Mikołaj Skrzetuski

Mikołaj Skrzetuski of the Jastrzębiec coat of arms (born around 1610, died 1673) was a nobleman from Greater Poland, a colonel, and the prototype of Jan Skrzetuski, a character in Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel With Fire and Sword. He was a cavalry soldier who gained fame in battles but also got into conflict with the law. He became known in history for his escape from the besieged Zbarazh and delivering a letter to King John II Casimir Vasa.