Conflict: War of the Polish Succession
Combatants: Poles vs. Russians
Location: Poland
Outcome: Russian victory
In late 1733, the King of Poland, Augustus II the Strong died. Polish nobles hoped to see Stanislas Leszczynski, father-in-law of French King Louis XV, rise to the throne. However, the son of the late king, Augustus III, backed by Austria and Russia, also wished to wear the crown of Poland.
In October of 1733, a Russian army commanded by Field Marshal Count Burchard von Munnich invaded Poland. With no army at hand, Leszczynski withdrew into the Polish city of Danzig. In January of 1734, the Russians commenced a siege of the city. Leszczynski himself commanded the garrison. The siege lasted 135 days. But, despite the arrival 2,200 French reinforcements, the city was forced to surrender in June of 1734. Leszczynski escaped to Prussia.
Points of Interest:
From 1734 to 1738, Stanislas Leszczynski continued to fight for the throne but failed to turn the tide against Augustus III.
In 1738, Leszczynski abdicated but was made the Duke of Lorraine by the Treaty of Vienna.
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Sources:
Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).
Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.
Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
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