august august born january february king grand duke polish lithuanian commonwealth remains controversial figure polish history recognized great patron arts sciences firm supporter progressive reforms remembered king commonwealth election marred russian involvement main criticism failed stand end prevent destruction poland arriving russian imperial court saint_petersburg romantically involved year old future empress catherine great reigned years senior support elected king poland expectations attempted reform strengthen ailing commonwealth efforts met external opposition prussia russia austria interested keeping commonwealth weak internal conservative interests saw reforms threatening traditional liberties defining crisis early reign war bar confederation led partition poland reign saw reforms wrought great constitution reforms overthrown war defense constitution leading directly second partition poland final partition poland marking end commonwealth stripped meaningful power november spent years life semi captivity saint_petersburg polish noble coat arms member family son count princess brother poland uncle royal titles english translation polish text constitution gives title august grace god people king poland lithuania duke prussia life youth august born january located polish lithuanian commonwealth née family coat arms highest polish nobility spent years childhood afterward family moved warsaw educated mother private including russian ambassador friends teenage years instead developed fondness books continued life foreign voyage accompanied russian army advanced germany trip visited netherlands later year returned commonwealth stopping dresden political career spent following year apprentice deputy chancellor lithuania traveled berlin met british diplomat mentor friend elected served commissioner following year spent january austrian court vienna later year serving meeting king iii poland polish parliament deputy father acquired title march left foreign trip time hungary vienna met williams spent time netherlands met key members country political economical sphere late august arrived paris entered high social circles february left paris traveled england spent months befriended future lord chancellor great_britain returned commonwealth later year time participating parents wanted political drama surrounding family fee tail year received title lithuania ultimately owed career family connections powerful family political faction known grew closer sent saint_petersburg service williams named british ambassador russia saint_petersburg met year old future empress catherine great lovers feelings catherine likely saw opportunity use relationship benefit influence bolster career leave july court intrigue combined influence catherine russian empress elizabeth chancellor rejoined russian court ambassador following january source intrigue european governments supporting appointment demanding withdrawal eventually left russian capital august attended continued involvement supported pro russian anti prussian stance polish politics father died leaving moderate inheritance catherine ascended russian throne sent letters support ascension polish throne asking stay away hoped catherine consider marriage idea seen plausible international observers involved plans coup état august catherine advised support coup long alive king years hope death poland king iii october negotiations began concerning election new king catherine threw support russians spent supporting election supporters opponents engaged military minor clashes end russian army deployed miles election met near warsaw end contenders september year old elected king votes swore november formal coronation took place warsaw november new king preferred nephew throne prince adam characterized contemporaries declined seek office august styled combining names immediate royal predecessors began rule rough support nation particularly lower nobility favorable years attempted introduce number reforms founded began form diplomatic service semi permanent diplomatic representatives europe russia ottoman_empire established order knights saint bishop martyr honor poland patron saint poland second order reward poles noteworthy service king tried reform ineffective government reducing powers commonwealth military commanders moving commissions elected responsible king memoirs called period years hope interested strengthening power faction dissatisfied policy reached opponents policies uneasy alliance continued decade rule points contention concerned rights religious minorities poland reluctantly supported policy religious tolerance opposed growing rift exploited russians issue pretext intervene commonwealth internal politics country catherine desire reform succeed supported ascent throne ensure commonwealth remain weak state russian control attempts reform state ailing machinery threat status quo partition poland matters came head october year attempted push radical reform restricting disastrous veto policy opposed conservatives supported prussian russian ambassadors threatened war reform passed supported russians formed confederation abandoned reforms failed pass named russian ambassador promised guarantee golden liberties polish nobility cardinal laws russian_empire abandoned cause reforms receive support expected russians continued press rights factions rallied banner aimed russians unsuccessful attempt find allies western_europe france england austria choice rely heavily russian_empire treated poland war bar confederation supported russian army repression proclaimed following year kidnapped briefly held prisoner outside warsaw managed escape faced weakness poland continuing chaos austria russia prussia decided intervene militarily exchange significant territorial concessions commonwealth decision consulting polish parties protested partition commonwealth powerless considered decided partition russia represented ambassador help forthcoming abroad armies powers occupying warsaw force arms alternative available save submission partition treaty time reforms passed cardinal laws confirmed guaranteed powers royal power restricted king lost power titles positions military officers ministers senators territories crown lands awarded auction created notable institutions main governmental body continuous operation intended council easier control remained influence russian_empire significant improvement commonwealth governance new legislation guaranteed russian_empire giving excuse interfere commonwealth politics legislation favored changed political scene aftermath partition saw rise conservative faction opposed seeing threat golden freedoms faction supported family proved adept making council follow wishes marked formation new anti royal pro royal factions polish politics royal faction primarily people king planned build careers service plans reforms kept hidden conservative opposition russia scored political victory strengthened council chancellor tasked polish law project known russia supported reforms prevent growing powerful supported opposition marked end reforms found sufficient support carry great constitution catherine slightly favored opposition support plans significant reforms despite repeated attempts failed confederate immune veto majority unable pass smallest reform rejected opposition attacks king dominated reforms possible late context wars waged ottoman_empire russian_empire tried draw poland austro russian alliance seeing war ottomans opportunity strengthen commonwealth catherine gave permission considered form limited military alliance poland ottomans useful polish russian alliance implemented end acceptable compromise proved sides ensuing year known great threw lot associated authored constitution constitution introduced sweeping reforms according constitution provisions fell french canadian left