Treaty of Dresden (1699)

The Treaty of Dresden (1699) was a peace agreement signed on September 2, 1699, in Dresden, Electorate of Saxony. It marked the conclusion of an alliance between King Augustus II the Strong of Poland-Lithuania and Elector of Saxony, and King Frederick IV of Denmark-Norway, against King Charles XII of Sweden during the Great Northern War.

The treaty formalized the alliance that had been informally established earlier in the year. Its primary objective was to coordinate military actions against Sweden, particularly in Livonia. Augustus II, as King of Poland-Lithuania, aimed to regain Livonia, which had been lost to Sweden earlier in the century. Frederick IV saw an opportunity to reclaim territories lost to Sweden in earlier wars, particularly in Schleswig-Holstein.

The Treaty of Dresden committed both Poland-Lithuania and Denmark-Norway to a joint offensive against Swedish forces. However, the alliance proved to be less effective than hoped. The coalition suffered early defeats at the hands of Charles XII, and Denmark-Norway was soon forced out of the war by Swedish pressure. While Augustus II continued the struggle for a longer period, his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful in reclaiming Livonia. The Treaty of Dresden, therefore, served as a foundation for the anti-Swedish coalition, but its practical impact was limited by the subsequent course of the war.