How August III Sas became king

After the death of August II Mocny, there ensued a power struggle between Stanisław I Leszczyński and August III Sas, both of whom wished to secure a place on the Polish throne. Leszczyński was favoured by the Polish gentry and chosen by 12,000 votes in the election Sejm (parliament). Augustus III Sas, the son of August Mocny, received 3,000 votes. However, Augustus’s succession to the Polish throne was supported not only by the 30,000 Russian troops who entered Poland for that occasion, but also by some of Poland’s wealthy and corrupt magnates (such as Michał Serwacy Wiśniowiecki).

August III Sas as king

Thus August III Sas, who had already inherited the title of the Elector of Saxony,  and his wife Maria Josepha were crowned the King and Queen of Poland and the Duchy of Lithuania in Kraków in the Wawel Cathedral in 1734. What followed in history was a further enactment of the situation that led to the coronation. The foreign powers of Russia, Austria and Prussia interfered with Polish politics, the magnates often acted in their own interests and made use of the liberum veto in the Sejm (the parliament) to boycott any decisions which were against their wishes. Perhaps as a result of this situation, August III Sas spent most of his time in Saxony and did not take much interest in improving the political situation in Poland and in bringing much needed reforms which would recover the importance of the Sejm in governing the country and the high status of Poland on the European scene.

Two sayings connected with King Sas

August III Sas’s reign gave two memorable sayings to the Polish language. The first  referred to the struggle between Stanisław I Leszczyński and August III Sas to gain the throne. ‘Od Sasa do Lasa’  (From Sas to Las) means in Polish that two things or situations could not be more different. The second saying referred to August III’s reign: ‘Za króla Sasa jedz, pij i popuszczaj pasa’ (In times of King Sas, eat, drink and loosen your belt’). Indeed, the king loved to dine, led a very lavish lifestyle and some of the richest magnates were only too pleased to follow this royal example.

King Sas and the arts

Most historians see the reign of August III Sas as disastrous for Poland. He governed the country through ministers or chosen magnates, often engaging in personal activities, rather than concerning himself with the country and the well-being of its people. Various anecdotes refer to his hobby of cutting out paper soldiers or spending the whole day listening to operas. But it is thanks to his love of the arts that he is remembered as a great sponsor of the opera, of music and of architecture.  After all, the greatest composer of all times, Johan Sebastian Bach was his court composer in Dresden and he composed a cantata for his coronation in Poland (although it was not performed during the ceremony). We know of at least two of Bach’s pupils who performed in King Sas’s orchestra in Warsaw, as well as at the courts of unbelievably rich Polish magnates who had their own orchestras and musical establishments.

August II Sas was the founder of the first opera theatre called Opernhaus or Warsaw Operalia, which staged regular performances. It was located in the Sas Gardens (Ogrody Saskie), which was the first public park founded by August II Mocny.

Many historians also point to the fact that the economy of the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania improved in Sas times and crafts flourished.

Illustrations:

Louis de Silvestre,  Augustus III in Polish costume, 1737

King Augustus III of Poland, between circa 1755 and circa 1756 

Pietro Antonio Rotari, Queen Maria Josepha, Wife of King Augustus III of Poland, 1755

A contemporary reconstruction: Coat of arms of Augustus III of Poland as vicar of the HRE Banner, 18^th century

Johann Heinrich Köhler, Regalia of Augustus III of Poland, 1733