Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...

was ruled at various times either by

duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, t ...

s and

prince A prince is a Monarch, male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary title, hereditary, in s ...

s (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16th to 18th centuries). The first known Polish ruler is Duke Mieszko I, who

adopted Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from ...

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesu ...

under the authority of Rome in the year 966. He was succeeded by his son,

Bolesław I the Brave Bolesław I the Brave ; cs, Boleslav Chrabrý; la, Boleslaus I rex Poloniae (17 June 1025), less often known as Bolesław the Great, was Duke of Poland from 992 to 1025, and the first King of Poland in 1025. He was also Duke of Bohemia bet ...

, who greatly expanded the boundaries of the Polish state and ruled as the first king in 1025. The following centuries gave rise to the mighty

Piast dynasty The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 930–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir III the Great. Branc ...

, consisting of both kings such as

Mieszko II Lambert Mieszko II Lambert (; c. 990 – 10/11 May 1034) was King of Poland from 1025 to 1031, and Duke from 1032 until his death. He was the second son of Bolesław I the Brave, but the eldest born from his third wife Emnilda of Lusatia. He was prob ...

Przemysł II Przemysł II ( also given in English and Latin as ''Premyslas'' or ''Premislaus'' or in Polish as '; 14 October 1257 – 8 February 1296) was the Duke of Poznań from 1257–1279, of Greater Poland from 1279 to 1296, of Kraków from 1290 to 1291 ...

Władysław I the Elbow-high Władysław is a Polish given male name, cognate with Vladislav. The feminine form is Władysława, archaic forms are Włodzisław (male) and Włodzisława (female), and Wladislaw is a variation. These names may refer to: Famous people Mononym *W ...

and dukes like

Bolesław III Wrymouth Bolesław III Wrymouth ( pl, Bolesław III Krzywousty; 20 August 1086 – 28 October 1138), also known as Boleslaus the Wry-mouthed, was the duke of Lesser Poland, Silesia and Sandomierz between 1102 and 1107 and over the whole of Poland betwee ...

. The dynasty ceased to exist with the death of

Casimir III the Great Casimir III the Great ( pl, Kazimierz III Wielki; 30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370) reigned as the King of Poland from 1333 to 1370. He also later became King of Ruthenia in 1340, and fought to retain the title in the Galicia-Volhynia Wars. He w ...

in 1370. In the same year, the

Capetian House of Anjou The Capetian House of Anjou or House of Anjou-Sicily, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct French House of Capet, part of the Capetian dynasty. It is one of three separate royal houses referred to as ''Angevin'', meaning "from Anjou" ...

became the ruling house with

Louis I Louis I may refer to: * Louis the Pious, Louis I of France, "the Pious" (778–840), king of France and Holy Roman Emperor * Louis I, Landgrave of Thuringia (ruled 1123–1140) * Ludwig I, Count of Württemberg (c. 1098–1158) * Louis I of Bloi ...

as king of both Poland and

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croa ...

. His daughter, Jadwiga, later married Jogaila, the pagan

Grand Duke of Lithuania The monarchy of Lithuania concerned the monarchical head of state of Kingdom of Lithuania, Lithuania, which was established as an Absolute monarchy, absolute and hereditary monarchy. Throughout Lithuania's history there were three Duke, ducal D ...

, who in 1386 was baptized and crowned as

Władysław II Jagiełło Jogaila (; 1 June 1434), later Władysław II Jagiełło ()He is known under a number of names: lt, Jogaila Algirdaitis; pl, Władysław II Jagiełło; be, Jahajła (Ягайла). See also: Names and titles of Władysław II Jagiełło. ...

, thus creating the

Jagiellonian dynasty The Jagiellonian dynasty (, pl, dynastia jagiellońska), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty ( pl, dynastia Jagiellonów), the House of Jagiellon ( pl, Dom Jagiellonów), or simply the Jagiellons ( pl, Jagiellonowie), was the name assumed by a cad ...

and a personal union between Poland and Lithuania. During the reign of

Casimir IV Jagiellon Casimir IV (in full Casimir IV Andrew Jagiellon; pl, Kazimierz IV Andrzej Jagiellończyk ; Lithuanian: ; 30 November 1427 – 7 June 1492) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440 and King of Poland from 1447, until his death. He was one of the m ...

and

Sigismund I the Old Sigismund I the Old ( pl, Zygmunt I Stary, lt, Žygimantas II Senasis; 1 January 1467 – 1 April 1548) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1506 until his death in 1548. Sigismund I was a member of the Jagiellonian dynasty, the ...

, culture flourished and cities developed. This era of progress, also known as the Polish Renaissance, continued until the

Union of Lublin The Union of Lublin ( pl, Unia lubelska; lt, Liublino unija) was signed on 1 July 1569 in Lublin, Poland, and created a single state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest countries in Europe at the time. It replaced the per ...

under

Sigismund II Augustus Sigismund II Augustus ( pl, Zygmunt II August, lt, Žygimantas Augustas; 1 August 1520 – 7 July 1572) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548. He was the first rule ...

, which unofficially marked the end of the

Polish Golden Age The Polish Golden Age was the Renaissance period in Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, roughly corresponding to the period of rule of the King Sigismund I the Old and his son, Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellonian Dynasty monar ...

. After the death of the last Jagiellonian king, the united

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ...

became an

elective monarchy An elective monarchy is a monarchy ruled by an elected monarch, in contrast to a hereditary monarchy in which the office is automatically passed down as a family inheritance. The manner of election, the nature of candidate qualifications, and t ...

with mostly foreigners elected as monarchs such as

Henry III of France Henry III (french: Henri III, né Alexandre Édouard; pl, Henryk Walezy; lt, Henrikas Valua; 19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589) was King of France from 1574 until his assassination in 1589, as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke o ...

, who witnessed the introduction of the

Golden Liberty Golden Liberty ( la, Aurea Libertas; pl, Złota Wolność, lt, Auksinė laisvė), sometimes referred to as Golden Freedoms, Nobles' Democracy or Nobles' Commonwealth ( pl, Rzeczpospolita Szlachecka or ''Złota wolność szlachecka'') was a poli ...

system and

Stephen Báthory Stephen Báthory ( hu, Báthory István; pl, Stefan Batory; ; 27 September 1533 – 12 December 1586) was Voivode of Transylvania (1571–1576), Prince of Transylvania (1576–1586), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1576–1 ...

, a capable military commander who strengthened the nation. The meaningful rule of the

Vasa dynasty The House of Vasa or Wasa Georg Starbäck in ''Berättelser ur Sweriges Medeltid, Tredje Bandet'' pp 264, 275, 278, 291–296 & 321 ( sv, Vasaätten, pl, Wazowie, lt, Vazos) was an early modern royal house founded in 1523 in Sweden. Its memb ...

initially expanded the Commonwealth as the arts and crafts developed, as well as trade and commerce. King

Sigismund III Vasa Sigismund III Vasa ( pl, Zygmunt III Waza, lt, Žygimantas Vaza; 20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632 Adoption of the Gregorian calendar, N.S.) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632 and, as Sigismund, King of Sweden and ...

