Maciej Jasiński
Michałko
is a hero linked to the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, remembered from the time of the famous Swedish–Polish war known in history as the Deluge (1655–1660). According to available accounts, he came from a peasant family, and in his youth he earned his living working in a mill near Tuchola. When King Charles X Gustav of Sweden occupied Pomerania, Michałko was forcibly conscripted into the Swedish army, where he gained considerable experience and rose to the rank of corporal. After being captured in 1657 by a Polish unit, he changed sides and joined the forces of King John II Casimir. Instead of returning to work at the mill, he hid in the depths of the Tuchola Forest, where he became the leader of a partisan group he had organized himself. Thanks to his knowledge of the local terrain, personal courage, and the support of the local population, he effectively harassed the Swedes by attacking their supply transports and smaller military units.
In the autumn of 1657, Michałko began operations on a larger scale. Together with his men, he crossed the Vistula River and captured two castles in the Chełmno region that had previously been occupied by the Swedes – Starogród and Lipienek. He later used them as bases for offensive operations against the enemy. These activities prompted the Swedes to organize a siege of Starogród. Michałko defended the castle bravely, commanding a unit of eighty men. However, due to a lack of gunpowder and water, he ultimately decided to capitulate. Contrary to the agreed terms of honourable surrender, Michałko was imprisoned and transported to Malbork, where he was brought before a Swedish military court on charges of desertion from the army. The hero, however, avoided a death sentence thanks to the intervention of King John II Casimir himself and was released. The King of Poland subsequently confirmed Michałko’s military rank of cavalry captain and, in recognition of his service to his country, granted him a noble title in 1658.
Michałko’s social and military advancement did not put an end to his active involvement. Until the end of the hostilities (1658–1660), he took part in the fighting of Polish forces aimed at driving the Swedes out of the whole of Pomerania. He particularly distinguished himself during the victorious sieges of cities occupied by Swedish troops, including Toruń and Grudziądz. He also participated in battles and blockades of Swedish garrisons in the regions of Żuławy and Powiśle.
The sources do not clearly describe Michałko’s life after the Deluge. It is not known for certain whether he lived to see the signing of the Treaty of Oliwa (3 May 1660), which ended the tragic war. What has survived, however, is the memory of the brave soldier from the Tuchola region and his courage. Michałko’s deeds grew into a legend and were later drawn upon by Henryk Sienkiewicz in his Trilogy. The cavalry captain from the Tuchola region also became a hero of other historical novels. To this day, he remains a symbol of civic resistance in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region against hostile invaders.
Dr MICHAŁ TARGOWSKI historian, regionalist, and researcher at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
writer Maciej Jasiński
artist Krzysztof Trystuła consultation Dr Michał Targowski translation Agnieszka Szewczuk
ISBN 978-83-978924-2-2
year of publication 2026
published by Agencja Reklamowa GALL sc ul. Dworcowa 7/203, 87-100 Toruń gall@gall.torun.pl
commissioned by Self-Government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, Poland
Contact:
Kontakt:
Office of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region in Toruń Address: Plac Teatralny 2, 87-100 Toruń, Poland tel. +48 56: 6218600, 6218610 e-mail: punkt.informacyjny@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl www.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl
Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego w Toruniu Plac Teatralny 2, 87-100 Toruń, tel. 56 62-18-600, 56 62-18-610 e-mail: punkt.informacyjny@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl www.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl
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Check out other comic book stories about great figures of Kuyavia and Pomerania
Do you enjoy stories about people who seem ordinary at first glance, yet are capable of extraordinary deeds? Their simple lives promise no adventure or heroism. They never dream of fame, wealth, or glory. Only when faced with danger are they forced to choose – to retreat or to stand and fight. And it is then that they prove themselves braver than anyone could have ever imagined.
These stories echo ancient legends, yet they are rooted in real history. They speak of dangerous missions, daring escapes, duels, and moments when life hangs by a thread. Their heroes face betrayal and triumph, confront death, yet never give up the fight. And sometimes, amid the turmoil, they find love – a love that, once the battles are over, leads them back home.
Our comic book invites you to meet Michałko – the son of a miller from the Tuchola region, who lived during the time of the Swedish Deluge. His life is not only a colourful adventure, but also an extraordinary story of courage, loyalty, and responsibility towards others. On these pages, you will also encounter heroes in the great “cloak and sword” tradition, for whom service to the homeland meant constant struggle, fierce combat, and dangerous pursuits.
Let this story carry you back to a time when an ordinary teenage boy became a hero, though he never intended to.
PIOTR CAŁBECKI Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region
