Stanislaus I Leszczy?ski, King of Poland

Stanis?aw I Leszczy?ski (October 20, 1677?February 23, 1766) was the King of Poland and Duke of Lorraine.

Related Topics:
October 20 - 1677 - February 23 - 1766 - King of Poland - Duke of Lorraine

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Born at Lwów in 1677, he was the son of Rafa? Leszczy?ski, governor of Poznan Voivodship, and Anne Catherine Jab?onowska. He married Catherine Opali?ska, by whom he had one daughter, Maria. In 1697, as cupbearer of Poland, he signed the confirmation of the articles of election of Augustus II. In 1703, he joined the Lithuanian Confederacy, which the Sapiehas with the aid of Swedish gold had formed against Augustus. In the following year, Stanis?aw was selected by Charles XII of Sweden to supersede Augustus. Leszczy?ski was a young man of blameless antecedents, respectable talents, and ancient family, but certainly without sufficient force of character or political influence to sustain himself on so unstable a throne.

Related Topics:
Lwów - 1677 - Poznan Voivodship - Maria - 1697 - Poland - Augustus II - 1703 - Lithuanian Confederacy - Charles XII of Sweden

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Nevertheless, with the assistance of a bribing fund and an army corps, the Swedes succeeded in procuring his election by a scratch assembly of half a dozen castellans and a few score of gentlemen on July 2, 1704. A few months later, Stanis?aw was forced by a sudden inroad of Augustus to seek refuge in the Swedish camp, but finally on September 24, 1705, he was crowned king with great splendour. Charles himself supplied his nominee with a new crown and sceptre in lieu of the ancient regalia, which had been carried off to Saxony by Augustus. The first act of the new king was to cement an alliance with Charles XII whereby Poland engaged to assist Sweden against the tsar. Stanis?aw did what he could to assist his patron. Thus, he induced Mazeppa the Cossack hetman to desert Peter at the most critical period of the war, and Stanis?aw placed a small army corps at the disposal of the Swedes. But, Stanis?aw depended so entirely upon the success of Charles's arms that after Poltava (1709), Stanis?aw's authority vanished as a dream at the first touch of reality. During this period Stanis?aw resided in the town of Rydzyna.

Related Topics:
Castellan - July 2 - 1704 - September 24 - 1705 - Saxony - Sweden - Cossack - Hetman - Poltava - 1709 - Rydzyna

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The vast majority of the Poles hastened to repudiate Stanis?aw and make their peace with Augustus. Henceforth a mere pensioner of Charles XII, Stanis?aw accompanied Krassau's army corps in its retreat to Swedish Pomerania. On the restoration of Augustus, Stanis?aw resigned the Polish Crown (though he retained the royal title) in exchange for the little principality of Zweibrücken. In 1716, an assassination was attempted by a Saxon officer, Lacroix, but Stanis?aw was saved by Stanis?aw Poniatowski, the father of the future king. Leszczy?ski then resided at Wissembourg in Lorraine, and in 1725 had the satisfaction of seeing his daughter Maria become the consort of Louis XV and queen of France. From 1725 to 1733, Stanis?aw lived at Chateau Chambord.

Related Topics:
Pomerania - Principality - Zweibrücken - 1716 - Wissembourg - Lorraine - 1725 - Louis XV - France - 1733 - Chateau Chambord

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His son-in-law Louis XV supported his claims to the Polish throne after the death of Augustus II in 1733, which led to the War of the Polish Succession. In September 1733, Stanis?aw himself arrived at Warsaw, having traveled night and day through central Europe disguised as a coachman. On the following day, despite many protests, Stanis?aw was duly elected King of Poland for the second time. However, Russia was opposed to any nominee of France and Sweden. Russia protested against his election at once, in favour of the new elector of Saxony, at being the candidate of her Austrian ally. On June 30, 1734, a Russian army of 20,000 under Peter Lacey, after proclaiming Augustus III at Warsaw, proceeded to besiege Stanis?aw in Gda?sk where he was entrenched with his partisans (including the primate and the French and Swedish ministers) to await the promised succour from France.

Related Topics:
War of the Polish Succession - Warsaw - Russia - June 30 - 1734 - Gda?sk

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The siege began in October 1734. On March 17, 1735, Marshal Münnich superseded Lacey, and on May 20, the long expected French fleet appeared and disembarked 2,400 men. A week after its arrival, this little army gallantly attempted to force the Russian entrenchments, but it was finally compelled to surrender. This was the first time France and Russia met as foes in the field. On June 30, Gda?sk capitulated unconditionally, after sustaining a siege of 135 days which cost the Russians 8,000 men.

Related Topics:
March 17 - 1735 - May 20 - June 30

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Disguised as a peasant, Stanis?aw had contrived to escape two days before. He reappeared at Königsberg, whence he issued a manifesto to his partisans which resulted in the formation of a confederation on his behalf, and the of a Polish to Paris to urge France to invade Saxony with at least 40,000 men. In Ukraine too, Count Nicholas Potocki kept on foot to support Stanis?aw a motley host of 50,000 men, which was ultimately scattered by the Russians. On January 26, 1736, Stanis?aw again abdicated the throne, but received by way of compensation the dukedom of Lorraine and Bar, which was to revert to France on his death. He settled at Lunéville, founded there the Academia Stanislaw and devoted himself for the rest of his life to science and philanthropy.

Related Topics:
Königsberg - Manifesto - Paris - Ukraine - January 26 - 1736 - Lorraine - Bar - Lunéville - Science - Philanthropy

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He died in 1766 at the age of 89. Among his works may be mentioned: OEuvres du philosophe bienfaisant (Paris, 1763; 1866).

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