, a talented but somewhat despotic ruler, involved the country in many wars, which subsequently resulted in the successful capture of

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

and the loss of

Livonia Livonia ( liv, Līvõmō, et, Liivimaa, fi, Liivinmaa, German and Scandinavian languages: ', archaic German: ''Liefland'', nl, Lijfland, Latvian and lt, Livonija, pl, Inflanty, archaic English: ''Livland'', ''Liwlandia''; russian: Ли ...

to Sweden. His son,

Władysław IV Vasa Władysław IV Vasa; lt, Vladislovas Vaza; sv, Vladislav IV av Polen; rus, Владислав IV Ваза, r=Vladislav IV Vaza; la, Ladislaus IV Vasa or Ladislaus IV of Poland (9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648) was King of Poland, Grand Duke of ...

, fiercely defended the Commonwealth's borders and continued the policy of his father until his death, unlike

John II Casimir John II Casimir ( pl, Jan II Kazimierz Waza; lt, Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 until his abdication in 1668 as well as titular King of Sweden from 1648 ...

whose tragic rule resulted in his

abdication Abdication is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the succession procedures of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of duty, in other societ ...

. The election of

John III Sobieski John III Sobieski ( pl, Jan III Sobieski; lt, Jonas III Sobieskis; la, Ioannes III Sobiscius; 17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1674 until his death in 1696. Born into Polish nobility, Sobie ...

to the Polish throne proved to be beneficial for the Commonwealth. A brilliant military tactician, John III led the coalition forces to victory at Vienna in 1683 and he partially recaptured land from the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

. However, the years that followed were not as successful. The long and ineffective rule of the

Wettin dynasty The House of Wettin () is a dynasty of German kings, prince-electors, dukes, and counts that once ruled territories in the present-day German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The dynasty is one of the oldest in Europe, and its orig ...

( Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III) placed the Commonwealth under the influence of

Saxony Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...

and the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...

. Additional feuds with rebel nobility (

szlachta The ''szlachta'' (Polish: endonym, Lithuanian: šlėkta) were the noble estate of the realm in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth who, as a class, had the dominating position in ...

) and most notably

Stanislaus I Leszczyński Stanislav and variants may refer to: People *Stanislav (given name), a Slavic given name with many spelling variations (Stanislaus, Stanislas, Stanisław, etc.) Places * Stanislav, a coastal village in Kherson, Ukraine * Stanislaus County, Cali ...

and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

diminished the influence of Poland-Lithuania in the region, which led to the partitions that occurred under King Stanislaus II Augustus, yet another

enlightened Enlightened may refer to: * ''Enlightened'' (TV series), an American comedy-drama * ''Enlightened'' (album), 2007, by Dynamic Duo * The Enlightened, a faction in ''Ingress'' (video game) See also * Enlightened self-interest, a philosophy in et ...

, but ineffective monarch. The last true sovereign of Poland was Frederick Augustus I as Duke of Warsaw, who throughout his political career attempted to rehabilitate the Polish state. Following the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

, many sovereigns claimed the title of Polish king, duke or ruler, notably German, Russian and Austrian emperors. The

monarchy A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutional monarchy ...

was abolished and a parliamentary republican authority was established when Poland was re-constituted as a sovereign state in 1918.

Legendary

Most of the legendary Polish rulers appear for the first time in chronicles from the 13th century and their existence has not been determined. , - , , Chronica Polonorum, Lech

, Unknown , Unknown , Unknown , Legendary founder of the Polish nation according to folktales, tribal leader ,

Lechites Lechites (, german: Lechiten), also known as the Lechitic tribes (, german: Lechitische Stämme), is a name given to certain West Slavs, West Slavic tribes who inhabited modern-day Poland and eastern Germany, and were speakers of the Lechitic lang ...

(Tribe) , - ,
also Krak or Grakch
, Chronica Polonorum I 5

, , Unknown , , Legendary founder of

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 159 ...

(Tribe) , - ,
, Monarch-emp

,
Son of Krakus I , Unknown , , Succession ,

(Tribe) , - ,

, Lech II

,
Son of Krakus I, brother of Krakus II , Unknown , , Succession ,

(Tribe) , - ,
also Wąda
, Chronica Polonorum Vanda

,
Daughter of Krakus, sister of Krakus II and Lech II , Unknown , , Succession ,

(Tribe) , - , Duke

also Leszek

, LestekPrim1581

,

, Unknown ,

, Birth name Przemysław, defeated the Hungarians and was crowned

Elected ,

Goplans The Goplans or Goplanes ( la, Glopeani, pl, Goplanie) was an early West Slavic tribe that inhabited the central parts of the Kujawy region, with their probable seat at Kruszwica. They might have been named after the Lake Gopło; Kmietowicz believ ...

and Polans (Tribes) , - , Duke

, LestekBis1581

,
Presumed son of

Leszko I Przemysław (Premislaus), after coronation Leszko I (Lesko, la, Lescus), was a legendary ruler of Poland, a goldsmith by trade and soldier who strategically defeated the Hungarians and thus was crowned. He was mentioned by bishop Wincenty Kadłu ...

, Alleged progenitor of the

Popielids The Popielids ( pl, Popielidzi) were a legendary ruling dynasty of either the Polans, Goplans or both tribes, founded by Leszko II. They supposedly ruled the lands of Poland prior to the start of the Piast dynasty. Two Polish families claim descent ...

dynasty , Unknown , , Succession ,

, - , Duke

, LestekTri1581

,
Presumed son of

Leszko II Leszko II (''Leszek, Lestek, Lestko'') was a legendary ruler of Poland, firstly mentioned by Wincenty Kadłubek in the ''Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae''. Alleged progenitor of the Popielids The Popielids ( pl, Popielidzi) wer ...

, Unknown , , Succession ,

, - , Duke

, Chronica Polonorum, Pompilius I

,
Presumed son of Leszko III , Unknown , , Succession ,

, - , Duke

, PopielBis1581

,
Presumed son of Popiel I , NN, A German Princess , , A legendary ruler dethroned by Piast. He appears (without the number) in the oldest Polish chronicle, '' Gesta principum Polonorum'' from the early 12th century

Succession ,

, - ,
, Piast

,
Son of Chościsko , Rzepicha , , Legendary founder of the Piast dynasty. He appears in the oldest Polish chronicle, '' Gesta principum Polonorum'' from the early 12th century , Piast

Semi-legendary

The three direct predecessors of Mieszko I are known only from the account of

Gallus Anonymus ''Gallus Anonymus'' ( Polonized variant: ''Gall '') is the name traditionally given to the anonymous author of '' Gesta principum Polonorum'' (Deeds of the Princes of the Poles), composed in Latin between 1112 and 1118. ''Gallus'' is generally reg ...

, who wrote the oldest Polish chronicle, '' Gesta principum Polonorum'' at the beginning of the 12th century. Though their historicity was once debatable, now historians tend to consider them actually existing rulers. , - , Duke

also Ziemowit

9th century , Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski, Ziemowit

, 9th century
Presumed son of Piast the Wheelwright
and Rzepicha , Unknown , 9th century , Named the

Duke of the Polans Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16t ...

after his father, Piast the Wheelwright, refused to take the place of legendary Duke

Popiel Prince Popiel ІІ (or Duke Popiel) was a legendary 9th-century ruler of two proto- Polish tribes, the Goplans and West Polans. He was the last member of the Popielids, a mythical dynasty before the Piasts. According to the chroniclers Gallus ...

Elected , Piast , , - , Duke

also Leszek or Lestko
9th century

10th century , Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski, Leszek s

, 880
Presumed son of

Siemowit Siemowit (Polish pronunciation: �ɛˈmɔvit also Ziemowit �ɛˈmɔvit was, according to the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, the son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha. He is considered to be the first ruler of the Piast dynasty.K. Jasiński ...

