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Lisowczycy, singular: Lisowczyk was the name of infamous non-regular light-cavalry in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Organized in the first half of the 17th century by Aleksander Józef Lisowski, the unit participated in many conflicts, including the Dimitriads wars and in the Battle of White Mountain. They were characterized as extreme agile, warlike and bloodthirsty soldiers.
Lisowczycy were infamous for the scores of attrocities they carried out (pillages, rapes, etc.). They were respected by opponents for their military expertise, but fearead and despised by civilians wherever they passed. They didn't hesitate to plunder even their homeland, the Commonwealth, which was one of the reasons Polish king Zygmunt III Waza tried to keep them away from the Commonwealth as often as possible.
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