Stanisław II August : The Last King of Poland Stanisław II August : The Last King of Poland

Abstract

        Stanisław II August was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania between 1764-1765 and the last King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He owned his throne to his youthful romance with the future Tsarina Catherine the Great of Russian Empire. In 1764, Catherine used Russian political influence and military strength to ensure Stanisław’s election as the king of Poland. Although he tried to introduce administrative reform to strengthen Polish sovereignty, oppositions from the Polish nobles and Catherine forced him to continue his rule as a pawn of Russia. He promulgated a new constitution on 3rd May 1792 that abolished the liberum veto and free election of the noble, while transitioning Poland into a constitutional monarchy. He was unable to prevent the Partitions of Poland (1772, 1793 and 1795) which resulted in the elimination of Poland from the map of Europe for 123 years. Stanisław was held as a prisoner in Grodno and later abdicated on 25th November 1795. He was the last king of Poland who failed to save his country from external threats.