He would probably have made a great Polish king who would have introduced reforms and improved the lives of many of his subjects. Unfortunately, he lived in times when this was not possible. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was involved in the wars of its powerful neighbours and was under their strong influence, therefore Stanisław I Leszczyński was a King of Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania twice for very short stretches of time. But he ruled elsewhere and was actually a very good ruler. But not of Poland.

Stanisław I Leszczyński the King of Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania

Stanisław Leszczyński was born in 1677 to a politically prominent and wealthy Polish noble family. He was well educated, spoke several languages and from an early age took part in the political life of Poland. He gained the attention of the Polish nobility and the powerful Swedish king Charles XII. It is, therefore, no wonder that after Sweden defeated the joined Saxon and Polish-Lithuanian armies, Charles XII deposed August II and installed in 1704 Stanisław I Leszczyński on the throne. Leszczyński took on this role, but only in absence of Jakub Sobieski who had been imprisoned by August II. He did not have a chance to reign for long for in 1709 Charles XII lost to the Russian army in a famous battle in Połtawa, as a consequence of which, August II Mocny was reinstalled to the throne.

Leszczyński becomes the father-in-law of Louis XV

Stanisław Leszczyński went into exile and remained in exile till 1733. It was when he was in exile that the French king Louis XV proposed to his daughter Marie Leszczyńska. Soon, Stanisław I became the father-in-law of one of the most prominent rulers in Europe! Stanisław I still maintained the title of the King of Poland, so when August II Mocny died, France backed his candidacy for the vacant Polish throne. For the second time Stanisław I became the King of Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania. Not for long, though. A war ensued and the coalition of Saxony, Austria and Russia backed August III Sas for king. Once again, Stanisław Leszczyński fled the country.  He abdicated officially in 1736 .

Stanisław I  Leszczyński as the Duke of Lorraine and Bar

 This time he was compensated for losing the Polish throne with the duchies of Lorraine and Bar, which at that time were considered to be a part of the Holy Roman Empire. The ideas for social change and his ambitions for constructing beautiful architecture which Leszczyński was unable to fulfil in his homeland, he managed to bring about in his new home – Lorraine and Bar. It may seem surprising for some who visit Nancy, that the main square is named after Leszczyński or that the local tram is known as ‘Stan’. Leszczyński was appreciated for who he really was – an enlightened leader who loved art, architecture, philosophy, politically enlightened ideas and exceptional food.

Antoine Pesne, Stanisław Bogusław Leszczyński, König von Polen, 1731

• After Daniel Klein, Stanisław I Leszczyński (1677-1766), 18th century
• Johan Starbus, Stanisław Leszczyński , circa 1712
• Jan Matejko, Stanisław Leszczyński, 19^th century

Anonymous plate, Election of Stanisław Leszczyński in 1733, 18^th century

Photo: Kacper Gimziński (2023), Monument of Stanisław Leszczyński in Leszno in Poland

Photo: Façade extérieure©L’œil créatif pour Opéra national de Lorraine (2013), Monument of Stanisław Leszczyński in France