Jakub Rozdrażewski

Opposing the surrender

Jakub Hieronim Rozdrażewski became voivode of Inowrocław in 1652. He reached Ujście with the provincial levy but refused to endorse the surrender of 25 July 1655. He then lodged a formal protest in Poznań and declared loyalty to John Casimir. The Greater Poland leaders' decision was thus far from unanimous¹².

Organising resistance

Rozdrażewski did more than protest. The State Archive in Kalisz names him among the organisers of partisan warfare in Greater Poland and leaders of the confederation formed in March 1656. His forces fought those of Jan Wejhard Wrzesowicz and participated in taking Kalisz in November. More than fifteen months separated his protest at Ujście from the capture of that city: resistance took organisation, recruitment and sustained fighting¹.

Novel and film

Sienkiewicz's The Deluge dramatizes the breakdown of loyalty at Ujście, but Rozdrażewski's record shows that some in the same camp opposed submission. No distinct role for the voivode has been verified in Hoffman's film cast³⁴.