I am a polish hussar knight that is of bohemian descent. I was born in 1565 near Krakow in an outlying province at Zator Castle where my father was a member of the szlachta (nobility) and ruled the land thereabouts. Due to my father’s status and money, and being the third son, I was encouraged to become a member of the Hussars. I fought in many campaigns and worked my way to porucznik "lieutenant". Though in 1610 my luck died out, literally, during my 8th charge of the opposing Russian forces in the Battle of Kłuszyn, which was commanded by my king Sigismund III Vasa, along with 100 of my brother Hussars and 300 other Poles in which the Russians lost 5,000.