With Fire And Sword

The events of this novel are placed in the time the Cossaks uprising led by Chmielnicki in 1648.The Cossacks were a people who belonged to a sort of free layer in the society of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between 15th and 17th century. It consisted of peasants, plebeians and poor aristocracy, who moved to the regions of lower Dniepr River in Ucraine. To defend themselves against Tatar invasions, they organized armed squads which then themselves would break out to attack Tatars and Turcs. Cossack uprisings were caused by, as they perceived it limiting their freedom, changing the Cossack register, which was a listing of Cossack armed squads which were incorporated into the Polish army.That was the case of the 1648-1654 uprising. Social religious and nationalist appeals were thrown to incourage to fight not only the registered Cossack but the whole of the Cossack population in Ukraine.

In 1654 after several years of fighting .... and vain edavours to get help from Krym Khan and Turkey, Chmielnicki decided to surrender Ukraine to Russia. After his death in 1657, the Cossacks tried to play an independent polotical role. They remained however in the sphere of influence of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Duchy of Muscov.

The famous polish colonel Stefan Czarniecki (1599-1665).

He took part in all Polish 17th century wars:

- against Cossack (from 1648)

- against Sweden

- against Muscovy