Published: 2019-12-151

Internal dissent among the opponents of King Augustus II in the Crown during the Swedish invasion in 1704–1706

Rafał Kowalski
Echa Przeszłości
Section: ARTICLES
https://doi.org/10.31648/ep.4836

Abstract

The article analyzes the internal dissent among the opponents of King Augustus II of the House of Wettin in 1704-1706. In 1702, the Swedish invasion of Poland heightened the tension between the citizens and Augustus II who had been struggling to bolster his power. An anti-royal confederation was created in the region of Wielkopolska. Acting under pressure from the Swedish invaders, in February 1704, the confederates dethroned the king and elected Poznań voivode Stanisław Leszczyński as the anti-king. The new king received the support of Charles XII of Sweden, but he was not recognized by other members of the opposition. Differences in opinions and political goals, unfulfilled ambitions and jealousy surrounding the election of a king from a different and non-influential social circle deeply divided the opposition. Primate Michał Radziejowski, one of the key instigators of the plot to dethrone Augustus II, left the political arena after Leszczyński’s election. Other leaders of the opposition followed suit. The brutality of the Swedish invaders and the new king’s incompetence did not appease political tensions in Poland. The nobility remained largely loyal to the dethroned monarch. Augustus II abdicated and passed the throne to Stanisław Leszczyński only in 1706 when Sweden invaded Saxony. King Stanisław became a mere pensioner of Charles XII, and despite numerous attempts, he was unable to restore peace in the country.

Keywords:

Augustus II, dethronement, Charles XII, opposition, election, confederation, Jakub Sobieski, Michał Radziejowski, Stanisław Leszczyński, Hieronim Lubomirski, primate, House of Wettin

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Kowalski, R. (2019). Internal dissent among the opponents of King Augustus II in the Crown during the Swedish invasion in 1704–1706. Echa Przeszłości, (XX/1). https://doi.org/10.31648/ep.4836

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