One of the most notable partisans of the Habsburg faction in Poland, since 1562 he took part in various military campaigns to Moldavia under command of Mikołaj Sieniawski. In 1579 he was the commander of all Polish armies in the war against Ivan the Terrible, Grand Duke of Muscovy. One of his most astonishing successes was capturing the city and the stronghold of Połock. Following various disagreements with Stefan Batory and Jan Zamoyski he resigned his posts and retired from public life.