The War of the Polish Succession

After the death of King Augustus II Wettin of Saxony (1733), the throne of Poland found itself torn between two contenders: Stanislas Leszczynski, a Polish nobleman supported by Louis XV of France (1710-1774), who had married his daughter, and August III Wettin, son of the late king. The Bourbons of Spain sided with their French relatives, while the Empire and Russia supported Augustus III. The armed confrontation between the two coalitions ended with the Peace of Vienna (1738). The throne of Poland was given to Augustus III, while Leszczynski received the Duchy of Lorraine, but only as an annuity and with the condition that the territory pass, after his death, to his daughter, and then to the French crown. The deposed Duke of Lorraine, Francis (1708-1763), son-in-law of Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740), received the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The emperor, in turn, retained the State of Milan, obtained the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, but lost the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, given to Charles of Bourbon (1716-1788), son of Philip V of Spain.