AUGUSTUS II., FREDERICK (1696-1763). Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (as such styled Augustus 111.). He was the son and suc cessor of Augustus the Strong. Though carefully educated by his mother in the Protestant faith. he adopted Catholicism in 1712 while on a jour ney through Italy. In this step he was probably influenced by his ambition for the crown of Po land. After succeeding his father in the elec torate in 1733, he was chosen King of Poland by a part of the nobility. Aided by Russia and Austria, he triumphed over the rival claims of Stanislas Leszczynski, supported by Louis XV., and was unanimously proclaimed three years later as Augustus III. He left all the cares of government to his favorite, Brithl, who ruined Saxony to minister to the pleasures of his King. In 1742 Augustus joined Maria Theresa against Frederick of Prussia, but their armies were de feated in 1745, and Augustus had to flee from his capital. He made peace with Frederick and
recovered Saxony. In the Seven Years' War. Augustus. as the ally of Austria. suffered the loss of his army at Pima (1756) his coun try was overrun, his State papers fell into Fred erick's hands, and he himself had to flee to Poland, whore his popularity, never very great, was much diminished by his recent reverses in Saxony. After the Peace of Hubertsburg (Feb ruary 10, 1763), Augustus returned to Dresden. lie died October 5, 1763. His son. Frederick Christian, succeeded him in the electorate. and Stanislas Poniatowski became King of Poland. Augustus was a spendthrift, like his father, and spent immense fortunes in beautifying his capi tal, Dresden. Consult RuthiAre, Histoire de ('an archic de Pologne (Paris, 1819).