Lumen 2018

Father Kordecki turned out to be a choice leader. He prepared an excellent defense of the monastery at Jasna Gora. He staffed the fortress with very good soldiers and his artillery was superior to the Swedes’ cannons. He lost only two soldiers, one of whom died in combat and the other, by an unfortunate accident, was killed by friendly fire. 60 A kind of breakthrough took place within the Polish nation during the siege of Jasna Gora. Masses of peasants and townsfolk took up arms, the uprising spread to the Podkarpacie region, and the moun- taineers of the region of Zywiec engaged in guerilla fights. The up- rising was joined by the townspeople of Pilsno, Biecz, Krosno, and Nowy Targ. A peasant unit, several thousand strong, recaptured Nowy Sacz from the Swedes, 61 which shows that Fr. Papczynski’s compatriots were not sitting idly by, either. The Polish army, which, not so long before, took the side of the enemy, formed a confederation against the Swedes at Tyszowce in December 1655, and, led by Hetman of Poland, Stanislaus Potocki, and Hetman of Poland, Stanislaus Lanckoronski, swore to be faithful to King John Casimir, who was able to return to Poland already in January of 1656. He returned led by George Lubomirski, along the road via Lubowla, Dukla, Krosno, and Lancut, where he joined the confederates on January 22, 1656. Afterwards, he proceded to Lvov, which had not yet been captured by the Swedes, and, at that time, quite large forces gathered at his side. A brave leader, Stephen Czarniecki, stood at their head, and began a guerilla war, in which the Swedes suffered severe losses. At the same time, it has already been mentioned, King Charles X Gustavus managed to persuade Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, to become his ally and, followed by a sizeable army, undertook a campaign against John Casimir in January of 1656. But the uprising movement was already sweeping the country, and the fortunes of the participants of this war were reversed. 62 The Swedish king found himself in retreat. He was pursued by the armies of Stephen Czarniecki and George Lubomirski, and it was only with great difficulty that he and part of S TANISLAUS P APCZYNSKI 108