The War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738) was a European war and a Polish civil war, with considerable interference from other countries, to determine the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland, as well as an attempt by the Bourbon powers to check the power of Austria in western Europe. Events February 12 - British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia. ... Events January 1 - Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier. ... Reign From 1697, until 1706 and from 1709, until February 1, 1733 Elected In 1697 in Wola, today suburb of Warsaw, Poland Coronation On September 15, 1697 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland Royal House Wettin Parents John George III Wettin Anne Sophie Consorts  ? Children August III Sas Maurice...

Causes

Former Polish king Stanislas I, installed thirty years before by Charles XII of Sweden during his period of dominance in the early part of the Great Northern War, and ousted following Poltava by the victorious Russians, hoped to be elected king once again upon the death of his old adversary, Augustus II of Saxony, whose efforts to make the Polish crown hereditary within his family had not been successful. Stanislas was supported by his son-in-law, Louis XV, King of France, who hoped to renew France's traditional alliance with Poland as a way to balance Russian and Austrian power in Northern and Eastern Europe. Reign From 1704 until 1709 and from 1733 until 1736 Elected In 1704 and 1733 in Wola, today suburb of Warsaw, Poland Coronation On October 4, 1705 in the St. ... Charles XII, Karl XII or Carolus Rex, (June 17, 1682 – November 30, 1718), the Alexander of the North, nicknamed in Turkish as Demirbaş Şarl (Charles the Habitue), was a King of Sweden from 1697 until his death. ... It has been suggested that Great Northern War and Norway be merged into this article or section. ... The Battle of Poltava (or Pultowa) was a battle between the armies of Peter I of Russia and Charles XII of Sweden on 28 June (new style 8 July) 1709, the most famous of the battles of the Great Northern War. ... Louis XV (February 15, 1710 – May 10, 1774), called the Well-Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1715 to 1774. ...

In 1732 Empress Anna of Russia, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI and King Frederick William I of Prussia, irritated with Augustus but unwilling to allow Stanislas to become king, decided to jointly back the candidacy of Emmanuel of Portugal for the Polish throne. H.I.M. Anna Ivanovna, Empress and Autocrat of all the Russias, Duchess of Courland Anna Ivanovna (In Russian: Анна Ивановна) (February 7, 1693 - October 28, 1740) reigned as Duchess of Courland from 1711 to 1730 and as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740. ... The Holy Roman Emperor was, with some variation, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, the predecessor of modern Germany, during its existence from the 10th century until its collapse in 1806. ... Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI Charles VI (October 1, 1685 – October 20, 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1711 to 1740 and the second son of Leopold I with his third wife, Eleonore-Magdalena of Pfalz-Neuburg. ... Frederick William I of Prussia (in German: Friedrich Wilhelm I), of the House of Hohenzollern, (August 14, 1688 - May 31, 1740), often known as the Soldier-King and considered an Enlightened Despot, reigned as King of Prussia (1713 - 1740). ...

The War in Poland

Augustus II died on February 1, 1733, and the Polish nobles, led by primate Teodor Potocki, gathered for the election. The Russians and Austrians, seeing the strong support for Leszczyński, gave up their support of Emmanuel of Portugal and turned to Frederick Augustus of Saxony, the previous king's son and the only plausible alternative candidate. The Russian and Austrian armies were mobilized to intimidate the diet, but it chose Leszczyński in any case. February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events February 12 - British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia. ... Noble Family Potocki Coat of Arms Piława Parents Pawel Potocki Elenora Sołtyków Consorts none Children none Date of Birth February 13, 1664 Place of Birth Moscow Date of Death December 12, 1738 Place of Death Gniezno Teodor Andrzej Potocki (1664-1738) was a Polish nobleman (szlachcic), Primate of Poland, interrex...

The Russian army under field marshal Peter Lascy entered Polish territory in order to support the claims of Frederick Augustus of Saxony. A group of nobles, mainly Lithuanian magnates led by duke Michael Wiśniowiecki (the former Lithuanian grand chancellor nominated by Augustus II), left the place of election to join the Russians. This group elected Frederick Augustus King of Poland as Augustus III. Despite the fact that this group was a minority, the Russians and Austrians, intent on maintaining their influence within Poland, recognised Augustus as king. Reign From 1734 until October 5, 1763 Elected In 1734 in Wola, today suburb of Warsaw, Poland Coronation On January 17, 1734 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland Royal House Wettin Parents August II Mocny ? Consorts Marie Josepha Children Frederick Christian Date of Birth October 7, 1696 Place of...

