Stefan Czarniecki

Hetman Stefan Czarniecki
Celebrated portrait by Leon Kapliński, 1863
Coat of arms
Born	1599 Czarnca, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Died	16 February 1665(1665-02-16) (aged 65–66) Sokołówka, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Noble family	House of Czarniecki
Spouse(s)	Zofia Kobierzycka
Issue	Aleksandra Katarzyna (married Jan Klemens Branicki), Konstancja Joanna (married Wacław Leszczyński (1605–1666)
Father	Krzysztof Czarniecki
Mother	Krystyna Rzeszowska

Stefan Czarniecki (Polish: [ˈstɛfan t͡ʂarˈɲɛt͡skʲi] ^ⓘ of the Łodzia coat of arms, 1599 – 16 February 1665) was a Polish nobleman, general and military commander. In his career, he rose from a petty nobleman to a magnate holding one of the highest offices in the Commonwealth, something that was unprecedented in the Commonwealth's history. On 22 July 1664 he received the office of the Voivode of Kijów and on 2 January 1665, a few weeks before his death, he was given the office of Field Hetman (one of top military commanders) of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom. He is remembered as an accomplished military commander, and regarded as a Polish national hero. His status in Polish history is acknowledged by a mention of his name in the Polish national anthem.

Czarniecki made significant contributions fighting the Khmelnytsky Uprising, during the Russo-Polish War, and during the Polish–Swedish War (The Deluge). His use of guerrilla warfare against the Swedes is credited as one of the main reasons for the eventual Polish victory in this war.