Jerzy Michał Wołodyjowski () is a fictional Polish hero in

Henryk Sienkiewicz Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz ( , ; 5 May 1846 – 15 November 1916), also known by the pseudonym Litwos (), was a Polish epic writer. He is remembered for his historical novels, such as The Trilogy, the Trilogy series and especially ...

Trilogy A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of ...

: ''

With Fire and Sword ''By Fire and Sword'' () is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884. It is the first volume of a series known to Poles as The Trilogy, followed by '' The Deluge'' (''Potop'', 1886) and '' Fire in the Step ...

'', '' The Deluge'' and ''

Pan Wołodyjowski ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' (titled in English as ''Pan Michael'', 1893, and ''Fire in the Steppe'', 1992; other titles used in English discourse include ''Colonel Wołodyjowski'', ''Sir Michael'' and ''Sir Wołodyjowski'') is a historical novel by t ...

''. Michał Wołodyjowski is partly based on the historic figure, Colonel , a Polish

noble A noble is a member of the nobility. Noble may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Noble Glacier, King George Island * Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Noble Peak, Wiencke Island * Noble Rocks, Graham Land Australia * Noble Island, Gr ...

of the Korczak clan. The trilogy sees Michał Wołodyjowski take part in many battles from a young age, distinguishing him as a feared warrior of great renown. The novels make special mention of his reputation as one of the finest swordsmen alive, a true master of the

szabla (; plural: ) is the Polish language, Polish word for sabre. The sabre was in widespread use in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Early Modern period, especially by light cavalry in the 17th century. The sabre became widespread in ...

(a type of Polish

saber A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the Early Modern warfare, early modern and Napoleonic period, Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such a ...

), as well as a master tactician. His character arc revolves around a war which saw Poland confronted with four super-powers. In one notable battle the Polish army, outnumbered by seven thousand Turkish soldiers, is victorious when the enemy retreats from the field of battle after learning that it is led by Michał Wołodyjowski. The novels take place during the second half of the 17th century and focus around Wołodyjowski, nicknamed the "Little Knight" on account of his small physical stature, journeying with his friends Jan Skrzetuski and

Onufry Zagłoba Jan Onufry Zagłoba is a fictional character in the ''Trilogy'' by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Together with other characters of ''The Trilogy'', Zagłoba engages in various adventures, fighting for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and seeking adve ...

, fighting to save his country from foreign invaders. Wołodyjowski dies in the Siege of

Kamieniec Podolski Kamianets-Podilskyi (, ; ) is a city on the Smotrych River in western Ukraine, western Ukraine, to the north-east of Chernivtsi. Formerly the administrative center of Khmelnytskyi Oblast, the city is now the administrative center of Kamianets ...

when together with his friend Ketling he sacrifices himself by detonating a gunpowder depot, rather than witness the surrender of the fortress caused by the surrender of the city. The novels have also been made into films: ''

'', '' The Deluge'' and '' Pan Wolodyjowski''.

References

* Characters in novels of the 19th century Literary characters introduced in 1884 Sienkiewicz's Trilogy Fictional characters from the 17th century {{Poland-noble-stub