The eighteenth century War of the Polish Succession is a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widen n pursuit of their own national interests.

France and Spain, the two Bourbon powers, attempt to check the power of the Austrian Habsburgs in western Europe, as do the Kingdom of Prussia; while in the East, Saxony and Russia mobilize to support the eventual Polish victor.

The slight amount of fighting in Poland results in the accession of Augustus III, who in addition to Russia and Saxony, is politically supported by the Habsburgs.The war's major military campaigns occur outside Poland.

The Bourbons, supported by Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia, move against isolated Habsburg territories.

In the Rhineland, France successfully takes the Duchy of Lorraine, and in Italy, Spain regains control over the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily (lost in the War of the Spanish Succession), while territorial gains in northern Italy are limited despite bloody campaigning.

Great Britain's unwillingness to support Habsburg Austria demonstrates major cracks in the Anglo-Austrian Alliance and may contribute to Austria's military failures.

Although a preliminary peace is reached in 1735, the war is formally ended with the Treaty of Vienna (1738) in which Augustus III is confirmed as king of Poland and his opponent Stanisław Leszczyński (who had received virtually no foreign military support) is awarded the Duchy of Lorraine.

Francis Stephen, the duke of Lorraine, is given the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in compensation for the loss of Lorraine.

The Duchy of Parma goes to Austria, whereas Charles of Parma takes the crowns of Naples and Sicily, resulting in territorial gains for the Bourbons.

Poland also gives up claims to Livonia and direct control over the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, which, although remaining a Polish fief, is not integrated into Poland proper, and comes under strong Russian influence.