Augustus II, the Strong 1670-1733
Elector of Saxony and twice King of Poland

Born in Dresden, which he was later to beautify, he succeeded to the electorship as Frederick Augustus I (1694) on the death of his brother, John George IV. After fighting against France and the Turks, he renounced his Lutheranism and became a Roman Catholic (1696), to secure his election to the Polish throne as Augustus II (1697-1704). With Peter I, the Great of Russia and Frederik IV of Denmark, he planned the partition of Sweden, invading Livonia in 1700. Defeated by Karl XII of Sweden, Augustus was deposed (1704) and replaced by Stanislaus Leszczynski. Although he recovered the throne in 1709, by the end of his reign Poland was little more than a Russian protectorate. He was succeeded, as elector and king, by his son, Frederick Augustus.