Historical Calendar: October 4, 1655 – Krzysztof Żegocki wins Koscian

Anniversary of the successful departure of the first Partisan of the Republic to Koscian.

Today, in our calendar, we will look at the life and activities of a prominent, though forgotten Polish patriot, Krzysztof Żegocki.

Krzysztof was a kid of the castel of Martin Żegocki and his wife Anna. small is known about his youth. most likely the basic education, and at the same time the foundations of the moral spine and patriotic attitude were obtained in 1 of the many Jesuit colleges created in Poland. After his graduation he studied theology at the Academy of Krakow. He was closely associated with the court of Wielkopolska magnates, Opaliński.

He married Elizabeth Lintermans, who died after respective years. In 1645 he married Jadwiga Zbięwska. He had 5 children from both relationships. He cared about their upbringing and education. Around 1646 he became a Babylonian governor; he was besides an officer of the Polish army. As a captain of the driving banner he took part in the battles with the Tatars and the rebellious Cossacks during the Chmielnicki Uprising.

In 1655, Swedes hit the weakened Republic, thus breaking a truce signed 20 years earlier in the Sztumska Village. Beloved by Żegocki Wielkopolska she was invaded by the enemy, and collected under the estuary of the nobility capitulated. Christopher opposed this, and erstwhile the betrayal was accomplished, he did not curse allegiance to the occupier. He was threatened with repression, so he and his household fled to the region of Zielona Góra, which was then owned by the Brandenburg electorate.

Despite assurances of respect for property rights and religion, The Swedes began to plunder and execution the people of their conquered lands. They robbed and destroyed churches and Catholic monasteries with a peculiar entourage. In the fall of 1655, Żagocki, having previously taken care of the safety of his loved ones, returned to the country and began forming a guerrilla ward around Babimostu. He was assisted by the Podlasie voivode Jan Piotr Opaliński.

Not only was the area of the nobles, but besides the townspeople and peasants. The old man founded his base in the town of Zabór, where he attacked and liquidated insignificant enemy troops penetrating the area in search of spoils and furrows. In doing so, he was happy to usage the information provided by the surrounding peasantry, making him well aware of the number and movements of his opponent. Over time, Swedish losses grew.

At 1 point, the occupier appointed a cash prize of 3 1000 thalers for Krzysztof's head. However, no 1 was eager to release the partisan station.

The top triumph of Żagocki took place on October 4, 1655, erstwhile at the head of little than a 100 people attacked the about 200-400 soldiers of the Swedish Kościan garrison. utilizing surprise, he completely crushed his opponent. From the prisoners, he learned that a convoy of 40 wagons was headed for the city with church goods robbed in Wielkopolska. He was covered by a 100 Swedes under the command of King Charles Gustav's brother-in-law, the Landgraf of Heski Frederick.

The Partisans ambushed the city gates and crashed the convoy, killing its commander. Both victories contributed to the emergence of the fame of Zagocki, who gained the name First Partisan of the Republic of Poland. This had a crucial impact on the extension of the fight against the occupier to another areas of the country.

In November, Krzysztof went to Silesia to King Jan Kazimierz, from whom he received a promotion as Colonel. He returned to the country with a mission to enlarge the branch and aid the besieged Jasna Góra. The threat of coming to Częstochowa of the Żagocki ramps has most likely become 1 of the main reasons for General Burchard Müller's siege of the monastery. The guerrilla actions of the Babylonian politician facilitated the return of the king and his dawn.

In January 1656, Zagocki successfully continued the rampart fights, including taking on the abrupt attack of Wieluń. For respective months he operated in the south, but at the beginning of the summertime he returned to central Wielkopolska, where he effectively paralyzed the supply of the Swedish and then the Brandenburg garrison of Poznań. Thanks to him, the fight against the invasion took on a universal form and united in a common effort all states of the Republic. He was ruthless in pursuing and eliminating not only Swedes, but besides traitors of the homeland recruiting mostly from local Protestants.

In the following months he took part in the expeditions of Stefan Czarniecki against the prince of the seven-garden Jerzem Rakocz, as well as to fresh March and Denmark. He was most likely active in the celebrated capture of the island of Als. He retired from the army at the end of 1658 or early in 1659. Then he decided to devote himself to public activity. Thanks to his fame he rapidly advanced to the civilian hierarchy.

In 1659 he became a Kaliski sub-chamber, and a year later, he became a Crown Court marshal. He was a associate of the Parliament of the Royal Mint, the Royal Mint's tenant, the Commissioner on the establishment of the Western border and the settlement of the State Treasury's debts to the military. After respective years, he became the politician of Inowrocław. He opposed the election task vivente rege a French candidate who pushed the royal couple.

After his second wife’s death and children’s adulthood, he abandoned his administration in 1667 and decided to become a priest. He rapidly learned about Catholic theology. In 1669 he became bishop of Chelm. As specified a advanced ecclesiastical position, he made himself known as a good host and organizer, caring for both the spiritual life of the faithful and the restoration of the wartime destructions of his own belongings.

During the 1672 crisis, despite his mediocre health, he jumped into political combat. He sided with Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, defending legalism and trying to reconcile the king's camp with the malcontent camp under the leadership of Hetman Sobieski. As a senator and a associate of the Royal War Council, he demanded raising taxes on the military, continuing opposition against Turkey, and failing to admit the shameful treaty signed in Buchach.

In addition, he was the author of respective ministering writings and a political dissertation directed against absolutism, which he considered degeneration of the right monarchy idea.

Krzysztof Żegocki is undoubtedly a unique figure, primarily thanks to his phenomenal versatility. He was a loving husband and father, an excellent military commander, declared defender of Homeland and Catholicism, an efficient politician and administrator, yet at least a correct priest and bishop. During the Flood, in his fight for Polish faith, household and property he was based on the forces of both nobles and townsmen and peasants.

This made him a national leader, long before the expected precursor of the thought of national unity, Tadeusz Kościuszka.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.