The War of the Polish Succession refers to a conflict that took place from 1733 to 1738 in Europe, primarily involving the major powers of the time: France and Austria. The war was sparked by the death of Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, which led to a dispute over the succession to the Polish throne.
The term "Polish Succession" refers to the power struggle among different European powers to influence or control the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a major Eastern European state at the time. This power vacuum resulted in two main claimants to the Polish throne: Stanisław Leszczyński, who had previously been deposed as king in a previous conflict, and Augustus III, the son of Augustus II. These rival claims attracted support from other European powers depending on their political and strategic interests.
The war itself consisted of a series of military campaigns and diplomatic maneuvers, primarily between France, supporting Stanisław Leszczyński, and Austria, supporting Augustus III. The conflict spread beyond Poland, with some fighting taking place in Italy and the Rhineland. The major European powers of the era, such as Britain, Russia, and Spain, also became involved to varying extents, either directly or through alliances with France or Austria.
Ultimately, the war ended with the Treaty of Vienna in 1738, which recognized Augustus III as the legitimate king of Poland. However, the war had a lasting impact on the geopolitical balance in Europe, as it signaled the decline of France's influence and the rise of Austria as a major power in the region.
