Augustus III of Poland
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| August III Sas | |
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| 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 Birth | Dresden, Saxony, (now Germany) |
| Date of Death | October 5, 1763 |
| Place of Death | Dresden, Saxony (now Germany) |
| Place of Burial | ? |
August III Sas (1696-1763), the King of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1734-1763), and also elector of Saxony (1733-1763, as Friedrich August II)
Royal titles:
- Official Latin version: Augustus III, Dei Gratia rex Poloniae, magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russie, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Kijoviae, Volhyniae, Podoliae, Podlachiae, Livoniae, Smolensciae, Severiae, Czerniechoviae, nec non haereditarius dux Saxoniae princeps et elector etc.
- English translation: August III, by God's grace King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia (Ukraine & Belarus), Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Kyiv, Volhynia, Podolia, Podlachia, Livonia, Smolensk, Severia, Czernichow, an also hereditary duke of Saxony, prince and elector etc.
Biography
Friedrich August II Wettin was born in Dresden in 1696 as son of August II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. He was being prepared by his family for the royal function. In 1721 he converted to Catholicism.
After his father's death he inherited Saxony and was elected king of Poland with support of Russian and Austrian troops. August II was disinterested in the affairs of his Polish dominion, which he viewed mostly as a source of funds and resources for strenghtening his power in Saxony. During his 30 year-reign, he spend less then 3 years in Poland. He delegated most of his powers and responsibilities to count Heinrich Bruhl, who became a semi-dictator of Poland. 30 years of August II disinterested reign festered the political anarchy and further weakened the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, while neigbouring Prussia, Austria and Russia finalised plans for the partitions of Poland.
Marriage and children
On August 20, 1719 he married Marie Josepha (1699-1757), daughter of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor. Their eldest surviving son, Frederick Christian, succeeded his father as Elector of Saxony. The children of Augustus and Marie Josepha were:
- Friedrich August (1720-1721)
- Joseph (1721-1728)
- Frederick Christian (1722-1763), Elector of Saxony
- Maria Amalia Christina (1724-1760) - married Charles III of Spain
- Maria (1727-1734)
- Maria Anna Sophia (1728-1797) - married Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria
- Franz Xaver (1730-1806), Regent of Saxony from 1763 to 1768
- Marie-Josèphe (1731-1767), mother of Louis XVI of France - married Louis, dauphin de France (1729-1765), son of King Louis XV of France (1710-1774)
- Carl Christian (1733-1796), Count of Courland
- Maria Christina Anna (1735-1782), Fürstäbtissin of Remiremont
- Maria Elisabeth Apollonia (1736-1818)
- Albert Kasimir August (1738-1822)
- Clemens Wenzelslaus (1739-1812), Elector and Archbishop of Trier
- Maria Kunigunde Dorothea (1740-1826), Fürstäbtissin von Thorn und Essen
| Preceded by: Frederick Augustus I | Elector of Saxony 1733-1763 | Succeeded by: Frederick Christian |
| Preceded by: Stanislaus I Leszczynski | King of Poland 1733-1763 | Succeeded by: Stanislaus II Augustus Poniatowski Template:Kings and Dukes of Polandde:August III. (Polen) nl:August III van Polen pl:August III Sas sv:Fredrik August II uk:Август ІІІ Фрідерік |