The Russians quickly took Warsaw and installed Augustus, forcing Stanislas to flee to Danzig, where he was besieged for some time by a Russian-Saxon army. Danzig fell in June 1734, and Staninslas fled to his son-in-law in France. Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto StoÅ‚eczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... Motto: Nec temere, nec timide (Neither rashly nor timidly) Voivodship Pomeranian Municipal government Rada miasta GdaÅ„ska Mayor PaweÅ‚ Adamowicz Area 262 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 460 524 (2004) Ranked 6th 1 100 000 1761/km² Founded City rights 997 1263 Latitude Longitude 54°40N 18°60E... Events January 8 - Premiere of George Frideric Handels opera Ariodante at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. ...

The war in Poland was largely over, and was an unambiguous victory for the Russians and their candidate. Although a group of nobles who opted for Stanislas I formed the Confederation of Dzikow (1734) and under their commander, Adam Tarły, tried to fight the Russians and Saxons, their efforts were ineffective.

The War in the West

In spite of the quick Russian victory, the war did not end, however. France's prime minister, Cardinal Fleury, saw the Polish struggle as a chance to strike at Austrian power in the west without seeming to be the aggressor. While he cared little for who should become King of Poland, the cause of protecting the King's father-in-law was a sympathetic one, and he hoped to use the war as a means of humbling the Austrians, and perhaps securing the long-desired Duchy of Lorraine from its Duke, Francis Stephen, who was expected to marry Emperor Charles's daughter Maria Theresa, which would bring Austrian power dangerously close to the French border. Cardinal Fleury, one of many studio copies of the official portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud Cardinal André_Hercule de Fleury, Bishop of Fréjus (June 22 or 26, 1653 - January 29, 1743) was a French cardinal who served as the chief minister of Louis XV. He was born in Lodève, the son of... The Duchy of Lorraine was an independent state for most of the period of time between 843 to 1739. ... Francis I Francis I (December 8, 1708 – August 18, 1765) was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany. ... This page is about Maria Theresa of Austria (often only known as Empress Maria Theresa), ruler of the Habsburg Empire from 1740-1780. ...

Louis XV was joined by his uncle, Philip V of Spain, who hoped to secure territories in Italy for his sons by his second marriage to Elizabeth Farnese. Specifically, he hoped to secure Mantua for the elder son, Don Carlos, who was already Duke of Parma and had the expectation of Tuscany; and the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily for the younger son, Don Felipe. The two Bourbon monarchs were joined also by Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy, who hoped to secure gains from the Austrian Duchy of Milan. King Philip V of Spain (December 19, 1683 – July 9, 1746) or Philippe of Anjou, grandson of the French monarch Louis XIV, was king of Spain from 1700 to 1746, the first of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain. ... Elizabeth Farnese (October 25, 1692 - July 11, 1766), Queen consort of Spain, was the only daughter of Odoardo II, prince of Parma. ... The Duchy of Mantua was ruled by the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1708. ... The following is a list of monarchs of Naples and Sicily: See also: List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria Hauteville Counts of Sicily, 1071-1130 Roger I 1071-1101 Simon 1101-1105 Roger II 1105-1130 Hauteville Kings of Sicily, 1130-1198 Roger II 1130-1154 William I 1154... The following is a list of monarchs of Naples and Sicily: See also: List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria Hauteville Counts of Sicily, 1071-1130 Roger I 1071-1101 Simon 1101-1105 Roger II 1105-1130 Hauteville Kings of Sicily, 1130-1198 Roger II 1130-1154 William I 1154... Charles Emmanuel III (April 27, 1701 - February 20, 1773) was the Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia from 1730 to 1773. ... The Duchy of Milan was a state in northern Italy from 1395 to 1797. ...

Although the Austrians had hoped for aid from the Maritimes Powers, Britain and the Dutch Republic, they were disappointed, as both the Dutch and the British (then under the dominant influence of Sir Robert Walpole) chose to pursue a policy of neutrality. The French, not wishing to provoke them, chose not to campaign in the Austrian Netherlands. The Austrians were thus left largely without effective allies - their Russian and Saxon allies were still largely occupied with finishing the Polish campaign, while the Emperor distrusted Frederick William I of Prussia, who was willing to provide aid, causing Frederick William to provide only nominal support. The Bavarians and other medium-sized German states were committed to neutrality by an alliance with France, leaving only a few small German states - and Hanover, where George II proved willing to help in his role as an Imperial Elector - to support the Emperor. The Right Honourable Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford KT, KB (26 August 1676–18 March 1745), was a British Whig statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. ... Originally the term Netherlands referred to a much larger entity than the current Kingdom of the Netherlands. ... Frederick William I of Prussia (in German: Friedrich Wilhelm I), of the House of Hohenzollern, (August 14, 1688 - May 31, 1740), often known as the Soldier-King and considered an Enlightened Despot, reigned as King of Prussia (1713 - 1740). ... George II (George Augustus) (10 November 1683–25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. ...

