Polish August Fryderyk
born May 12, 1670, Dresden, Saxony
died Feb. 1, 1733, Warsaw
King of Poland and elector of Saxony (as Frederick Augustus I).
He ascended to the Polish throne in 1697, having converted to Catholicism to better his chances. Also called Augustus the Strong, he invaded Livonia in 1700, beginning the Second Northern War . Charles XII of Sweden defeated Augustus's army and forced him to abdicate in 1706, but he was restored as king in 1710. Poland declined during Augustus's reign from a major European power to a protectorate of Russia.