, Unknown , 950 , Named the

after succeeding his father

Succession , Piast , , - , Duke

also Ziemomysł
Latin: Zemomislaus
10th century

/960 , Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski, Ziemomysl

,
Presumed son of Lestek , Unknown , 960 , Named the

after succeeding his father

Succession , Piast ,

House of Piast

, - , Duke
Mieszko I
Latin: ''Misico, dux Wandalorum''
960

25 May 992
''( years)'' , Mieszko1

Son of semi-legendary Siemomysł ,

Doubravka of Bohemia Doubravka of Bohemia, Dobrawa ( cs, Doubravka Přemyslovna, pl, Dobrawa, Dąbrówka; ca. 940/45 – 977) was a Bohemian princess of the Přemyslid dynasty and by marriage Duchess of the Polans. She was the daughter of Boleslaus I the Cruel, ...

2 children

Oda of Haldensleben Oda of Haldensleben (c. 955/60 – 1023) was Duchess of the Polans by marriage to Mieszko I of Poland. Life Oda was the eldest child of Dietrich of Haldensleben, Margrave of the North March. She grew up in the monastery of Kalbe, near to Milde ...

3 children , 25 May 992

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint Joh ...

Aged about 62 , First Christian ruler of Poland

Succession , Piast , - , King

also Boleslaus I the Great
pl, Bolesław I Chrobry (Wielki)
9921025 (as duke)

18 April 102517 June 1025 (as king)
''( years)'' , Bolek

Son of Mieszko I and

, Hunilda, daughter of Rikdag

Judith of Hungary

Emnilda of Lusatia

Oda of Meissen , 17 June 1025

Aged about 58 , First crowned king

Succession , Piast , - , King

25 December 10251031
''( years)'' , Matylda wrecza mieszkowi II ksiege liturgiczna

Son of

and Emnilda of Lusatia , Richeza of Lotharingia, 4 children , 10/11 May 1034

Aged about 44 , Crowned king

Succession

Deposed as a result of the Pagan Rebellion , Piast , - , Duke

Bezprym Bezprym ( hu, Veszprém; 986–1032) was the duke of Poland from 1031 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Bolesław the Brave, but was deprived of the succession by his father, who around 1001 sent him to Italy in order to become a m ...

10311032 ''( years)'' , Bezprym

Son of Bolesław I the Brave and Judith of Hungary , Unknown ,
Aged about 46 , Country divided, ruler of a Duchy

Usurped , Piast , - , Duke
Otto
10321033 ''( years)'' , Monarch-emp

Son of Bolesław I the Brave and Emnilda of Lusatia , Unknown ,
Aged about 33 , Country divided, ruler of a Duchy

Usurped , Piast , - , Duke
Dytryk
also Dietrich and Theoderick
10321033 ''( years)'' , Monarch-emp

Son of

Lambert Mieszkowic Lambert Mieszkowic (c. 981 – after 992/95), was a Polish prince of the House of Piast. He was the fourth son of Mieszko I of Poland, the third born from his second marriage with Oda, daughter of Dietrich of Haldensleben, Margrave of the Nort ...

or Mieszko Mieszkowic , Unknown ,
Aged about 41 , Country divided, ruler of a Duchy

Usurped , Piast , - , Duke
Mieszko II Lambert
10331034
''( years)'' , Matylda wrecza mieszkowi II ksiege liturgiczna

Son of

and Emnilda of Lusatia , Richeza of Lotharingia, 4 children , 10/11 May 1034

Aged about 44 , Restored as duke , Piast , - , Duke

Bolesław the Forgotten Bolesław the Forgotten () or the Cruel (; before 1016 – 1038/39) was a semi-legendary King of Poland of the Piast dynasty from 1034 until his death in 1038 or 1039. He was allegedly the first-born son of Mieszko II Lambert. Sources which me ...

pl, Bolesław Zapomniany
10341038/1039
''( years)'' , Monarch-emp

, before 1016

Presumed son of

, Unknown , 1038/1039 , Semi-legendary, existence disputed , Piast , - , Duke

Casimir I the Restorer Casimir I the Restorer (; 25 July 1016 – 28 November 1058), a member of the Piast dynasty, was the duke of Poland from 1040 until his death. Casimir was the son of Mieszko II Lambert and Richeza of Lotharingia. He is known as the Restorer bec ...

pl, Kazimierz I Odnowiciel
1034/10401058
''( years)'' , Casimir I the Restorer

, 25 July 1016

Son of

and Richeza of Lotharingia , Maria Dobroniega, 5 children , 19 March 1058

Aged 41 , Made prince in 1034, returned from abroad in 1040

Restoration , Piast , - , King
Bolesław II the Generous
pl, Bolesław II Szczodry (Śmiały)
10581076 (as duke)
26 December 10761079 (as king)
''( years)'' , Bolesław II Śmiały by Aleksander Lesser

, 1042

Son of

and Maria Dobroniega , Wyszesława, 1 son , 2/3 April 1081

Ossiach Ossiach ( sl, Osoje) is a municipality in the Feldkirchen District in the Austrian state of Carinthia. The small settlement is mainly known for Ossiach Abbey. Geography It is located at the southern shore of Lake Ossiach, on the slope of the small ...

Aged about 39 , Crowned king in 1076

Deposed and exiled in 1079 after slaying Saint Stanislaus , Piast , - , Duke

Władysław I Herman Władysław I Herman ( 1044 – 4 June 1102) was the duke of Poland from 1079 until his death. Accession Władysław was the second son of the Polish duke Casimir the Restorer and Maria Dobroniega of Kiev. As the second son, Władysław was no ...

10794 June 1102
''( years)'' , Władysław I Herman by Aleksander Lesser

, 1044

Son of

and Maria Dobroniega , Przecława

Judith of Bohemia Judith of Bohemia (c. 1056/58 – 25 December 1086), also known as Judith Přemyslid, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty and duchess of Poland by marriage. She was a daughter of Duke Vratislaus II of Bohemia and Adelaide of Hungary, and was ...

Judith of Swabia Judith of Swabia ( hu, Sváb Judit, pl, Judyta Szwabska, Judyta Salicka; Summer 1054 – 14 March ca. 1105?), a member of the Salian dynasty, was the youngest daughter of Emperor Henry III from his second marriage with Agnes of Poitou. By her tw ...

, 24 June 1102

Płock Płock (pronounced ) is a city in central Poland, on the Vistula river, in the Masovian Voivodeship. According to the data provided by GUS on 31 December 2021, there were 116,962 inhabitants in the city. Its full ceremonial name, according to th ...

Aged about 58 , Succeeded brother after his exile , Piast , - , Duke

Zbigniew Zbigniew () is a Polish masculine given name, originally Zbygniew . This West Slavic name is derived from the Polish elements ''Zby-'' (from ''zbyć, zbyć się, or pozbyć się'', meaning "to dispel", "to get rid of") and ''gniew'', meaning "an ...

