Taking place near the Silesian town of Pitschen (modern Byczyna), then just a few kilometres outside the territory of Poland–Lithuania, on 24 January 1588, Sigismund's supporters were commanded by Chancellor and Great Crown Hetman Jan Zamoyski.

[3][4] The rivalry between the Zamoyski and Zborowski families dated years past and tensions during the elections ran high.

[4][5] The Zborowski family called for a rokosz (legitimate right to rebel) and the election ended in chaos, with several killed and many wounded.

[4] Maximilian attempted to resolve the dispute by bringing a military force to Poland, thereby starting the War of the Polish Succession.

[5] After a failed attempt to take Kraków in late 1587, successfully defended by Zamoyski, he retreated to gather more reinforcements but was pursued by the forces loyal to Sigismund.

[8] On the night of 24 January the Archduke's army took positions east of the small town of Byczyna on the royal road leading into Poland.

The Polish left wing, under command of future Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, dispersed the opposing units.

[1] Eventually a Polish hussar counterattack on the left flank mauled Maximilian's Hungarian cavalry and forced his army to start giving ground.

[1][8] The bloody retreat quickly turned into a general rout during which the Archduke's army suffered heavy casualties.

[12] Exact casualties are unknown, but the Archduke's army suffered heavier losses, estimated at 2,000, whereas the Poles lost about 1,000 men.