Augustus II the Strong

Lore & Background

His wife refused to convert and remained a staunch Protestant, not attending his coronation. As a Catholic, he received the Order of the Golden Fleece from the Holy Roman Emperor and established the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest distinction. As elector of Saxony, he transformed Dresden into a major cultural centre, attracting artists from across Europe, amassing an impressive art collection, and building lavish baroque palaces in Dresden and Warsaw.

Reader's Guide

Augustus II the Strong's reign brought many troubles to Poland. He led the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Great Northern War, which allowed the Russian Empire to strengthen its influence in Europe, especially within Poland. His main pursuit was bolstering royal power in the Commonwealth, which was characterised by broad decentralisation. To reduce the autonomy of the Commonwealth's subjects, he used foreign powers, leading to destabilisation. His body was buried in Poland's royal Wawel Cathedral in Kraków, but his heart rests in the Dresden Cathedral. His legacy includes his patronage of the arts and architecture, which made Dresden a major cultural centre, and his controversial conversion to Catholicism, which secured the Polish throne but alienated many Protestant subjects.

Did You Know?

• Augustus was nicknamed 'the Strong', 'the Saxon Hercules', and 'Iron-Hand' due to his great physical strength.
• He liked to demonstrate his strength by breaking horseshoes with his bare hands and engaging in fox tossing.
• His heart is buried in Dresden Cathedral, while his body rests in Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.