11021107
''( years)'' , Zbigniew

Son of

and Przecława (?) , Unknown , 8 July 1113
Aged about 40 , Succession , Piast , - , Duke

also Boleslaus III
pl, Bolesław III Krzywousty
11071138
''( years)'' , Boleslav III of Poland

, 20 August 1086

Son of

and

, Zbyslava of Kiev

Salomea of Berg Salomea of Berg (german: Salome von Berg, pl, Salomea z Bergu; – 27 July 1144) was a German noblewoman and, by marriage with Prince Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1115, High Duchess of Poland until her husband's death in 1138. Life Salomea was th ...

, 28 October 1138

Sochaczew Sochaczew () is a town in central Poland, with 38,300 inhabitants (2004). In the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), formerly in Skierniewice Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Sochaczew County. Sochaczew has a narrow-gauge railway m ...

Aged 52 , Succession

His death led to the

fragmentation of Poland The period of rule by the Piast dynasty between the 10th and 14th centuries is the first major stage of the history of the Polish state. The dynasty was founded by a series of dukes listed by the chronicler Gall Anonymous in the early 12th cent ...

, Piast

Fragmentation of Poland (1138–1320)

, - , High Duke

Władysław II the Exile : ''This article refers to the 12th century Polish monarch. For the 14th century founder of the Jagiellon dynasty, see Jogaila, and for other monarchs with similar names, see Ladislaus II (disambiguation).'' Vladislaus II the Exile ( pl, Władys� ...

pl, Władysław II Wygnaniec
11381146
''( years)'' , Władysław II Wygnaniec by Aleksander Lesser

, 1105

Son of

and Zbyslava of Kiev , Agnes of Babenberg, 5 children , 30 May 1159
Altenburg
Aged 54 , Succession

Deposed and exiled , Piast , - , High Duke

Bolesław IV the Curly Bolesław IV the Curly (; 1122 – 5 January 1173), a member of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Masovia from 1138 and High Duke of Poland from 1146 until his death. Early life Bolesław was the third son of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland ...

pl, Bolesław IV Kędzierzawy
11461173
''( years)'' , Bolesław IV Kędzierzawy by Aleksander Lesser

Son of

and

, Viacheslava of Novgorod, 3 children , 5 January 1173
Aged about 51 , Succeeded exiled half-brother , Piast , - , High Duke

Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old (c. 1126/27 – 13 March 1202), of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death. He was the fourth and second surviving son of Duke Bolesław ...

pl, Mieszko III Stary
11731177
''( years)'' , Mieszko stary

Son of

and

, Elisabeth of Hungary

Eudoxia of Kiev Eudoxia Iziaslavna of Kiev (russian: Евдокия Изяславна, pl, Eudoksja Izjasławówna, italic=no; c. 1131 – c. 1187), was a Kievan Rus' princess member of the Rurikid dynasty and by marriage Greater Poland, Duchess of Greater Pola ...

, 13 March 1202

Kalisz (The oldest city of Poland) , image_skyline = , image_caption = ''Top:'' Town Hall, Former "Calisia" Piano Factory''Middle:'' Courthouse, "Gołębnik" tenement''Bottom:'' Aerial view of the Kalisz Old Town , image_flag = POL Kalisz flag.svg ...

Aged about 75 , Succession

Deposed by brother in 1177 , Piast , - , High Duke
Casimir II the Just
pl, Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy
11771190
''( years)'' , Casimir II of Poland

Son of

and

Helen of Znojmo Helena of Znojmo ( cs, Helena Znojemská; pl, Helena znojemska; c. 1141–1202/1206), was a Bohemian princess, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty. She was the daughter of Duke Conrad II of Znojmo and his Serbian wife Maria of Rascia (daughter of ...

, 7 children , 5 May 1194

Aged about 56 , Usurped power from brother , Piast , - , Mieszko III the Old
11901190 , Mieszko stary

, – , – , – , Usurped , Piast , - , Casimir II the Just
11901194 , Casimir II of Poland

, – , – , – , Usurped , Piast , - , High Duke
Leszek I the White
pl, Leszek Biały
11941198
''( years)'' , Jan Matejko, Leszek Biały

, /1185

Son of Casimir II the Just and

, Grzymisława of Luck, 2 children , 24 November 1227
Marcinkowo Górne
Aged about 43 , Succession , Piast , - , Mieszko III the Old
11981199 , Mieszko stary

, – , – , – , Usurped , Piast , - , Leszek I the White
11991199 , Jan Matejko, Leszek Biały

, – , – , – , Restored , Piast , - , Mieszko III the Old
11991202 , Mieszko stary

, – , – , – , Usurped , Piast , - , High Duke
Władysław III Spindleshanks
pl, Władysław III Laskonogi
12021206
''( years)'' , Jan Matejko, Władysław Laskonogi

Son of

and

Lucia of Rügen Lucia of Rügen (died 12 February between 1208 and 1231), was the daughter of Jaromar I, Prince of Rügen and his wife Hildegard, daughter of Canute V of Denmark and Helena of Sweden. In 1186, Lucia married Władysław III Spindleshanks, you ...

, 2 children , 3 November 1231
Aged about 64 , Usurped , Piast , - , Leszek I the White
12061210 , Jan Matejko, Leszek Biały

, – , – , – , Restored , Piast , - , High Duke
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot
pl, Mieszko IV Plątonogi
12101211
''( years)'' ,

Son of

and Agnes of Babenberg , Ludmila, 5 children , 16 May 1211
Aged about 81 , Usurped , Piast , - , Leszek I the White
12111227
''( years)'' , Jan Matejko, Leszek Biały

, – , – , – , Restored

Murdered in 1227 , Piast , - , Władysław III Spindleshanks
12271229 , Jan Matejko, Władysław Laskonogi

, – , – , – , Usurped , Piast , - , High Duke

Konrad I of Masovia Konrad I of Masovia (ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 1247), from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia and Kuyavia from 1194 until his death as well as High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232 and again from 1241 to 1243. Life Konrad w ...

12291232
''( years)'' , Konrad I Mazowiecki

, /1188

Son of Casimir II the Just and

Agafia of Rus Agafia Svyatoslavna of Rus (between 1190 and 1195 – after 31 August 1247/2 June 1248) was Princess of Masovia by her marriage and was a member of the Rurikid dynasty. Life Agafia was the daughter of Svyatoslav III Igorevich and his wife Yarosl ...

, 10 children , 31 August 1247
Aged about 60 , Usurped , Piast , - , High Duke
Henry I the Bearded
pl, Henryk I Brodaty
12321238
''( years)'' , Jan Matejko, Henryk I Brodaty

, /1188

Głogów Głogów (; german: Glogau, links=no, rarely , cs, Hlohov, szl, Głogōw) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), and was previously in Legnica Voivodeship (1975–1998 ...

Son of Bolesław I the Tall and Christina (?) ,

Hedwig of Andechs Hedwig of Silesia ( pl, Święta Jadwiga Śląska), also Hedwig of Andechs (german: Heilige Hedwig von Andechs, la, Hedvigis; 1174 – 15 October 1243), a member of the Bavarian comital House of Andechs, was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and o ...

, 7 children , 19 March 1238
Krosno Odrzańskie
Aged about 73 , Usurped , Piast , - , High Duke

Henry II the Pious Henry II the Pious ( pl, Henryk II Pobożny; 1196 – 9 April 1241) was Duke of Silesia and High Duke of Poland as well as Duke of South-Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. Between 1238 and 1239 he also served as regent of Sandomierz a ...

pl, Henryk II Pobożny
12381241
''( years)'' , Henryk II Pobożny (Hedwig Codex)

Son of Henry the Bearded and

Anne of Bohemia Anne of Bohemia (11 May 1366 – 7 June 1394), also known as Anne of Luxembourg, was Queen of England as the first wife of King Richard II. A member of the House of Luxembourg, she was the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and ...

