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Stanislas Leszczynski, King
of Poland 1704-1709, 1733, Duke of Lorraine, (1677-1766)
son of Rafal Leszczynski, Duke and Count of Lesno, Palatin of Lenezin
and Anna Katarzyna Jablonowska
Born 20 October 1677 Lwow
Died 23 February 1766 Luneville
Affaire with Princess Katarzyna Jablonowska
Born circa 1696 Lvov, Ukraine
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The only son of a nobleman, he finalised his education by travelling
in Western Europe. Caught up in the continual conflicts between the Northern
European nations, Poland was invaded in 1702 by King Charles XII of Sweden.
This king forced the Polish nobility to
depose King Augustus II (Friedrich August I of Saxony) and in 1704
placed Stanislas Leszczynski on the throne.
Foreign armies marched through and ravaged Poland at will. In 1709
Charles XII was defeated by the Russians and forced to withdraw to Sweden,
leaving Stanislas without any support. Augustus II returned to the Polish
throne while Stanislas went into exile to settle in France.
In 1725 his daughter, Marie, married the French King Louis XV and,
in 1733 when Augustus II died, Stanislas returned in secret to Poland and
was elected King. However, before he could be crowned, Russia and Austria
invaded the country and once more he was forced into exile. He fled from
Warsaw before the city was taken by the Russians, going to
Koenigsberg in Prussia from where he directed guerilla warfare against
the new king, Augustus III. However, the Peace of Vienna in 1738 recognised
Augustus III as King of Poland, while allowing Stanislas to retain his
royal title. As well, he was given the duchies of Lorraine and Bar for
life.
He proved to be a good administrator and promoted economic development,
while his court in Lun‚ville became a cultural centre. He founded an academy
of science at Nancy and a military college. In 1749 he published a book,
"Free Voice to Make Freedom Safe", which outlines his proposed changes
to the Polish constitution.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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