Augustus II (1670–1733)

Elector of Saxony (1694–1733) and King of Poland (1697–1733). He converted to Catholicism and joined forces with Russia and Denmark in 1700 to begin the Great Northern War against Sweden. This disastrous campaign ended in defeat, Poland and Saxony were overrun by Swedish forces, and he was deposed in 1704. However, after the Swedish King Charles XII had been beaten by Peter the Great of Russia at the battle of Poltava in 1709, he regained the Polish crown.

Augustus became a candidate for the kingdom of Poland after the death of John Sobieski in 1696. He gained the title after the French claimant, the Prince of Conti, offered no opposition. Stanislas Leszczynski deposed him and ruled Poland in his place 1704–09.