, 10 children , 9 April 1241

Legnickie Pole Legnickie Pole (in 1945–1948 ''Dobre Pole'', german: Wahlstatt) is a village in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district ( gmina) called Gmina Legnickie Pole. It lies ...

Aged about 45 , Succession

Killed at the

Battle of Legnica The Battle of Legnica ( pl, bitwa pod Legnicą), also known as the Battle of Liegnitz (german: Schlacht von Liegnitz) or Battle of Wahlstatt (german: Schlacht bei Wahlstatt), was a battle between the Mongol Empire and combined European forces t ...

, Piast , - , High Duke
Bolesław II the Horned
pl, Bolesław II Rogatka
12411241 , Monarch-emp

, /1225

Son of

and

, Hedwig of Anhalt, 7 children
Euphemia of Pomerania
Sophia of Dyhrn , 26 December 1278

Legnica Legnica (Polish: ; german: Liegnitz, szl, Lignica, cz, Lehnice, la, Lignitium) is a city in southwestern Poland, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the Kaczawa River (left tributary of the Oder) and the Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 19 ...

, Succession

Deposed , Piast , - , High Duke

12411243
''( years)'' , Konrad I Mazowiecki

, /1188

Son of Casimir II the Just and

, 10 children , 31 August 1247
Aged about 60 , Usurped , Piast , - , High Duke
Bolesław V the Chaste
pl, Bolesław V Wstydliwy
12431279
''( years)'' , Jan Matejko, Bolesław Wstydliwy

, 21 June 1226
Stary Korczyn

Son of Leszek I the White and Grzymisława of Luck , Kinga of Poland, no children , 7 December 1279

Aged 52 , Restored as rightful Duke , Piast , - , High Duke
Leszek II the Black
pl, Leszek Czarny
12791288
''( years)'' , Leszek Czarny by Aleksander Lesser

,
Brześć Kujawski

Son of Casimir I of Kuyavia and Constance of Wrocław , Gryfina of Halych , 30 September 1288

Aged about 47 , Succession , Piast , - , High Duke
Henryk IV Probus
English: ''Henry the Righteous''
pl, Henryk IV Prawy
12881290
''( years)'' , Henryk IV Probus by Aleksander Lesser

, /1258

Son of

Henry III the White Henry III the White ( pl, Henryk III Biały) ( – 3 December 1266), a member of the Silesian Piasts, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1248 until his death, as co-ruler with his brother Władysław. Life He was the third son of the Polish hig ...

and Judith of Masovia , Constance of Opole

Matilda of Brandenburg , 23 June 1290

Wrocław Wrocław (; , . german: Breslau, , also known by other names) is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, roughly ...

Aged about 32 , Succession , Piast

Attempt at restoration (1295–1296)

, - , King

English: Premislaus II
12901291 (as duke)

12951296 (as king)
''(1 year)'' , Jan Matejko, Przemysł II

, 14 October 1257

Son of Przemysł I of Greater Poland and Elisabeth of Wrocław , Ludgarda of Mecklenburg

Richeza of Sweden

Margaret of Brandenburg , 8 February 1296
Rogoźno
Aged 38 , Crowned king in 1295

Granted Poland its coat of arms

Assassinated , Piast

House of Přemyslid

, - , King

Wenceslaus II of Bohemia Wenceslaus II Přemyslid ( cs, Václav II.; pl, Wacław II Czeski; 27 SeptemberK. Charvátová, ''Václav II. Král český a polský'', Prague 2007, p. 18. 1271 – 21 June 1305) was King of Bohemia (1278–1305), Duke of Cracow (1291–1 ...

pl, Wacław II Czeski
12961300 (as High Duke)

13001305 (as King)
''( years)'' , Vaclav2 trun

, 27 September 1271

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

Son of

Ottokar II of Bohemia Ottokar II ( cs, Přemysl Otakar II.; , in Městec Králové, Bohemia – 26 August 1278, in Dürnkrut, Lower Austria), the Iron and Golden King, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1253 until his d ...

and Kunigunda of Slavonia , Judith of Habsburg

Elisabeth Richeza of Poland , 21 June 1305

Aged 33 , Crowned himself King of Poland in 1300 , Přemyslid , - , ''(Uncrowned)''

Wenceslaus III of Bohemia Wenceslaus III ( cz, Václav III., hu, Vencel, pl, Wacław, hr, Vjenceslav, sk, Václav; 6 October 12894 August 1306) was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1301 and 1305, and King of Bohemia and Poland from 1305. He was the son of Wencesla ...

pl, Wacław III Czeski
13051306
''(1 year)'' , Vaclav3 pecet

, 6 October 1289

Son of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Habsburg , Viola of Teschen , 4 August 1306

Olomouc Olomouc (, , ; german: Olmütz; pl, Ołomuniec ; la, Olomucium or ''Iuliomontium'') is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 99,000 inhabitants, and its larger urban zone has a population of about 384,000 inhabitants (2019). Located on th ...

Aged 16 , Succession

Uncrowned and assassinated , Přemyslid

House of Piast (restored)

, - , King
Ladislaus the Short
pl, Władysław I Łokietek
13061320
(as High Duke)

20 January 1320

2 March 1333
(as King)
''()'' , Władysław Łokietek

Son of Casimir I of Kuyavia and Euphrosyne of Opole , Jadwiga of Kalisz, 6 children , 2 March 1333

Aged about 73 , Reunited the

Kingdom of Poland The Kingdom of Poland ( pl, Królestwo Polskie; Latin: ''Regnum Poloniae'') was a state in Central Europe. It may refer to: Historical political entities * Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom existing from 1025 to 1031 * Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom exi ...

after fragmentation

Crowned King in 1320 , Piast , - , King

pl, Kazimierz III Wielki
25 April 1333

5 November 1370
''()'' , Kazimierz III sarcophagus figure

, 30 April 1310
Kowal

Son of

and Jadwiga of Kalisz ,

Aldona of Lithuania Aldona (baptized ''Ona'' or ''Anna''; her pagan name, Aldona, is known only from the writings of Maciej Stryjkowski; – 26 May 1339) was Queen consort of Poland (1333–1339), and a princess of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. She was the daught ...

Adelaide of Hesse

Christina Rokiczana

Hedwig of Sagan Hedwig of Sagan ( pl, Jadwiga żagańska; before 1350 – 27 March 1390) was Queen of Poland as the fourth wife of Casimir III. Casimir's lack of male heir spelled the end of the Piast Dynasty in the Kingdom of Poland. After Casimir's death in 1 ...

, 5 November 1370

Aged 60 , Succession

Strengthened Poland's position in Europe

Died without a male heir

Last monarch from the Piast Dynasty , Piast

House of Anjou

, - , King
Louis
pl, Ludwik Węgierski
17 November 1370

10 September 1382
''()'' , Louis I (Chronica Hungarorum)

Coa Hungary Country History Lajos I (1370)

, 5 March 1326

Visegrád Visegrád (; german: Plintenburg; la, Pone Navata or ; sk, Vyšehrad) is a castle town in Pest County, Hungary. It is north of Budapest on the right bank of the Danube in the Danube Bend. It had a population of 1,864 in 2010. The town is the ...

