He became known in history for his escape from the besieged Zbarazh and delivering a letter to King John II Casimir Vasa.
[2] Mikołaj Skrzetuski inherited a part of the Rożnówo village near Oborniki from his father, but he gave it to his sister, Marianna Poniatowska, and as a poor nobleman, he enlisted with his relatives in the ranks of the army in Ukraine.
[5] He led a wandering life, participating in wars, spending his free time with his sister in Greater Poland or with relatives near Belz.
[8] After the outbreak of the Khmelnytsky Uprising, Skrzetuski served in the armoured companion under the command of rittmaster Marek Gdeszyński; he was his right-hand man.
[c] Skrzetuski achieved this feat thanks to his experience, physical condition, knowledge of the Ruthenian language, and Cossack customs.
He probably meant some county office, a small crown land, or a starostwo,[16] but Skrzetuski never sought it,[6] and there is no indication that the promised reward ever reached him.
[20] Wiesław Majewski suggests that between 1652 and 1657, he served as a lieutenant of cavalry in wars against the Cossacks, Tatars, Moscow, and Swedes.
[21] The next mention comes from 1660 when Stefan Czarniecki's division returned from a successful overseas expedition, during which they supported their Danish ally.
Skrzetuski was named a lieutenant of the light (Tatar) company of the starosta of Osiek, Adam Uriel Czarnkowski [pl].
[24] Skrzetuski defeated the Russian detachment near Piaski [pl], and on May 17, in Vawkavysk, he captured the banner of the Belarusian gentry commanded by Hieronim Horski.
Skrzetuski did not participate in the murder, but played a significant role in those events, appearing as a colonel of the confederate forces.
[8] He formed a cavalry company from both Greater Poland voivodeships: Kalisz and Poznań, and prepared for the Battle of Khotyn, which took place on 11 November 1673.
[28] Despite his merits to the country, and moreover, his long military service, he did not make a great career, did not acquire lucrative stewardships, or receive a land office.
[33] On 12 May 1666, the Lublin Tribunal sentenced Skrzetuski and four other officers to infamy for robberies they committed in December 1665 in the town of Bazaliia and nearby farms.
[34] In 1667, he attempted to marry Zofia Zawadzka of Belz by force, who a week after the attack became the wife of Jan Wilczkowski, the steward of Kyiv.
[3] Skrzetuski's feat at Zbarazh became part of history, celebrated in poetic works, letters from the front, and memoirs (including those of Jakub Łoś [pl] and Samuel Twardowski).
[16] However, the hero was generally mentioned without his full name, and his surname was distorted, making the identification of the correct Skrzetuski difficult.
[40] This version was adopted by Henryk Sienkiewicz, thus creating the literary character of "Jan Skrzetuski" in With Fire and Sword.