Stefan Czarniecki

a military commander, hero of the Polish-Swedish War of 1655–1660

Born in 1599 in Czarnca near Włoszczowa into a noble family of the Łodzia crest. His military career started in an irregular unit of light cavalry organized around 1604 by Aleksander Józef Lisowski called ‘lisowczycy.’ He fought in the War against Sweden (1626–1629), Tatars (1644–1645), and in the Smoleńsk War (1633–1634). He gained much experience in the Khmelnytsky (Khmelnitsky) Uprising (1648–1657), during which he fought at Berestechko and was commander of an independent campaign in Ukraine.

He gained most recognition in the years 1655–1660 during the so-called Swedish Deluge. Faithful to King John Casimir (Polish: Jan Kazimierz), Czarniecki engaged in hit-and-run battles, tirelessly attacking Swedish troops at times when they least expected it. On April 7, 1656, he defeated the Swedish army at Warka. He also made history with a campaign against Denmark in 1658.

Czarniecki died in 1665 from complications following a wound he received during the suppression of revolts in Ukraine. A month before his death, the King awarded him the title of Field Hetman. He was buried in a little church in his hometown.

Warka cherishes the memory of Hetman Czarniecki. In 1956, the Town celebrated the 300^th anniversary of the Battle at Warka. The Town’s market square was named for Czarniecki. On August 24, 2001, the modernized bridge on the Pilica River was reopened, blest, and named for the Hetman. In 2013, on the 357^th anniversary of the Battle at Warka, the Town’s market square received a new equestrian monument of Hetman Czarniecki. The monument was designed by sculptor Tomasz Górnicki, who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and is a resident of the Warka municipality. Two elementary schools in Ostrołęka and Rozniszew have Hetman Czarniecki in their names.