Son of

Charles I of Hungary Charles I, also known as Charles Robert ( hu, Károly Róbert; hr, Karlo Robert; sk, Karol Róbert; 128816 July 1342) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1308 to his death. He was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou and the only son of ...

and Elizabeth of Poland , Margaret of Bohemia

Elizabeth of Bosnia Elizabeth of Bosnia ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=/, Elizabeta Kotromanić, Елизабета Котроманић; hu, Kotromanics Erzsébet; pl, Elżbieta Bośniaczka; – January 1387) was queen consort of Hungary and Croatia, as well ...

, 10 September 1382
Nagyszombat (Trnava)
Aged 56 , Succeeded his uncle, Casimir III, to the Polish throne , Anjou , - , King

Hedwig Hedwig may refer to: People and fictional characters * Hedwig (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Grzegorz Hedwig (born 1988), Polish slalom canoeist * Johann Hedwig, (1730–1799), German botanist * Romanus Adol ...

pl, Jadwiga
16 October 1384

17 July 1399
''()'' , Jadwiga Andegaweńska seal 1386

, 3 October 137418 February 1374

Buda Buda (; german: Ofen, sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Budim, Будим, Czech and sk, Budín, tr, Budin) was the historic capital of the Kingdom of Hungary and since 1873 has been the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest, on the ...

Daughter of Louis I of Hungary and

(Jogaila) , 17 July 1399

Aged 25 , Succeeded her father in Poland

Her husband was crowned ''

jure uxoris ''Jure uxoris'' (a Latin phrase meaning "by right of (his) wife"), citing . describes a title of nobility used by a man because his wife holds the office or title '' suo jure'' ("in her own right"). Similarly, the husband of an heiress could beco ...

'' on 4 March 1386 , Anjou

House of Jagiellon

, - , King

lt, Jogaila
4 March 1386

1 June 1434
''()'' , Jogaila (Władysław II)

, /1362

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional u ...

Son of

Algirdas Algirdas ( be, Альгерд, Alhierd, uk, Ольгерд, Ольґерд, Olherd, Olgerd, pl, Olgierd; – May 1377) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania. He ruled the Lithuanians and Ruthenians from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his br ...

and Uliana of Tver ,

Hedwig of Poland Jadwiga (; 1373 or 137417 July 1399), also known as Hedwig ( hu, Hedvig), was the first woman to be crowned as monarch of the Kingdom of Poland. She reigned from 16 October 1384 until her death. She was the youngest daughter of Louis the Great, ...

(Jadwiga)

Anna of Cilli Anna of Cilli or Anne of Celje (1386 – 21 May 1416) was Queen of Poland (1402–1416). She was the second wife of Jogaila (Władysław II Jagiełło), King of Poland and Supreme Duke of Lithuania (reigned 1387–1434). Their marriage was pol ...

Elisabeth of Pilica

Sophia of Halshany Sophia (Sonka) of Halshany or Sophia Holshanska ( be, Соф'я Гальшанская, translit=Sofja Halšanskaja; lt, Sofija Alšėniškė; pl, Zofia Holszańska; – September 21, 1461 in Kraków) was a princess of Halshany and was Queen ...

, 1 June 1434
Gródek
Aged 72–82 , Born a pagan

Previously

Crowned co-ruler with wife

Longest-reigning Polish monarch ,

Jagiellon The Jagiellonian dynasty (, pl, dynastia jagiellońska), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty ( pl, dynastia Jagiellonów), the House of Jagiellon ( pl, Dom Jagiellonów), or simply the Jagiellons ( pl, Jagiellonowie), was the name assumed by a cad ...

, - , King
Władysław III
English: Ladislaus III of Varna
pl, Władysław III Warneńczyk
25 July 1434

10 November 1444
''()'' , Toruń - Władysław III

, 31 October 1424

Son of Jogaila and

, Unmarried and childless , 10 November 1444
Varna
Aged 20 , Succeeded his father in Poland

Killed at the

Battle of Varna The Battle of Varna took place on 10 November 1444 near Varna in eastern Bulgaria. The Ottoman Army under Sultan Murad II (who did not actually rule the sultanate at the time) defeated the Hungarian–Polish and Wallachian armies commanded by ...

Interregnum until 1447 ,

, - , King
Casimir IV
pl, Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk
25 June 1447

7 June 1492
''()'' , Kazimier Jagajłavič

, 30 November 1427

Son of Jogaila and

, Elizabeth of Habsburg, 13 children , 7 June 1492

Grodno Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish ...

Aged 64 , Succession

Previously Grand Duke of Lithuania

Divided the Polish-Lithuanian realm between John and

Alexander Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

, - , King

John I Albert John I Albert ( pl, Jan I Olbracht; 27 December 1459 – 17 June 1501) was King of Poland from 1492 until his death in 1501 and Duke of Głogów (Glogau) from 1491 to 1498. He was the fourth Polish sovereign from the Jagiellonian dynasty, the so ...

pl, Jan I Olbracht
23 September 1492

17 June 1501
''()'' , PL Gloger-Encyklopedja staropolska ilustrowana T

, 27 December 1459

Son of Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Habsburg , Unmarried and childless , 17 June 1501

Toruń )'' , image_skyline = , image_caption = , image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg , image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg , nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town , pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...

Aged 41 , Succeeded his father in Poland

Laid foundation for the

Sejm The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of ...

and

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the e ...

(Polish Parliament) ,

, - , King

pl, Aleksander Jagiellończyk
12 December 1501

19 August 1506
''()'' , Goraj Miracle of Saint Simeon Stylites (detail)

, 5 August 1461

Son of Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Habsburg , Helena of Moscow, childless , 19 August 1506

Aged 45 , Succeeded his brother in Poland

Previously Grand Duke of Lithuania

Buried in Lithuania ,

, - , King

pl, Zygmunt I Stary
8 December 1506

1 April 1548
''()'' , Kulmbach Sigismund I the Old

, , 1 January 1467

Kozienice Kozienice (; yi, קאזשניץ ''Kozhnits''; german: Koschnitz) is a town in eastern Poland with 21,500 inhabitants (1995). Located four miles from the Vistula, it is the capital of Kozienice County. Even though Kozienice is part of Lesser Po ...

Son of Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Habsburg , Barbara Zápolya

Bona Sforza Bona Sforza d'Aragona (2 February 1494 – 19 November 1557) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Sigismund I the Old, and Duchess of Bari and Rossano by her own right. She was a surviving member o ...

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard language, Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the List of cities in Italy, second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 ...

, 1 April 1548

Aged 81 , Succeeded his brother in Poland and Lithuania ,

, - , King

pl, Zygmunt II August
1 April 1548

7 July 1572
''()'' , Cranach the Younger Sigismund II Augustus

, 1 August 1520

Son of Sigismund I and

, Elizabeth of Austria

Barbara Radziwiłł Barbara Radziwiłł ( pl, Barbara Radziwiłłówna, lt, Barbora Radvilaitė; 6 December 1520/23 – 8 May 1551) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as consort of Sigismund II Augustus, the last male monarch of the Jagiellon d ...

Catherine of Austria , 7 July 1572
Knyszyn
Aged 51 , Succession

Formation of the

with an

Last male member of the Jagiellonian Dynasty, died heirless ,

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1569–1795

, - , King
Henry
pl, Henryk Walezy
16 May 1573

12 May 1575
''()'' , Henri III - portrait after Jean Decourt - Musée Condé

, 19 September 1551

Fontainebleau Fontainebleau (; ) is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the ''arrondissement ...

