Jan Skrzetuski

Jan Skrzetuski
Skrzetuski on his way to the king, by Juliusz Kossak
First appearance	With Fire and Sword
Last appearance	Colonel Wolodyjowski
Created by	Henryk Sienkiewicz
Portrayed by	Michał Żebrowski Pierre Brice
Information
Gender	Male
Family	Unknown
Spouse(s)	Helena Kurcewiczówna
Children	12 sons and one daughter (born in 1672)
Relatives	Stanisław Skrzetuski (cousin)
Religion	Christian
Nationality	Pole

Jan Skrzetuski is a fictional character created by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz in the novel With Fire and Sword. He is a man of honour, always faithful to his master, duke Jeremi Wiśniowiecki. He loves Helena Kurcewiczówna, who was kidnapped by the Ukrainian Cossack Yuri Bohun, who is also in love with her. Skrzetuski is the best friend of Michał Wołodyjowski. Jan Skrzetuski is partly based on a historical character, Mikołaj Skrzetuski, the Polish hero of the Siege of Zbarazh.

In the 1999 film With Fire and Sword he is portrayed by Michał Żebrowski.

Jan Skrzetuski (modeled on the historic form of Mikołaj Skrzetuski, a colonel from Greater Poland of the Jastrzębiec clan) was a young Polish nobleman (szlachcic) of Jastrzebiec Coat of Arms serving Prince Jeremi Wiśniowiecki as lieutenant of the hussar regiment. In 1647 he was coming back from Crimea where he had been sent as an envoy. On his way he saved Bohdan Khmelnytsky who was attacked by Daniel Czapliński's servants. He let Khmelnytsky go and went to Chyhyryn. He met there Jan Onufry Zagłoba and Longinus Podbipięta who became his friends. A few days later he set off to Lubny with Podbipięta. They met on their way princess Helena Kurcewicz and her aunt. Skrzetuski and Helena fell in love with each other. The old princess invited soldiers to their house, Rozłogi. During the feast, Skrzetuski learned that Helena had been promised to the Cossack colonel Bohun. Skrzetuski threatened the old princess Kurcewicz and persuaded her to give Helena's hand to him.