Augustus III

Augustus III. (Frederick), son of the preceding, was born in 1696. On the death of his father he had some difficulty in establishing his claim to the Polish crown, for Stanislas was supported by his son-in-law, Louis XV. It would have been better for that country had he failed, for his incapacity led to the complications by which Russia has profited. He allied himself with Austria against Frederick the Great, and twice his electoral dominions were wrested from him. His daughter, Maria Josepha. married the dauphin and became the mother of Louis XVI., Louis XVIII., and Charles X., who inherited perhaps an element of feebleness from their grandsire. Augustus died in 1763 equally disliked by Poles and Saxons.