Alexander Joseph Lisowski was born around 1575, and served as a common soldier under Jan Potocki in the campaign against the Wallachian hospodar. Later, as the leader of a confederation of rebellious soldiers, he became famous for plunder and arbitrariness. He was sentenced to banishment for this. He then enlisted in the service of Dmitri Samozwaniec. He was already a commander shrouded in legend when the stigma of infamy was lifted from him. He returned to Poland and created his famous cavalry, later known in Europe as the Polish cavalry or Lisowczycy, after its creator.