Battle of Trembowla

The Battle of Trembowla, more popularly known as the Defense of Trembowla, was glorified and immortalized in the paintings of Franciszek Smuglewicz, Józef Peszka and Aleksander Lesser. In 1675 the Turkish army destroyed the town of Trembowla, in the Podole Voivodship, and laid siege to the castle for an entire week. A woman played the decisive role in the garrison's successful stand against the invaders. Anna Chrzanowska, the wife of the castle's commander Jan Samuel Chrzanowski, threatened to commit suicide if her husband proceeded with the planned surrender, thereby stiffening his spine and creating an atmosphere for defending the castle. The story of Anna Chrzanowska inspired Polish painters and writers alike, for example she was a heroine in a drama written by Józef Wybicki. The small group of 80 dragoons and 200 townsmen defended the Castle of Trembowla against 20,000 Turkish soldiers until Jan III Sobieski arrived to relieve them.