Owen Matthews Owen Matthews

Few rulers can have rejoiced in a less appropriate sobriquet than Augustus the Strong

The 17th-century Elector of Saxony was notoriously vain and incompetent, and his reckless bid for the Polish crown was disastrous for all concerned

Portrait of Augustus the Strong by Louis de Silvestre. [Bridgeman Images]
  • Comments

  • Augustus the Strong: A Study in Artistic Greatness and Political Fiasco

    Tim Blanning

    Allen Lane, pp. 448, £30

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Gavin Mortimer

Michel Barnier seems shocked by Emmanuel Macron’s mess

Gavin Mortimer
Prime Minister Michel Barnier addressed parliament on Tuesday afternoon as he outlined his government’s policy programme. The priority, explained Barnier, was to tackle France’s ‘colossal’ debt of 3.2 trillion (£2.7 trillion) euros, which has left the Republic with the ‘sword of Damocles hanging over the head of France and every French person’.  The gravity of

Because you read about biography

Also by Owen Matthews

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in