Friedrich August I Elector of Saxony, from 1806 King of Saxony under the name Frederick Augustus I Date of Birth: 23.12.1750 Country: Germany

Biography of Friedrich August I

Friedrich August I, also known as Friedrich August III, was born on December 23, 1750, in Dresden, Saxony. He was the son of Friedrich Christian and Maria Antonia of Bavaria, the daughter of Emperor Karl VII. As a child, Friedrich August was educated by his mother away from the court life. He was known for his strong sense of justice and righteousness, earning him the nickname "Der Gerechte" (The Just) among the people.

At the age of 13, Friedrich August inherited the title of Elector of Saxony under the guardianship of his uncle, Prince Xaver of Saxony. However, due to conflicts with the Saxony nobility, his uncle had to abdicate prematurely, and Friedrich August took over the reign of the state on September 13, 1768. As the ruler, he abolished the fees imposed by his guardian, reduced the size of the army, and surrounded himself with capable advisors.

In 1769, Friedrich August married Maria Amalia Augusta, the daughter of Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken. They had only one daughter together. During his reign, Friedrich August implemented strict order in the state's economy and finances, setting an example of legality and duty. He abolished the sale of judicial positions, abolished torture, and promoted education by establishing teacher seminaries. In 1791, he called for a legislative commission, revitalized crafts and trade, and supported agriculture and animal husbandry.

In his foreign policy, Friedrich August maintained strict neutrality but showed a leaning towards Prussia, which he admired in its internal administration. He inherited his mother's rights to the Bavarian allodial inheritance in 1776 and opposed Austrian claims to Bavaria in 1778. During Friedrich the Great's formation of the "League of Princes" against Austria, Friedrich August joined the league with the condition of maintaining neutrality.

The Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791, established a hereditary monarchy with the ruler from the House of Wettin, the Electors of Saxony. During the French Revolution, despite Saxony's neutrality, Friedrich August had to provide a contingent for the war against France in 1793. These troops were withdrawn in 1796 when General Jourdan invaded Franconia and made a neutrality agreement with Friedrich August. After the defeat in the Battle of Jena, where Saxons fought against the French, Friedrich August I leaned towards peace with France. Under the Treaty of December 11, 1806, he received the title of King and joined the Rhine Confederation. Until 1813, Saxon troops fought on the side of Napoleon.

Under the Treaty of Tilsit, Saxony received Prussian territories of the Cottbus district and the Duchy of Warsaw, which was formed from Polish lands previously belonging to Prussia. However, Saxony had to make significant territorial concessions to the Kingdom of Westphalia. In 1809, Saxon troops were taken by Napoleon for the war against Austria on the Danube. After the Congress of Vienna, Austria ceded six feudal territories to Saxony. The country suffered greatly from the Continental System, which devastated the economy, particularly the cotton industry.

During the Sixth Coalition War in 1813, Friedrich August fled Dresden, hoping to maintain neutrality. However, when General Blücher defected from the French, General Thielmann defended the fortress of Torgau against them. Friedrich August's advisors, Langenau and Count von Senfft, advocated for closer ties with Austria. But when the king learned that Austria demanded his renunciation of the Duchy of Warsaw, he declined the invitation for negotiations. The Russian and Prussian forces occupied Dresden and Leipzig, but they treated Saxony leniently, hoping for a popular uprising against French rule. However, the people of Saxony still feared France, and the ruling circles had little trust in Prussia.

Through a secret convention with Austria, Friedrich August refused Napoleon's request for cavalry assistance and barred the opening of the fortress of Torgau to French troops, which halted Ney's advance on Berlin. But when Napoleon won the Battle of Lützen, Friedrich August became concerned for his crown's safety. He dismissed Senfft, replacing him with Count Einsiedel, and personally wrote a letter to Napoleon begging for forgiveness. All of Napoleon's demands regarding troops and fortresses were fulfilled, and Friedrich August no longer had control over his soldiers and country, instead being obliged to supply troops, funds, and other resources to Napoleon's army. Saxony, which became the main theater of military operations, suffered immensely from both the French and the allies, as well as from loans made by the king for Napoleon and the obligation to provide 20,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry. The Saxons who marched with Ney towards Berlin were nearly annihilated in the Battle of Dennewitz, and in return, they faced Ney's accusations of their defeat.

When Napoleon left Dresden on October 7, Friedrich August and his family followed him, more as a prisoner than an ally. In the Battle of Leipzig, Friedrich August was captured and held in Berlin. General Repnin was appointed as the governor of Saxony. At the Congress of Vienna, Friedrich August's envoy, Count Watzdorf, managed to establish contact with Talleyrand and convinced Louis XVIII to intervene in the fate of the Saxon king. France, not wanting to see Prussia strengthened and preferring a Germany divided into small states, opposed the annexation of Saxony by Prussia. Ultimately, the Congress decided on the partition of Saxony. After being released, Friedrich August moved to Pressburg, where negotiations took place. On May 21, he was supposed to sign a peace treaty with Prussia and Russia, under which Saxony ceded 367.5 square miles, with a population of 864,404, to Prussia, in addition to renouncing the Duchy of Warsaw.

On July 6, 1815, Friedrich August joined the German Confederation, aiming to heal the wounds of his state. His chief minister, Count Einsiedel, played a significant role in this endeavor. However, there was a political stagnation dominating the country's political life. The king was reluctant to implement a complete transformation of the feudal representation and only partially expanded the powers of the Landtag in 1820. The development of industry was greatly hindered by the long-standing restrictions. Friedrich August elevated the University of Leipzig, established medical and military academies in Dresden, and a forestry academy in Tharandt. The beautiful park in Pillnitz reflects Friedrich August's love for botany.