|
WAR OF THE POLISH SUCCESSION
1733 - 1738
The War of the Polish
Succession affected a big part of Europe. It was fought over the
position of the successor of
Augustus II,
king of Poland.
That was the
official reason for the war. Underlying were several secondary
issues and the question of the Polish succession was a convenient
excuse to start war.
HOW THE WAR CAME ABOUT
King Augustus died and Russia and Austria wanted Augustus's son,
Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, on the throne.
Poland, France,
and Spain wanted Stanislaw I Leszczynski, who was married to
the daughter of French King Louis XV.
Stanislaw was declared king. But after the arrival of 30,000 Russian troops in Warsaw,
Stanislaw was forced to flee and and Frederick was
declared king. Frederick's new name was Augustus III.
France, Sardinia-Savoy,
and Spain were ready for a war with Austria.
HOW IT CONTINUED
Spanish soldiers came to Italy and defeated the Austrian army. Don Carlos
of Spain became Charles III, king of Naples and Sicily.
The
French weren't as successful. The Austrians defeated the French in
southern Germany and the Russians drove them out of Poland.
The French then got cold
feet and feared the English and the Dutch could join the war on
Austria's side. Thus,
France made peace with Austria. They initially signed the
Treaty of Vienna on October 3,
1735. The final and confirming document was the
Treaty of Vienna
signed on November 18, 1738, between France and Austria.
1713-1763
Treaties
Result of the war
Territories formerly belonging to Italy were redistributed. Russia
was controlling Poland's political
decisions.
|
