treaty of Chocim from 1621.

Koniecpolski understood the need to modernise the army and actively cooperated with Wladislaw IV on various projects leading to this goal, like drafting mercenary units experienced in Western art of war, development of artillery (he supervised the construction of aresnals in Kudak, Bar and Kamieniec Podolski, and build forges in his Ukrainian estates). He was the patron of many talented artillery and engeenering officers. It is possible that he has also sponsored cartographers like Wilhelm Beauplan who created the map of Ukraine and Sebastian Aders who created the map of Crimea. He supported the plan to create the Commonwealth Baltic Fleet.

In 1635 after Cossacks under Iwan Sulima have destroyed the Kudak fort he lead an expedition that have retaken it and punished the insurgents.

Last years

Arter 1635 Koniecpolski declining health made him reliant on Tuhaj Bej forces near Ochmatów and pursued them. Many Turks drowned near Sina Woda when ice cover on he water collapsed. This campaign has brought fame to Koniecpolski, who have not only predicted the place and time of Turks attack, but destroyed their forces before they used their usuall strategy of splitting the main forces into highly mobile and difficult to intercept 'czambuls' units.

This victory lead Wladyslaw IV to consider waging an offensive war against Turks. Koniecpolski supported the limited war against the Crimean Chanate, but warned against the Wladyslaw plans to wage war on the entire Ottoman Empire. Koniecpolski also strongly advised that for this campaing a coalition with Moscow would be useful.

Koniecpolski wife Krystyna died and Koniecpolski married the young Zofia Opalińska, daugheter of future Crown Marshall Łukasz Opaliński on 16 January 1646.

Koniecpolski died on 11 march 1646 in Brody. Many sources point to his new marriage as the source of his death. Joachim Jerlicz wrote in his diary that he overdosed an aphrodisiac.

Over the course of his life, Koniecpolski gathered much wealth. He was a posesor of 16 starostwo's, his yearly revenue was over 500,000 zloty's.

Sources

• Hetmani Rzeczpospolitej Obojga Narodów, ISBN 8311082758