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Augustus the Strong

Augustus II
Aŭgust Mocny. Аўгуст Моцны (H. Rodakowski, XIX).jpg
Augustus II the Strong
Elector of Saxony
Reign 27 April 1694 – 1 February 1733
Predecessor Johann Georg IV
Successor Augustus III of Poland
King of Poland
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign 15 September 1697–1706
Coronation 15 September 1697
Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland
Predecessor Jan III
Successor Stanisław I
King of Poland
Reign 1709 – 1 February 1733
Predecessor Stanisław I
Successor Stanisław I
Born (1670-05-12)12 May 1670
Dresden, Electorate of Saxony
Died 1 February 1733(1733-02-01) (aged 62)
Warsaw, Kingdom of Poland
Burial Katholische Hofkirche, Dresden (heart)
Wawel Cathedral, Kraków (body)
Spouse Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Issue
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Augustus III of Poland
Maurice de Saxe
Johann Georg, Chevalier de Saxe
Frederick Augustus Rutowsky
Maria Anna Katharina Rutowska
Anna Karolina, Countess Orzelska
House Wettin
Father Johann Georg II, Elector of Saxony
Mother Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark
Religion Roman Catholic (since 1697)
Lutheran (until 1697)
Signature

Augustus II the Strong (German: August II. der Starke; Polish: August II Mocny; Lithuanian: Augustas II; 12 May 1670 – 1 February 1733) of the Albertine line of the House of Wettin was Elector of Saxony (as Frederick Augustus I), Imperial Vicar and became King of Poland (as August II) and Grand Duke of Lithuania (as Augustas II).

Augustus' great physical strength earned him the nicknames "the Strong", "the Saxon Hercules" and "Iron-Hand". He liked to show that he lived up to his name by breaking horseshoes with his bare hands and engaging in fox tossing by holding the end of his sling with just one finger while two of the strongest men in his court held the other end.

In order to be elected King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Augustus converted to Roman Catholicism. As a Catholic, he received the Order of the Golden Fleece from the Holy Roman Emperor.

As Elector of Saxony, he is perhaps best remembered as a patron of the arts and architecture. He established the Saxon capital of Dresden as a major cultural centre, attracting artists from across Europe to his court. Augustus also amassed an impressive art collection and built lavish baroque palaces in Dresden and Warsaw.

His reigns brought Poland some troubled times. He led the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Great Northern War, which led to the Russian Empire strengthening its influence in Europe, especially within Poland. His main pursuit was bolstering royal power in the Commonwealth, characterized by broad decentralization in comparison with other European monarchies. He tried to accomplish this goal using foreign powers and thus destabilized the state.


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