Early life and first battles After his father
Aleksander, he became
District-Governor of
Puńsk and
Markava, after his brother
Krzysztof he became also District-Governor of
Velizh.
Speaker of the Parliament in
Warsaw from 21 to 24 December 1650. He came from
the noble family Gosiewski of the
Ślepowron coat of arms. He was Aleksander Gosiewski'son,
Palatine-Governor of
Smolensk. He married Magdalena Konopacka, Elbląg
Castle-Commander's daughter. He graduated from the
Vilnius University and studied in
Vienna,
Padua and Rome. After returning home he was appointed by King
Władysław IV Vasa Grand Master of the Pantry of Lithuania, fulfilling this office he signed the document
electing John II Casimir Vasa. He began his military service as commander of the regiment that fought in 1648 under the leadership of the
Grand Lithuanian Hetman Janusz Radziwiłł. In July 1649 as Janusz Radziwiłł's deputy commander in chief, he had a major part in defeating the troops of the
Zaporozhian Cossacks in the
Battle of Loyew. As Lithuanian
Artillery General in 1651, at the Battle of Chernobyl, he succeeded against Cossack troops commanded by colonels Antonov and Adamowicz. He participated as a Commissioner in the peace talks that led to the agreement of
Bila Tserkva.
Political and military career In 1654 he received the Commander's
baton/mace from Prince Janusz Radziwiłł, who was appointed the Grand Lithuanian Hetman. During
the Swedish invasion, he played an important role politically and militarily. In 1655, he accepted the
Union of Kėdainiai of recognition signed between King
Charles X Gustav of Sweden and Prince Janusz Radziwiłł, but soon came against this act taking action which aim was to help the Russian side. Despite being under surveillance, he managed to make contact with the Russian diplomat Vasily Likharov. Trapped by Janusz Radziwiłł he was caught in
Kėdainiai, where, as a state prisoner was then transferred to
Königsberg. While he was in captivity Karl Gustav was urged to attack Russia and a written confirmation of that intention was given to Tsar
Alexis of Muscovy after his release. In the spring of 1656 he escaped from Prussian captivity to Lithuania where in a short time, at their own expense, he organized several
Banners. Battling against Swedish forces, he reached up near
Warsaw, where he was one of the royal commissioners who oversaw the takeover of the capital. He participated in the siege of
Tykocin and the
Battle of Warsaw (1656) after which the Swedish army again occupied the city. Then, on the King's orders, he moved with its banners into the
Duchy of Prussia and Lithuania. On 8 October 1656, at the
Battle of Prostken, he defeated the
Brandenburgian and Swedish armies, capturing Prince
Bogusław Radziwiłł. The battle has been described by
Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel
The Deluge. Another battle fought under his command, on 22 October 1656, was the
Battle of Filipów however; it ended with a victory for the forces commanded by
Field Marshal Gustaf Otto Stenbock, in the confusion of the battle the Prince Bogusław Radziwiłł managed to escape. In November 1656 at
Wierzbowo he signed a truce with
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, then as royal commissioner in 1657, he led a ceasefire and concluded the
Treaty of Bromberg. In 1658 he fought against the Swedes in the areas of
Livonia and
Samogitia. In 1658 he participated in the delegation sent by the King to negotiate with Russia. Beaten at the
Battle of Verkiai he was captured and imprisoned for nearly four years. He was released from captivity in Moscow in 1662. As compensation, he received the former Radziwiłł's estate in Kėdainiai.
Obedience to the King and death He was a supporter of a strong and centralized royal power in limiting the
Liberum veto and supported the concept of a successor of the throne with the current King still alive (
Vivente rege). At the command of the King wanted to solve the issue of the Fraternal Association, an insurrection created by some long unpaid members of the army claiming the termination of obedience to the King (at the beginning for economic reasons, but later, considering any limitation to Liberum Veto and Vivente Rege proposal as "treason" to Commonwealth constitutional laws). In July 1662, he went to
Vilnius for talks with the rebel troops in Lithuania. There he was captured by Konstanty Kotowski, Deputy Speaker of the Fraternal Association, which is thus intended to prevent any agreement that may in effect result in the termination of the insurrection. Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski was shot to death on 29 November 1662 near Ostrynia [=
Astryna]. Later, the perpetrators of the murder were sentenced to death. ==Marriage and family==