Extraordinary luck, good health, and many loyal people around him – this is what Stanisław Leszczyński’s life looked like. Poland, compared to other Western European countries, was not a regicidal nation, yet several attempts were made to kill Stanisław. None ever succeeded, and the king died at the age of 89 from burns caused by a spark from a fireplace. How did he manage to avoid the assassination attempts?
Obtaining the Crown
One could say that the most important things in life are health and luck. Stanisław Leszczyński had both. His origins meant he had little chance of becoming king. He didn’t even do anything to pursue it himself.
However, luck greatly helped Leszczyński. Charles XII (King of Sweden), while visiting Lithuanian and Polish lands, met the Greater Poland magnate. He liked him so much that Charles decided to make him king.
Leszczyński didn’t need to do anything more. He followed the guidance of Charles XII, who directed all his actions. It seemed that luck had abandoned Leszczyński when in 1709 he lost the battle against Peter I.
As a result of this situation, Augustus II the Strong, previously removed from the Polish throne, regained power in Poland. Stanisław lost it, but he knew perfectly well that he would not renounce his royal title. This, of course, greatly displeased the new king, so something had to be done about this situation.
The First Assassination Attempt on Leszczyński
Leszczyński, thanks to the courtesy of Charles XII, found refuge in the Duchy of Zweibrücken. It turned out he wasn’t safe there, as Saxon officers were already heading his way in 1717. They thought their acquaintance with the royal advisor would help them greatly. It was he who gave them information about the route the king would take on August 15. The Saxon soldiers set up an ambush and wanted to kill Leszczyński.
At an opportune moment, they fired several shots at the carriage in which the king was supposed to be traveling. A chase began immediately. The assassins were unlucky. After a moment, they were intercepted by Stanisław Leszczyński’s guards. After the failed assassination, a scandal erupted in Europe. The attempt to kill a king was a disgrace and caused tremendous uproar in society.
Saxony, of course, did not admit to this crime, despite all evidence pointing to it. One of the Saxon ministers offered a reward for catching those who ordered the assassination, but it was known to be an attempt to cover up the matter and save face. Even Leszczyński was accused of staging such a performance. Ultimately, the assassins themselves confirmed they were acting on Saxony’s orders.
The Second Assassination Attempt on Leszczyński
Leszczyński had to leave the Kingdom of Zweibrücken because Charles XII lost the Great Northern War. He therefore went to France, but by then he was in a poor situation. He had lost his political and financial position, but he still bothered Augustus the Strong. Two kings and one throne – something had to be done about it.
Augustus II kept wondering how to destroy Stanisław Leszczyński. The next assassination attempt was to take place in 1724. Leszczyński smoked cigarettes, and it was decided to use this. Someone from the king’s close circle was bribed to give him a cigarette soaked in arsenic.
It turned out that it wasn’t so easy to bribe those close to Leszczyński. Ultimately, the task was not carried out, and Leszczyński escaped with his life once again.
Luck in Life and Accidental Death
Until then, Leszczyński had been very lucky, but what was to come was a great surprise. Louis XV, king of a powerful empire, married Stanisław’s daughter.
This news was devastating for Augustus II. The marriage of Leszczyński’s daughter to such a powerful ruler meant complete immunity. No further attempts were ever made to kill Stanisław. Fortune smiled upon him once again.
Leszczyński lived in good health to the age of 89 and died in 1769. As ruler of Lorraine, he was highly respected, but he never managed to regain the Polish throne. His enemy, Augustus II, lived 33 years less. Stanisław could have lived even longer if not for an accidental spark. He was standing next to a fireplace when a spark fell on his clothing, causing a fire. The king suffered serious burns and died 21 days later.
