- Date:
- 1733 - 1738
- Participants:
- Augustus III
- Austria
- France
- Russia
- Sardinia
- Spain
- StanisĆaw I
- Polish
War of the Polish Succession
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What was the War of the Polish Succession?
The War of the Polish Succession (1733â1738) was a European conflict triggered by the death of Poland's King Augustus II the Strong. While ostensibly about choosing his successor, the war was more about the rivalries of European powers with little connection to Polish affairs. Austria and Russia backed Augustus' son, Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, while France and Spain supported StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski, who had previously been king.
The conflict led to a redistribution of Italian territories and increased Russian influence in Poland. Despite initial successes, including LeszczyĆski's election and the capture of Naples and Sicily by the Spanish, the war concluded with Augustus III recognized as king of Poland. Ultimately, the Treaty of Vienna confirmed these arrangements and brought peace.
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When did the War of the Polish Succession take place?
The War of the Polish Succession took place from 1733 to 1738. It was a European conflict triggered by the death of Poland's King Augustus II. Austria and Russia supported his son, Frederick Augustus II, while France and Spain backed StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski, who had previously been king.
LeszczyĆski was elected king in 1733, but he fled when a Russian army approached. Subsequently, Frederick Augustus was named the new king, Augustus III. France then formed alliances against the Habsburgs with Sardinia-Savoy and Spain and declared war on Austria. The war led to territorial redistribution in Italy and increased Russian influence in Poland. Augustus III remained king of Poland.
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Which countries were involved in the war?
The War of the Polish Succession (1733â1738) involved multiple European powers vying for influence over the Polish throne.
The primary countries involved were:
* France: Supported StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski, who had previously been king of Poland and was connected to France through his daughter's marriage to King Louis XV.
* Austria: Backed Augustus II's son, Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, as the next king of Poland.
* Russia: Allied with Austria in support of Frederick Augustus II.
* Spain: Opposed the Austro-Russian position and supported LeszczyĆski. Spain later sent an army to conquer Sicily and Naples.
* Sardinia-Savoy: Formed an alliance with France against the Habsburgs.The conflict stemmed from a rivalry over the Polish throne but was also influenced by existing tensions and power struggles among European governments. The war led to territorial redistribution in Italy and increased Russian influence in Poland.
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What caused the War of the Polish Succession to start?
The War of the Polish Succession (1733â1738) began after the death of Augustus II, king of Poland, on February 1, 1733. Austria and Russia supported his son, Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, for the throne. Most Poles, however, preferred StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski, who had been their king from 1704â09 and was connected to France through his daughter's marriage to King Louis XV.
France and Spain opposed the Austro-Russian position and supported LeszczyĆski, who was elected king of Poland by a sejm (Diet) of 12,000 delegates in Warsaw on September 12, 1733. However, when a Russian army approached Warsaw, LeszczyĆski fled to GdaĆsk, and another sejm of 3,000 delegates named Frederick Augustus as Polandâs new king, Augustus III, on October 5, 1733. Consequently, France formed alliances and declared war on Austria.
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What were some important battles or events during the war?
The War of the Polish Succession (1733â1738) involved multiple European powers vying for influence over the Polish throne. After the death of Augustus II, Austria and Russia supported his son Frederick Augustus II, while France and Spain backed StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski.
Key events include:
* Election of LeszczyĆski: In September 1733, StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski was elected king of Poland.
* Russian intervention: A Russian army approached Warsaw, causing LeszczyĆski to flee and leading to the election of Frederick Augustus as Augustus III in October 1733.
* Military Campaigns: Don Carlos led a Spanish army to victory against the Austrians at Bitonto in May 1734, conquering Sicily and becoming King of Naples and Sicily as Charles III.
* Siege of GdaĆsk: A Russian siege led to the fall of GdaĆsk in June 1734.
* Peace of Vienna: The preliminary Peace of Vienna was signed in 1735, which provided for Augustus to remain King of Poland.4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did the war end, and what was its effect on Europe?
The War of the Polish Succession (1733â1738) concluded with the Treaty of Vienna, which allowed Augustus III to remain the King of Poland. StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski, the other claimant to the throne, renounced his claim.
The war led to a redistribution of territories in Europe. Don Carlos retained Naples and Sicily, while Austria received Parma and Piacenza. Sardinia-Savoy gained Novara and Tortona from Lombardy, and Russia's influence in Polish affairs grew. France guaranteed the Pragmatic Sanction, ensuring Maria Theresa's inheritance of the Habsburg lands.
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War of the Polish Succession, (1733â38), general European conflict waged ostensibly to determine the successor of the king of Poland, Augustus II the Strong. The rivalry between two candidates for the kingdom of Poland was taken as the pretext for hostilities by governments whose real quarrels with each other had in fact very little connection with Polish affairs. The war resulted mainly in a redistribution of Italian territory and an increase in Russian influence over Polish affairs.
After Augustus died (Feb. 1, 1733), Austria and Russia supported the election of his son Frederick Augustus II of Saxony as king of Poland. Most Poles, however, preferred StanisĆaw I LeszczyĆski, who had been their king (1704â09) when the Swedes had temporarily forced Augustus II to be deposed and who also had become connected to France via the marriage of his daughter Marie to King Louis XV. France and Spain both opposed the Austro-Russian position and supported LeszczyĆski, who was elected king of Poland by a sejm (Diet) of 12,000 delegates in Warsaw on Sept. 12, 1733. But when a Russian army of 30,000 approached Warsaw, LeszczyĆski fled to GdaĆsk, and another sejm of 3,000 delegates named Frederick Augustus as Polandâs new king, Augustus III (Oct. 5, 1733). France consequently formed anti-Habsburg alliances with Sardinia-Savoy (September 26) and Spain (November 7) and declared war on Austria (October 10).
Don Carlos, the Spanish infante, led a Spanish army of 40,000 across Tuscany and the Papal States to Naples, defeated the Austrians at Bitonto (May 25, 1734), conquered Sicily, and was crowned king of Naples and Sicily as Charles III. The French, however, after overrunning Lorraine, were effectively checked in southern Germany by Austriaâs prince Eugene of Savoy. Furthermore, the French and Savoyard forces that invaded Lombardy were unable to take Mantua, and the small French contingent sent by sea to relieve the Russian siege of GdaĆsk was ineffective. GdaĆsk fell in June 1734.
LeszczyĆski escaped to Prussia, and to support him the Poles organized the Confederation of DzikĂłw (November 1734), which, however, failed to defeat the Russians and Augustus. Furthermore, dissension between the Spaniards and the Savoyards made the Italian campaign of 1735 inconclusive; and, because the French feared that the British and the Dutch would enter the war as Austriaâs allies, France signed a preliminary peace with Austria (Peace of Vienna; Oct. 3, 1735). It provided for Augustus to remain king of Poland. In addition, Don Carlos was to retain Naples-Sicily but had to give Austria both Parma and Piacenza, which he had inherited in 1731, and to renounce his claims to Tuscany. Sardinia-Savoy also acquired Novara and Tortona from Lombardy, which remained a Habsburg possession. Following the settlement, LeszczyĆski renounced the crown (Jan. 26, 1736), and the DzikĂłw Confederation recognized Augustus as king (July 1736).
On Nov. 18, 1738, France and Austria signed the final Treaty of Vienna, in which the provisions of the preliminary agreement were confirmed and in which France also conditionally guaranteed the Pragmatic Sanction, by which Holy Roman emperor Charles VI named his daughter, the Austrian archduchess Maria Theresa, as the heiress to his Habsburg lands. The other outstanding belligerents acceded to the peace in 1739.