Son of Henry II and

Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici ( it, Caterina de' Medici, ; french: Catherine de Médicis, ; 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Florentine noblewoman born into the Medici family. She was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King ...

Louise of Lorraine Louise of Lorraine (french: Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont; 30 April 1553 – 29 January 1601) was Queen of France as the wife of King Henry III from their marriage on 15 February 1575 until his death on 2 August 1589. During the first three mon ...

, no children , 2 August 1589

Saint-Cloud Saint-Cloud () is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France, from the centre of Paris. Like other communes of Hauts-de-Seine such as Marnes-la-Coquette, Neuilly-sur-Seine and Vaucresson, Saint-Cloud is one of France's wealthiest to ...

Aged 37 , Elected

Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his

brother A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-famil ...

in France

Interregnum until 1575 , Valois , - , Queen
Anna
pl, Anna Jagiellonka
15 December 1575

19 August 1587
''(de facto)''
''()''

9 September 1596
''(de jure)''
''()'' , Kober Anna Jagiellon as a widow

, 18 October 1523

Daughter of Sigismund I and

, no children , 9 September 1596

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is official ...

Aged 72 , Elected co-monarch with

Sole ruler until Báthory's arrival and coronation in May 1576

Ruled after husband's death until her nephew was elected ,

, - , King

pl, Stefan Batory
1 May 1576

12 December 1586
''()'' , Riehl Portrait of Stephen Bathory

, 27 September 1533
Szilágysomlyó (Șimleu Silvaniei)

Son of

Stephen Báthory of Somlyó Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; h ...

and Catherine Telegdi ,

Anna Jagiellon Anna Jagiellon ( pl, Anna Jagiellonka, lt, Ona Jogailaitė; 18 October 1523 – 9 September 1596) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania from 1575 to 1587. Daughter of Polish King Sigismund I the Old and Italian duchess B ...

, no children , 12 December 1586

Aged 53 , Elected as co-monarch with

Previously Prince of

Transylvania Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the ...

, Báthory , - , King
Sigismund III
pl, Zygmunt III Waza
19 August 1587

30 April 1632
''()'' , Rubens Sigismund III Vasa

, 20 June 1566
Gripsholm

Son of

John III of Sweden John III ( sv , Johan III, fi, Juhana III; 20 December 1537 – 17 November 1592) was King of Sweden from 1569 until his death. He was the son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife Margaret Leijonhufvud. He was also, quite autonomou ...

and

Catherine Jagiellon Catherine Jagiellon ( pl, Katarzyna Jagiellonka; sv, Katarina Jagellonica, Lithuanian: ''Kotryna Jogailatė''; 1 November 1526 – 16 September 1583) was a Polish princess and Queen of Sweden as the first wife of King John III. As such, she ...

Anne of Austria Anne of Austria (french: Anne d'Autriche, italic=no, es, Ana María Mauricia, italic=no; 22 September 1601 – 20 January 1666) was an infanta of Spain who became Queen of France as the wife of King Louis XIII from their marriage in 1615 un ...

Constance of Austria Constance of Austria (german: Konstanza; pl, Konstancja; 24 December 1588 – 10 July 1631) was Queen of Poland as the second wife of King Sigismund III Vasa and the mother of King John II Casimir. Biography Constance was a daughter of Charl ...

, 30 April 1632

Aged 65 , Elected, nephew of Anna Jagiellon

Transferred capital from

to Warsaw

Hereditary King of Sweden until deposition in 1599 , Vasa , - , King
Władysław IV
also Ladislaus IV
pl, Władysław IV Waza
8 November 1632

20 May 1648
''()'' , Rubens Władysław Vasa

, 9 June 1595

Łobzów Łobzów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wolbrom, within Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. The village has a population of 1,100. History As a result of the Partitions of Poland (1772–95), t ...

Son of Sigismund III and

Cecilia Renata of Austria Cecilia Renata of Austria (german: Cäcilia Renata, pl, Cecylia Renata; 16 July 1611 – 24 March 1644) was Queen of Poland as the wife of King Władysław IV Vasa. Selection and coronation Cecilia Renata was a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Fe ...

Marie Louise Gonzaga Marie Louise Gonzaga ( pl, Ludwika Maria; 18 August 1611 – 10 May 1667) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania by marriage to two kings of Poland and grand dukes of Lithuania, brothers Władysław IV and John II Casimir. Toget ...

, 20 May 1648

Merkinė Merkinė is a town in the Dzūkija National Park in Lithuania, located at the confluence of the Merkys, Stangė, and Nemunas rivers. Merkinė is one of the oldest settlements in Lithuania. The first settlers inhabited the confluence of Merkys and ...

Aged 52 , Elective succession

Also titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610–1613) when the Polish army captured

, Vasa , - , King

pl, Jan II Kazimierz
20 November 1648

16 September 1668
''()'' , Schultz John II Casimir Vasa

, 22 March 1609

Son of Sigismund III and

Claudine Françoise Mignot (

morganatic marriage Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...

) , 16 December 1672

Nevers Nevers ( , ; la, Noviodunum, later ''Nevirnum'' and ''Nebirnum'') is the prefecture of the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in central France. It was the principal city of the former province of Nivernais. It is ...

Aged 63 , Elective succession, succeeded half-brother

Previously a cardinal

Titular King of Sweden

Abdicated , Vasa , - , King
Michael I
pl, Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki
19 June 1669

10 November 1673
''()'' , King Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki

Coat of Arms of Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki as king of Poland

, 31 May 1640
Biały Kamień

Son of Jeremi Wiśniowiecki and Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska ,

Eleonora Maria of Austria Eleonore Maria Josefa of Austria (21 May 1653 – 17 December 1697) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania by marriage to King Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, and subsequently Duchess of Lorraine by her second marriage to Charl ...

, no children , 10 November 1673

Lwów Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukrain ...

Aged 33 , Elected

Born into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor ,

Wiśniowiecki The House of Wiśniowiecki ( uk, Вишневе́цькі, ''Vyshnevetski''; lt, Višnioveckiai}) was a Polish-Lithuanian princely family of Ruthenian-Lithuanian origin, notable in the history of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. They we ...

, - , King

pl, Jan III Sobieski
19 May 1674

17 June 1696
''()'' , Schultz John III Sobieski

Coat of Arms of Jan Sobieski as king of Poland

, 17 August 1629
Olesko

Son of Jakub Sobieski and Teofila Zofia , Marie Casimire d'Arquien, 13 children , 17 June 1696

Wilanów Wilanów () is a district of the city of Warsaw, Poland. It is home to historic Wilanów Palace, the "Polish Versailles," and second home to various Polish kings. History The first mentions of a settlement in the area can be traced to the 13th ...

Aged 66 , Elected

Born into nobility

A successful military commander , Sobieski , - , King
Augustus II
pl, August II Mocny
15 September 1697

1706
''(1st reign, 9 years)'' , August II the Strong

, 12 May 1670

Dresden Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth ...

Son of

John George III Johann George III (20 June 1647 – 12 September 1691) was Elector of Saxony from 1680 to 1691. He belonged to the Albertine line of the House of Wettin. Early life Johann Georg III was born in Dresden, the only son of Johann George II and Magd ...

and

Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark and Norway (1 September 1647 – 1 July 1717) was the eldest daughter of King Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Electress of Saxony from 1680 to 1691 as the wife of John Georg ...

, Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife , 1 February 1733

Aged 62 , Elected

Previously Elector and ruler of

Dethroned by Stanislaus I in 1706 during the

Great Northern War The Great Northern War (1700–1721) was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swed ...

, Wettin , - , King
Stanislaus I
pl, Stanisław I Leszczyński
12 July 1704

8 July 1709
''(1st reign, )'' , Mányoki Stanislaus Leszczyński

Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Leszczynski as king of Poland

, 20 October 1677

Son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska , Catherine Opalińska, 2 children , 23 February 1766

Lunéville Lunéville ( ; German, obsolete: ''Lünstadt'' ) is a commune in the northeastern French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. It is a subprefecture of the department and lies on the river Meurthe at its confluence with the Vezouze. History ...

Aged 88 , Usurped

Nominated as ruler in 1704, crowned in 1705 and deposed predecessor in 1706

Exiled in 1709 ,

Leszczyński The House of Leszczyński ( , ; plural: Leszczyńscy, feminine form: Leszczyńska) was a prominent Polish noble family. They were magnates in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and later became royal family of Poland. History The Leszczyńsk ...

, - , King
Augustus II
pl, August II Mocny
8 July 1709

1 February 1733
''(2nd reign, )'' , August II (1670-1733)

, 12 May 1670

Son of

and

, Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife , 1 February 1733

Aged 62 , Restored , Wettin , - , King
Stanislaus I
pl, Stanisław I Leszczyński
12 September 1733

26 January 1736
''(2nd reign, )'' , Portrait of Stanisław I Leszczyński

, 20 October 1677

Son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska , Catherine Opalińska, 2 children , 23 February 1766

Aged 88 , Elected

His election sparked the

War of the Polish Succession The War of the Polish Succession ( pl, Wojna o sukcesję polską; 1733–35) was a major European conflict sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II of Poland, which the other European powers widened in pursuit of their ...

Deposed by Augustus III in 1736 ,

, - , King
Augustus III
pl, August III Sas
5 October 1733

5 October 1763
''(30 years)'' , , , 17 October 1696

Son of Augustus II the Strong and Christiane Eberhardine ,

Maria Josepha of Austria Maria Josepha of Austria (Maria Josepha Benedikta Antonia Theresia Xaveria Philippine, pl, Maria Józefa; 8 December 1699 – 17 November 1757) was the Queen of Poland and Electress of Saxony by marriage to Augustus III. From 1711 to 1717, sh ...

, 16 children , 5 October 1763

Aged 66 , Usurped

Proclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734

Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736 , Wettin , - , King
Stanislaus II Augustus
pl, Stanisław II August
7 September 1764

25 November 1795
''()'' , Vigee Stanislaw Augustus

Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Augustus as king of Poland

, 17 January 1732
Wołczyn

Son of

Stanisław Poniatowski Stanisław Poniatowski was the name of several Polish nobles: * Stanisław Poniatowski (1676–1762), castellan of Kraków * Stanisław August Poniatowski (1732–1798), last King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania * Stanisław Poniatowski (1754 ...

and Konstancja Czartoryska , Unmarried , 1 February 1798

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

Aged 66 , Elected

Born into nobility

Last King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, his reign ended in the Partitions of Poland , Poniatowski

Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815

, - , Grand Duke
Frederick Augustus I
pl, Fryderyk August I
9 June 1807

22 May 1815
''()'' , , , 23 December 1750

Son of

Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony Frederick Christian (german: Friedrich Christian; 5 September 1722 – 17 December 1763) was the Prince-Elector of Saxony for fewer than three months in 1763. He was a member of the House of Wettin. He was the third but eldest surviving son ...

and Maria Antonia of Bavaria , Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld,
1 daughter , 5 May 1827

Aged 76 ,

Treaties of Tilsit The Treaties of Tilsit were two agreements signed by French Emperor Napoleon in the town of Tilsit in July 1807 in the aftermath of his victory at Friedland. The first was signed on 7 July, between Napoleon and Russian Emperor Alexander, wh ...

Designated as a king of Poland by General Confederation of the Kingdom of Poland, 1812. , Wettin

Pretenders to the Polish throne

Vratislaus II of Bohemia Vratislaus II (or Wratislaus II) ( cs, Vratislav II.) (c. 1032 – 14 January 1092), the son of Bretislaus I and Judith of Schweinfurt, was the first King of Bohemia as of 15 June 1085, his royal title granted as a lifetime honorific from Holy R ...

(1085–1092) *

Rudolf I of Bohemia Rudolf I ( – 3/4 July 1307), Rudolf of Habsburg, was a member of the House of Habsburg, the King of Bohemia and titular King of Poland from 1306 until his death. He was also Duke of Austria and Styria from 1298. Early life Rudolf was the ...

(1306–1307) * Henry of Bohemia (1307–1310) *

John of Bohemia John the Blind or John of Luxembourg ( lb, Jang de Blannen; german: link=no, Johann der Blinde; cz, Jan Lucemburský; 10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346), was the Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King ...

(1310–1335) *

Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: ''Erzherzog'', feminine form: ''Erzherzogin'') was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank withi ...

(1916–1918) * Kiril, Prince of Preslav (1916–1918)

Modern

* Alexander, Margrave of Meissen (2012–), disputed * Rüdiger, Margrave of Meissen (2012–2022), disputed * Daniel, Margrave of Meissen (2022–), disputed. Son of Rüdiger

Not recognized royal elections

* Maxmilian II Habsburg (1575–1576), ''See:

1576 Free election Year 1576 ( MDLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events January–June * January 20 – Viceroy Martín Enríquez de Almanza founds the settlement of León ...

'' * Maxmilian III Habsburg (1587–1589), ''See: 1587 Free election'' *

François Louis de Bourbon François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, King o ...

(1697), ''See:

1697 Free election Events January–March * January 8 – Thomas Aikenhead is hanged outside Edinburgh, becoming the last person in Great Britain to be executed for blasphemy. * January 11 – French writer Charles Perrault releases the book '' Histoires o ...

References

Bibliography

* Duczmal M., Jagiellonowie. Leksykon biograficzny, Kraków 1996. * Dybkowska A., Żaryn J., Żaryn M., Polskie dzieje. Od czasów najdawniejszych po współczesność, wyd. 2, Warszawa 1995. * Gierowski J.A., Rzeczpospolita w dobie złotej wolności (1648–1763), Kraków 2001. * Grodziski S., Polska w czasach przełomu (1764–1815), Kraków 2001. * Grodziski S., Porównawcza historia ustrojów państwowych, Kraków 1998. * Grzybowski S., Dzieje Polski i Litwy (1506–1648), Kraków 2000. * Morby J.E., Dynastie świata. Przewodnik chronologiczny i genealogiczny, Kraków 1995, s. 261–263. * Wyrozumski J., Dzieje Polski piastowskiej (VIII w.-1370), Kraków 1999. * Zientara B., Henryk Brodaty i jego czasy, wyd. 2, Warszawa 1997.

External links

* Górczyk, Wojciech
"Półksiężyc, orzeł, lew i smok. Uwagi o godłach napieczętnych Piastów"
Histmag.org June 14, 2009 {{Poland topics Monarchs

Monarchs

lt:Lenkijos karalius