World Leaders in Wartime: Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony

Popularly known as “the Strong” for his formidable physical vigor and power, Augustus II came to power in Saxony in 1694 and won the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth three years later. He then proceeded to conduct military operations against the Turks that resulted in the Treaty of Karlowitz before forming alliances with the rulers of Russia and Denmark with an eye on checking Swedish ambitions and advancing his own. The Great Northern War, however, went poorly for Augustus, as his armies suffered defeat and he lost his throne for three years before taking advantage of Russian victories to return to power. This talk will describe the fascinating life and career of Augustus II and his efforts to deal with the complex political, military, and diplomatic environment in which he exercised leadership.

Ethan S. Rafuse received his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and since 2004 has been a member of the faculty at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, where he is a professor of military history.  In 2018-19, he was the Charles Boal Ewing Distinguished Visiting Professor at the U.S. Military Academy.

The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.