War of Polish Succession

HistoryCentral · Primary Source & History

With the death of Poland’s King Augustus II a war broke out to determine who would succeed him. Russia and Prussia demanded his legitimate son, Frederick Augustus. France however, convinced the Polish nobility to restore Stanislas Leeszynski, the kings father-in-law, to the throne. As a result Russia invaded and Stanislas was forced to flee to Danzig. The Russians lay seige to Danzig, while France ,with Spanish support ,declared war on the Holy Roman Empire and sent a force to relieve the siege of Danzig. After eight months Danzig fell to Russian forces. The war ended in October 1735 when the parties signed the Treaty of Vienna. The elector of Saxony became the new Polish King. Austria ceded Naples and Sicily to the Spanish Bourbons under the condition that they never be united with Spain.