Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Augustus III of Poland

Role / Field:

King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania; Elector of Saxony (1733-1763)

Born:

1696-10-17

Died:

1763-10-05

Century / Era:

1696s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Augustus III of Poland (German: August III.; Polish: August III Sas – "the Saxon"; Lithuanian: Augustas III; 17 October 1696 – 5 October 1763) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1733 until 1763, as well as Elector of Saxony in the Holy Roman Empire where he was known as Frederick Augustus II (German: Friedrich August II.). He was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, and converted to Catholicism in 1712 to secure his candidacy for the Polish throne. In 1719, he married Maria Josepha of Austria, daughter of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor, and became elector of Saxony following his father's death in 1733. Augustus III was able to gain the support of Charles VI by agreeing to the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 and also gained recognition from Russian Empress Anna by supporting Russia's claim to the region of Courland.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was elected king of Poland by a small minority on 5 October 1733 and subsequently banished the former Polish king Stanisław I. He was crowned in Kraków on 17 January 1734. Augustus was supportive of Austria against Prussia in the War of Austrian Succession and again in the Seven Years' War (1756), both of which resulted in Saxony being defeated...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alphonsus Liguori — Contemporary (Born in 1696) (1696): Italian bishop, theologian, and founder of the Redemptorists.
• Giovanni Battista Tiepolo — Contemporary (Born in 1696) (1696): Master Rococo painter, renowned for grand frescoes across Europe.
• Jean de La Bruyère — Contemporary (Died in 1696) (1696): French philosopher and moralist renowned for his sharp, satirical observations on human nature.
• Abbé Prévost — Contemporary (Died in 1763) (1763): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Contemporary (Born in 1763) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Augustin Robespierre — Contemporary (Born in 1763) (1763): French lawyer and revolutionary, known for his political alignment with Maximilien Robespierre.
• A. S. Neill — Shared historical date (10-17 · Born) (1883): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Adam Michnik — Shared historical date (10-17 · Born) (1946): Prominent Polish intellectual, dissident, and journalist advocating for democracy.
• Al-Dhahabi — Shared historical date (10-05 · Born) (1274): Pioneering Syrian Sunni historian, biographer, and hadith scholar.
• Aleksey Khomyakov — Shared historical date (10-05 · Died) (1860): Founding theoretician of the Slavophile movement in Russian philosophy.
• 1696 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1696
• October 17 (10-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 17
• 1763 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1763
• October 5 (10-05) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Augustus III of Poland