Kołyszko's photograph among the portraits of executed leaders of January Uprising. For the Faith and the Homeland 1863, executed - hanged by Awit Szubert
Kołyszko was born into a petty noble family as a son of Wincenty Kołyszko and his wife from the Jursza family.[2] He had an older brother, Feliksas Kolyška, who also fought in the January Uprising.[1] Boleslovas Kołyszko graduated from the Vilnius Gymnasium and studied law in the University of Moscow.[1][2] According to Dawid Fajnhauz, he might have graduated from Lida gymnasium instead of Vilnius.[2] In the University of Moscow, Kołyszko was part of the Polish students association called "Ogół".[2] He was arrested in 1861 for his involvement in student demonstrations in Lida.[2] At the end of 1861, after a short imprisonment, he emigrated to Italy, where he met Ludwik Mierosławski.[2] First in Genoa and later in Cuneo, he studied in the Polish Military School [pl].[1][5] Although the Military School acquainted Kołyszko with the military, it was impossible to develop his military talent or even qualify him for a commander in such a short time.[6]
Uprising of 1863
After the start of the uprising he went back to Lithuania.[1] On 21 March 1863, he began the uprising between Čekiškė and Panevėžys.[1] In a few days, his unit included 400 men and was also joined by the unit led by the priest Antanas Navaina.[1] As he organized the rebel group near Kaunas during March, it was joined by the groups of Bronislavas Žarskis and Antanas Norvaiša.[7] The combined group was called the Dubysa Regiment.[7] The regiment had three battalions, with the battalion commanders being Bronislavas Žarskis, Antanas Norvaiša and Juozas Radavičius.[6] Kołyszko led his 400 men strong regiment[5][6] in fights against units of the Imperial Russian Army at Aukštdvaris on March 29–30.[1][7] He then fought near Lenčiai on April 1 (together with the unit of Tomas Kušleika), near Misiūnai [lt] on April 11.[7]
By Zygmunt Sierakowski's order, he led a rebel column - two battalions and a cavalry unit that fought in the battle of Biržai. On May 7, Kołyszko was the first from the rebel columns to reach the designated spot, Medeikiai [lt].[8] They were attacked by Russian forces, but when Sierakowski came and joined the battle, the Russian attack was repelled.[8] Kołyszko and Sierakowski's aide-de-camp Jarosław Kossakowski [pl] were supposed to take wounded the Sierakowski and transport him out of the country, but they were captured on May 10.[5] During the interrogation he blamed Sierakowski for the uprising's failure and underlined that he was doing everything for the homeland.[5] He was hanged by a court-martial on June 9, 1863.[9][10] The remains were secretly buried in Vilnius' Gediminas' Hill.
Commemoration
Kołyszko already during his lifetime became the hero of songs and poems. One of them called Przeszły troski i frasunki... ("Troubles and sorrows are gone...") is dated 28 March 1863, the authorship of it is attributed to Vilnius-born poet Jerzy Laskarys [pl]. Alongside Kołyszka, it praises other leaders of the uprising in Samogitia, Lithuania and Belarus. Kołyszko is portrayed in it as a revolutionary folk leader:[11]
Original text
English translation
Wyprostować ostre kosy, Wezwać włościan, jak Bóg każe I zawołać wniebogłosy: Do Kołyszki! Za Niewiażę!
Straighten the sharp scythes, Call the peasants, as God commands, and cry out in a loud voice: To Kołyszko! Beyond the Nevėžis!
^Klimczak, Ewelina W. (2015). ""Styczniowa wolność" – insurekcja polska 1863–1864 a prawa człowieka i obywatela. Casus ks. Antoniego Mackiewicza w świetle Ech z powstania styczniowego (1922)"(PDF). Wschodni Rocznik Humanistyczny (in Polish). XII: 94. Tak więc wypada zwrócić uwagę na spis nazwisk, w tym spośród bojowników litewskich, jaki zamieszczony został w Wiązance z dziejów powstania styczniowego. Temata do odczytu z roku 1928, w którym znajdujemy nazwiska nie tylko tak znanych jak Zygmunt Sierakowski czy Ludwik Narbutt, ale i Adama Bitisa, chłopskiego dowódcy oddziału, Bolesława Kołyszko, Klety Korewa (naczelnika powiatu trockiego) czy wreszcie ks. Antoniego Mackiewicza ze Żmudzi.
^Powstanie styczniowe na Lubelszczyznie: pamiętniki (in Polish). Wydawn. Lubelskie. 1966. p. 28. Dalej z uniwersytetu petersburskiego wychodzą: Władysław Rylski, Stanisław Buchowiecki, z moskiewskiego wychodzi Litwin Bołesław Kołyszko...
^Kacnelson, Dora (1967). "Bohaterowie powstania styczniowego w polskich pieśniach ludowych i żołnierskich" [Heroes of the January Uprising January Uprising heroes in Polish folk and military songs]. Pamiętnik Literacki. 58 (3): 164.
