After the outbreak of the War of Independence, hallmarked by the name of Ferenc Rákóczi II, István Buday (bölsei), who served as the deputy granger of Bihar county between 1688 and 1701, was among the first rebels. In the Tokaj vineyard, he came to the neighbourhood of both Rákóczi and Miklós Bercsényi, establishing the base that provided a loyal and soldier for the revolution. István Buday climbed the ladder quickly: he became court captain, then chief of the Hajdú towns of Szabolcs, and later commander of the regiment of the Hajdú towns. The depths and heights that characterize the war of independence can also be traced in the military career of the former deputy granger. We can examine these in the framework of the present study. István Buday, who served in the War of Independence until his death, was the appropriate type of soldier of the time: he was an underqualified but experienced fortress warrior, participating in raids and smaller campaigns. This paper focuses on the eight years of the War of Independence, with special attention payed to the military career of the captain of the Hajdú towns.