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Article: Polish Succession, War of the (1733–1738)
- Article from:
- Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World
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POLISH SUCCESSION, WAR OF THE (1733
–
1738)
POLISH SUCCESSION, WAR OF THE (1733
–
1738).
In February 1733 Augustus II (1670
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1733; ruled 1697
–
1704, 1709
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1733), elector of Saxony, king of Poland, and grand duke of Lithuania, died, leaving the throne of the elective monarchy of Poland-Lithuania vacant. Two candidates emerged, backed by opposing European alliances in a war that became significant not only for Poland-Lithuania but also for the brokering of power in Europe. Augustus II had attempted to introduce a hereditary monarchy to safeguard the Polish throne for his son Frederick Augustus II (1696
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1763; ruled 1734
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1763). However, Poles and ...