He murdered, burned, mutilated, raped, and waged private wars – this is what the life of Stanisław Stadnicki looked like, who was also called the Devil of Łańcut. The nickname „Devil” perfectly captured his behavior. He was brutal, often disloyal, and only interested in his own welfare. Today, few people remember this figure, yet Stanisław led a very turbulent and interesting life that is worth recalling.
A Disloyal and Quarrelsome Nobleman
Stanisław Stadnicki initially fought alongside Stefan Batory in Gdańsk (1576-1577) and during the campaign against Moscow (1577). The king was satisfied with his service, but it did not last long. Stanisław took offense at what he perceived as meager financial compensation.
His revenge was very severe, as he decided to switch to the enemy’s side. Instead of continuing to support the king, he began to favor Emperor Rudolf II of the Habsburg dynasty. He possessed the typical vices of the nobility and was not well remembered.
The decline of the Noble Commonwealth was initiated by the attitude of the Polish nobility. The magnates felt no responsibility for their country, approached law instrumentally, and the decisive one was whoever could gain support and had the force to push through. Stadnicki played a significant role, yet he waged private wars, robbed merchants and neighbors. His transgressions were not entirely without punishment, and he himself even ended up in court records for an attack on Przeworsk (1573-1575).
Stadnicki in Łańcut
Stanisław initially settled in Łańcut (1578), but already 8 years later he bought a castle there from Anna Pilecka. He waged his first private war (1600) against the owner of Rzeszów.
The war lasted 5 years, but he did not stop there. He borrowed money from the Korniak family and then fought with them. He attacked their estate in Głuchów, as a result of which they renounced their claims.
During the struggle for the Polish crown between Sigismund III Vasa and Maximilian II of Habsburg, Stadnicki decidedly supported the latter. At the same time, he began devastating lands in the Kraków Voivodeship. Łańcut transformed into a fortress of bandit soldiers. It is estimated that there could have been as many as 1,500 of them.
Stadnicki held many prisoners in the castle dungeons. He was known for cruel tortures, cutting off legs and arms, and even burning people alive. He owed his nickname to all these murders, rapes, and attacks.
The Devil of Łańcut and His Sins
Stanisław’s greatest conquest was Lviv (1606). A year later, his conflict with Łukasz Opaliński (starost of Leżajsk) began. The armed clashes lasted a very long time, and initially it seemed that the Devil of Łańcut would win the war.
His actions were very brutal. He attacked towns and villages. He plundered them and burned them to the ground. He could engage in conflicts for very trivial reasons, and was often driven by jealousy and envy. Everyone seemed to turn a blind eye to his transgressions.
Ultimately, Stanisław was defeated by the opponent’s forces (1610). Opaliński was supported by Princess Anna Ostrogska of Jarosław. In the final battle, as many as 6,000 soldiers fought. Stadnicki was killed a few days later during his escape to Hungary. His killer turned out to be a Tatar mercenary of Princess Anna.
Many legends circulate about the Devil of Łańcut. One of them says that this nickname came from Stanisław’s difficult character. It was believed that he had sold his soul to the devil, and the crimes he committed were terrifying.
Supposedly, Stadnicki’s ghost haunts tourists, and his specter emerges during storms. He then rides on horseback to battle with Opaliński. Yet another legend claims that on the day of Stanisław’s birth there was a storm, but it was warm despite winter. It was said that his coming into the world opened the gates of hell.
Stanisław had several sons who behaved like him or even worse. Only Władysław remained in Łańcut. He waged wars with neighbors and instilled terror in the area. Many people wanted to get rid of him, and he ultimately shared his father’s fate. He was captured and shot, and then his head was cut off. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief because the „Devil’s” son no longer threatened anyone.
