Chapter 171: Objectivism
Every time I read or listen to Professor Wilhemi, I have an overwhelming feeling that he is blinded by personal reluctance and political views... Well, as a descendant of Saddat Bułhak, the commander of the Tatar cavalry, to whom Jazłowiecki gave nobility and land, I am not completely objective either.
"Often in history textbooks or historical sources, one can find a mention that from his youth Wilkomir Michał Jazłowiecki showed above average tatical and strategic skills. However, when analyzing all available information, it turns out to be untrue.
His first serious battle, if you can call it that, was with the Tatar forces led by Khan Temir... but there was no battle. Jazłowieckie soldiers, tricked into the enemy camp, caused panic and, taking advantage of the confusion, took the commander of the Tatars captive.
...The capture of the King of Sweden is due to a great storm on Baltic Sea. Conquering Moscow by blowing up the wall, is such a brilliant idea? No, this was a common tactic in the Middle Ages. Even during the battles in the Kingdom of Denmark or the Empire, he did not show anything unusual, and his idea of using Cossack boats cost several thousand lives of the Emperor's soldiers." Bloody Tyrant by Tomasz Wilhelmi
We learn this from Professor Tomasz Wilhelmi in one of the chapters of his new book and of course, this is true, and although you can try to bend the truth to your needs or beliefs, it will not change reality.
Jazłowiecki, who was not yet the Hetman at that time. Together with his private army, which, according to various sources, there were from 100 to 400 soldiers, sneaked into the enemy camp whose strength is estimated at 10,000 Tatars. You don't have to be a genius to see the disproportions in the forces of both sides, and here for the first time we see not the genius, but the military cunning of Jazłowiecki.
With such a small army, he had no chance of defeating the enemy, but he used all available methods and the opponent's weakness to his advantage and although it was risky or even crazy, he won.
In the following years, we see a similar way of fighting and tactics in every place where Jazłowiecki appeared with his army, nor he was the type of commander who sat in the rear giving orders, he took an active part in the fighting, and proof of this can be a picture painted by Rembrandt in 1643. On which we can see it, the face of a man heavily affected by the war... Stern eyesight, a beard showing gray hair, scars on the face and head. Another proof may be the letter of the King of England, Charles I to his sister Elisabeth Stuart, in which he describes Jazłowiecki as a man with the face of a soldier, completely incompatible with the image of the writer.
Was he a military genius?
It is hard to say, but he was certainly someone who used the mistakes of his enemies to his advantage, whether in war or in politics. Good implementation of old tactics or ideas proves Jazłowiecki's knowledge of history, and in order to use a car you do not have to reinvent the wheel each time.
One thing is for sure, having him on your side was always better than having him as your opponent.
Elias Bułhak - Author, editor. Journalist associated with the Polish Mercury Ordinary.
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