Stanisław Koniecpolski is regarded as one of the most outstanding hetmans in the history of Poland. His career was closely interlocked with Grand Hetman of the Crown Stanisław Żółkiewski. It was thanks to his support that Koniecpolski, who was just 26 years old, was able to take over the office of field hetman in 1618, causing outrage among the nobility. Two years later, Koniecpolski took part in the disastrous venture of Cecora. He was captured and held in captivity by the Turks. After his return Koniecpolski took the command of troops countering Tatar incursions. In 1624, he triumphed over the Tatars in the battle of Martynów. He was then ordered to hold back the advancing Swedish forces in Royal Prussia. Despite great difficulty and being outnumbered by the adversary, he fulfilled the task excellently. On 27 June 1629 at Trzciana he defeated one of the greatest military commanders of the 17th century, King of Sweden Gustav II Adolph. In 1632, Koniecpolski was awarded the great crown mace. A year later, he defeated the Tatars at Sasowy Róg and the Turks at Kamieniec Podolski. Victory in the latter battle was possible thanks to the hetman’s utilisation of modern warfare methods, namely expanding the role of infantry and artillery and using field fortifications.

Twelve years later, on 30 January 1644, Koniecpolski won a glorious victory over the Tatars under Tuhay Bey’s command in the battle of Ochmatów.

Stanisław Koniecpolski, a man of high esteem, died suddenly on 11 March 1646. He is remembered as a courageous and sensible leader, who skilfully combined elements of Old Polish art of war and cavalry raids with the firepower of artillery and infantry. In warfare he used a system of tabors (wagon forts); he also developed arsenals and fortresses. His death was all the more tragic that the period immediately afterwards brought events and disasters that shook the very foundations of the Commonwealth. This is why many interpreted the surname of the great commander in chief as the demise of Poland [Koniecpolski means “the end of Poland”], which was supposed to be an omen of the state crisis in mid-17th century.

The reverses of the gold and silver coins feature an image of hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski. Their obverses – apart from the regular elements such as the inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of issue, face value and the image of the eagle established as the state emblem of the Republic of Poland – also bear a mace and the Pobóg coat of arms from Stanisław Koniecpolski’s seal.

Wojciech Kalwat

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