WAR OF THE POLISH SUCCESSION
1733 - 1738

The War of the Polish Succession affected quite a bit of Europe. It was fought because people couldn't agree who the successor of Augustus II, king of Poland, should be.

At least that was the official reason for the war. In truth, many a European people had many bones to pick with many others. The succession affair came in handy as an excuse and war was started cheerfully.

HOW THE WAR CAME ABOUT
King Augustus died and Russia and Austria wanted Augustus's son, Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, on the throne. Not so Poland, France, and Spain. They wanted Stanislaw I Leszczynski, who was married to the daughter of French King Louis XV.

They just went ahead and declared Stanislaw king. After the arrival of 30,000 Russian troops in Warsaw, Stanislaw had to get the heck out of there and Frederick was declared king. Frederick's new name was Augustus III.

France, Sardinia-Savoy, and Spain had had it and they were ready for a war with Austria.

HOW IT CONTINUED
The Spaniards came to Italy and whooped some Austrians. Don Carlos of Spain became Charles III, king of Naples and Sicily. The French weren't as successful. The Austrians whooped 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 would join the war. Thus, they made peace with Austria. Their agreements were compiled in the Treaty of Vienna.

Result of the war
Territories formerly belonging to Italy were redistributed. Russia was controlling Poland's political decisions.