The Potocki family of the Pilawa coat of arms as the military leaders of Halych Land armed forces in the 17th century

In the 17th century the local parliaments of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were tasked with various military duties ranging from defensive capability matters, including self-defence of their own land or voivodeship, to the defence of the country borders. It often enough required raising the levy in great numbers or forming regular armed forces and appointing commanders of these troops. The article presents the actions such as appointing members of the local noble families as the commanders in chief that were undertaken by the dietines (sejmiki) of Halych Land in the 17th century. As it turns out, this leadership was most often granted to the members of the Potocki family, which resulted from a number of factors, among others, their long term settlement in this region, the local offices they held, their military expertise and last but not least, their significant wealth. The nobles who gathered during the local government sessions expected that the Potocki family would be able to fulfil duties imposed on them, and if needed they would support soldiers at their expense until the dietines reimbursed expenses incurred by them.