Augustus the Strong, Electorate of Saxony

Augustus was another fascinating character from Polish History. He quite content living in his castle in Dresden.
He was quite the clothes horse, loved good food, wine, women, jewels and parties. He was a member of the Order of the Garter, The Order of the Golden Fleece, and the Order of the White Eagle, proudly wearing these sashes and medallions. In 1696 Poland was without a king, Their had always been an inter-marriage between the  German and the Polish nobility, and Augustus was one of several in the potential pool of candidates by virtue of family lineage.. The Pope offered him a deal. If he agreed to convert to Catholicism The Pope would back him. "Sure", why not ?", said  Augustus, and he was crowned.

"Now you are the father of you country's church you must attend 6 o'clock mass." Augustus was not happy with this decree . After all he had three beautiful mistresses (and a wife) and loved parties and dancing and drinking late into the evening. He came up with a solution. He had an enclosed elevated walkway build directly from his bedroom into the Cathedral that ended in a private  observation room in the church.

the wedding of the year- 1475 version

Bertlin selects a theme of the year and in 2011 the theme was the historicaL relationship between Poland and Germany. Martin Gropius Bau, one of the state museums and the International Cultural Program of the Polish EU Presidency 2011 organized a fascinating exhibition on this historical relationship.

Here is an image of Duchess Hedwig of Poland, betrothed to Duke George the Rich of Bavaria. They  (or their families) decided to throw a wedding celebration that no one would forget. The party lasted a week and everyone who was anyone was invited. Even the Emperor came and danced with the bride. here is the shopping list for the meats that were served: 323 oxen, 490 cows, 969, pigs, and 51,500 chickens and geese.