The war proved a disaster for the Austrians. Due to the neutralization of the Netherlands, it was fought largely on two fronts - on the Rhine and in Italy. The Rhine campaigns saw the last appearance in the field of two great generals of the previous generation, Prince Eugene of Savoy and the Duke of Berwick — the latter was killed at the siege of Philippsburg — and the baptism of fire of the young crown prince of Prussia, afterwards Frederick the Great. The French were largely successful - they overran Lorraine and captured the important fortress of Philippsburg on the right bank of the Rhine. Eugene of Savoy (part of a statue in front of the Hofburg in Vienna) François-Eugène, Prince of Savoy-Carignan, known as Prinz Eugen von Savoyen in German (October 16, 1663-April 24, 1736) was a noted general. ... James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick-upon-Tweed (August 21, 1670- June 12, 1734) was a French military leader, illegitimate son of King James II of England and VII of Scotland by Arabella Churchill. ... Philippsburg is a small town in Germany, in the district of Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg. ... Frederick the Great Frederick II of Prussia (Friedrich der Große, Frederick the Great, January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was the Hohenzollern king of Prussia 1740–86. ...

In Italy, the Austrian sistuation was even worse. In the north, there were two hard-fought though indecisive battles, Parma (June 29, 1734) and the Luzzara (September 19, 1734), the first won by the Austrians, the second by the French and their allies. But in the south, the Austrians lost disastrously, with the Spanish easily conquering Naples and Sicily by May 1734. Events January 8 - Premiere of George Frideric Handels opera Ariodante at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. ...

Peace Settlement

With the Austrians being in no real position to continue the fight, and the French concerned by the possible arrival of Russian reinforcements, which did indeed arrive on the Rhine for the first time in this campaign, peace negotiations soon began. A preliminary peace was concluded in October 1735 and ratified in the Treaty of Vienna (November 1738). Augustus was confirmed as king of Poland, Stanislas being compensated with the Duchy of Lorraine (which would thus pass, on his death, through his daughter to the French), while the former Duke of Lorraine, Francis Stephen, was made heir to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which he inherited in 1737. Don Charles was forced to give up not only his rights to Tuscany but also his previous Duchy of Parma, which was given to the Austirans, but he was richly compensated by being confirmed instead as king of Naples and Sicily. Don Philip was abandoned, receiving nothing. Events 16 April - The London premiere of Alcina by George Frideric Handel, his first the first Italian opera for the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. ... Events January 1 - Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier. ... The Duchy of Lorraine was an independent state for most of the period of time between 843 to 1739. ... Francis I Francis I (December 8, 1708 – August 18, 1765) was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany. ... The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a state in central Italy which came into existence in 1569, replacing the Duchy of Florence, which had been created out of the old Republic of Florence in 1532, and which annexed the Republic of Siena in 1557. ... Events 12 February — The San Carlo, the oldest working opera house in Europe, is inaugurated. ... Charles III of Spain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

The French (and their allies), hoping for détente and good relations with the Austrians, now recognized the Pragmatic Sanction that would allow Emperor Charles's daughter Maria Theresa to succeed him. This proved a hollow guarantee, however, as the French decided to intervene to partition the Habsburg Empire after all following Charles's death in 1740. The acquisition of Lorraine for the former Polish king, however, proved of lasting benefit to France, as it past under direct French rule with Stanislas's death in 1766. A pragmatic sanction is a sovereigns solemn decree on a matter of primary importance and has the force of fundamental law. ... Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI Charles VI (October 1, 1685 – October 20, 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1711 to 1740 and the second son of Leopold I with his third wife, Eleonore-Magdalena of Pfalz-Neuburg. ... This page is about Maria Theresa of Austria (often only known as Empress Maria Theresa), ruler of the Habsburg Empire from 1740-1780. ... Events May 31 - Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 - Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present-day Belgium). ... 1766 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

In Poland in 1736 Stanislaus signed the act of abdication, while Augustus III pronouced a general amnesty. Wiśniowiecki was rewarded: the king made him the grand hetman (chief-in-commander) of Lithuania.

This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain. The Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), contend supporters, in many ways represents the sum of knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...