prussian far match notes constitution gave poland constitutional monarchy close english model time described according contemporary account founded principally england united_states_of_america avoiding faults errors adapted possible local particular circumstances country constitution remained end work progress new civil criminal code tentatively called august code works planned reform improving situation polish jews foreign policy russia poland turned potential ally represented polish diplomatic scene primarily led formation ultimately futile polish prussian alliance pro prussian shift supported decision majority deputies passing constitution officially applauded prussia sent note warsaw caused worry prussia contacts polish revolutionary seen poland neighbors evidence conspiracy threat absolute prussian statesman expressed fears european conservatives poles given coup prussian monarchy voting constitution strong commonwealth likely demand return lands prussia acquired partition similar sentiment later expressed prussian foreign minister von russia wars ottomans sweden having ended catherine furious adoption constitution threatened russian influence poland russia chief foreign policy authors learning constitution commented worst possible news arrived warsaw polish king sovereign war defense constitution end commonwealth shortly conservative polish nobility formed overthrow constitution saw threat traditional freedoms privileges enjoyed aligned russia catherine great russian army entered poland marking start polish russian war known war defense constitution voted increase men insufficient time funds number achieved field man army recruits army command king nephew managed defeat russians fight draw occasions following victorious polish forces commanded nephew king founded new order reward poles exceptional military leadership courage combat despite polish requests prussia refused honor alliance obligations end numerical superiority russians great defeat looked inevitable attempts negotiations russia proved futile july warsaw threatened siege russians king came believe surrender alternative total defeat having received assurances russian ambassador territorial changes occur cabinet ministers called guardians law polish voted favor surrender july joined reform leaders believing cause lost went self exile hoped able negotiate acceptable compromise russians past saved commonwealth lost influence country catherine victorious surprise ensued second partition poland new deputies intimidated russian troops took place november acts great including constitution faced considered meantime tried salvage reforms final years plans ruined king encourage began supported seeing honorable option defeat marked end commonwealth tried govern country brief period defeat uprising december catherine demanded leave warsaw request january leaving capital russian military escort settling briefly october act final partition poland signed month day later november signed catherine died november succeeded paul russia february left saint_petersburg russia hoped allowed travel abroad able secure permission virtual prisoner marble palace pension granted catherine despite financial troubles supported allies tried represent polish case russian court worked memoirs died stroke february paul sponsored royal state funeral march buried soviet_union planned demolish church remains transferred second polish republic church birthplace secret caused controversy poland issue known poor state body transferred poland cathedral warsaw celebrated adoption constitution authored endorsed final funeral ceremony held february legacy patron culture important patron arts polish enlightenment political goals included overthrow myth golden freedoms reform backwards culture artistic projects aimed negative qualities associated thursday hosted considered brilliant social functions polish capital founded polish public theatre sponsored expenses actors associated ballet school warsaw erected elegant warsaw romantic park deeply involved details architectural projects eclectic style known august style term coined polish art historian chief architects included patron numerous painters personal included poles anna foreign painters led included court designer commemorative medals according inventory art collection spread numerous buildings contained pieces including ones plan create large painting gallery warsaw interrupted polish lithuanian commonwealth nonetheless paintings ordered seen london planned fund dream realized accomplished realm education literature established called functioned alumni included supported creation considered world helped found monitor polish newspapers leading periodical polish enlightenment sponsored articles appeared monitor wrote writers poets received patronage included supported publishers including library owners supported development sciences particularly hired personal election king plan initiated map entire territory commonwealth finished royal castle warsaw organized astronomical observatory supported sponsored historical studies including collection copying historical manuscripts encouraged publications biographies famous polish historical figures sponsored paintings sculptures contributions arts sciences awarded membership royal member outside british royalty awarded membership supported development industry manufacturing fields commonwealth western_europe endeavors invested manufacture cannons firearms mining industry left literary works memoirs political recorded speeches considered great skilled conflicting assessments king august remains controversial figure polish historiography popular works criticized describes vocal critic modern historians neutral positive views expressed elected throne seen simple instrument displacing throne poland notes turned ardent patriot convinced reformer according reforms far leading accusations overly cautious fault admitted decision rely russia criticized saw russia lesser evil willing support independence weak poland russian sphere influence end russia chose support poland reform accused weakness treason especially years following second partition rumors claimed polish planning coup état assassination line criticism alleged poor financial planning little personal wealth income came royal lands patronage arts sciences major drain treasury supported numerous public initiatives attempted use royal treasury cover country expenses tax revenue insufficient promised compensate times little practical effect nonetheless accusation frequently levied contemporary critics dedicated book discussion dispute august warsaw notes discourse concerning significantly colored fact king poland king failed save country failure prominent position convenient argues error joining wanted preserve polish state late succeeded damaging reputation centuries come remembrance subject numerous biographies works art saw model modeled drama les contemporary poems dedicated praised major character works trilogy novels dramas discussed novel court appears warsaw screen played directed appear upcoming russian series subject numerous portraits medals coins prominent figure painting constitution portrayed large painting series portraits polish monarchs bust unveiled numerous cities poland streets named including warsaw family son princess brother uncle married youth loved cousin father august disapproved think influential rich longer issue married specified marry polish hoped marry royal family accession throne hopes marrying writing november moment doubt desired throne saw clear envoy marry hopes austrian historians believe later undertook secret marriage according contemporary knew spread death generally circulated marriage considered unlikely notable lovers bore children bore bore likely catherine great second child daughter ancestors issue
Stanisław August Poniatowski