Helena Kurcewiczówna

Helena Kurcewiczówna
Portrait of Helena by Piotr Stachiewicz
First appearance	With Fire and Sword
Last appearance	Colonel Wolodyjowski
Created by	Henryk Sienkiewicz
Portrayed by	Izabella Scorupco
Information
Nickname(s)	Halszka
Gender	Female
Title	Princess
Family	Wasyl Kurcewicz (father) unknown mother
Spouse(s)	Jan Skrzetuski
Children	12 sons and one daughter (born in 1672)
Relatives	Princes Kurcewicz (aunt) Konstantyn Kurcewicz (uncle) Wasyl, Symeon, Jur, Andrzej, Mikołaj (cousins)
Religion	Christian
Nationality	Ruthenian

Wasyl Kurcewicz (father)

Princes Kurcewicz (aunt) Konstantyn Kurcewicz (uncle)

Helena Kurcewicz (full name: Helena Kurcewiczówna-Bułyha, later Skrzetuska) is a fictional character appearing in the novel With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz as the main female protagonist. She is also mentioned in The Deluge and in Colonel Wolodyjowski.

Helena is a beautiful orphaned princess living with her aunt and cousins in Rozłogi. Jan Skrzetuski falls in love with her and vies for her hand against the Cossack colonel Bohun to whom she was promised.

In 1999 film she is portrayed by Izabella Scorupco.

Helena was born in 1630. Her mother died in childbirth. Her father, prince Wasyl Kurcewicz Bułyha, was the master of Rozłogi and served prince Michał Wiśniowiecki. In 1634, he was charged of treason and forced to leave the country. Since then nobody heard of him, he probably soon died. Few years later he was cleared of the charge.

Helena was raised by her uncle, Konstantyn. She grew in Rozłogi with her five cousins. After Konstantyn's death, his wife looked after Helena. As it turned out, she cared more for Wasyl's fortune than for the young orphan. Helena soon became completely dominated by her aunt who regarded herself the mistress of Rozłogi, even though Helena was its legal owner. In the meantime the old princess' sons became friends with Bohun. The young Cossack fell in love with Helena but she didn't return his feelings. She was afraid of his cruelty and quick temper since he once killed a man in her presence. Bohun asked the Kurcewiczs for Helena's hand in marriage, promising to waive the right to Helena's dowry (Rozłogi). Driven by her greed, the widow accepted his proposal.

In 1648, Helena met Polish lieutenant Jan Skrzetuski and they fell in love with each other. Skrzetuski threatened the Kurcewiczs and forced them to promise Helena's hand to him. Bohun soon discovered the old princess' betrayal. In the company of Onufry Zagłoba, he rushed to Rozłogi, intending to take revenge. During the fight, the widow and her two sons were killed. Zagłoba, seeing Bohun's cruelty, decided to save Helena from him. They managed to escape from Rozłogi but Bohun almost immediately set off in pursuit of them.