The article is a list of heads of state of Lithuania over historical Lithuanian state. The timeline includes all heads of state of

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

as a sovereign entity, legitimately part of a greater sovereign entity, a

client state A client state in the context of international relations is a State (polity), state that is economically, politically, and militarily subordinated to a more powerful controlling state. Alternative terms for a ''client state'' are satellite state, ...

, or a

constituent republic Administrative divisions (also administrative units, administrative regions, subnational entities, or constituent states, as well as many similar generic terms) are geographical areas into which a particular independent sovereign state is divi ...

subject to an outside authority. Currently, the head of state is the

President of Lithuania The president of the Republic of Lithuania () is the head of state of the Republic of Lithuania. The president directs and appoints the executive branch of the Government of Lithuania, represents the nation internationally and is the commande ...

. During the

inauguration In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inau ...

s of Lithuanian monarchs until 1569, the

Gediminas' Cap Gediminas' Cap () was the most important regalia of the List of Lithuanian monarchs, Lithuanian monarchs who ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until the Union of Lublin in 1569. During the inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs, Gediminas' Cap was ...

was placed on the monarch's heads by the

Bishop of Vilnius Bishops of Vilnius diocese from 1388 and archdiocese (archdiocese of Vilnius) from 1925:" ...

Vilnius Cathedral The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius, also known as Vilnius Cathedral is the main Catholic cathedral in Lithuania. It is situated in Vilnius Old Town, just off Cathedral Square. Dedicated to the Christian saints ...

Kingdom of Lithuania (1251–1263)

Title: King of Lithuania (). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ...
(1253–1263)

, King

1236
–
1253
''(as Grand Duke)''

1253
–
1263
''(as King)'', , , ,

Son of mythological

Ringaudas Ringaudas or Ryngold was a mythological Grand Duke of Lithuania from the Palemonids legends and supposed father of Mindaugas, the first King of Lithuania (1251–1263). In fact, there is nothing known about Mindaugas' father from reliable sources. ...

, , NN, sister of Morta
2 children

Morta
2 children , , 1263

Aglona Aglona (, , , hist. ) is a village in the Aglona Parish of Preiļi Municipality in the Latgale region of Latvia. It is located northeast of the city of Daugavpils. Located on the narrow strip of land between the lakes Cirišs and Egles, ...

Assassinated by

Treniota Treniota (also spelled ''Troniata''; ; – 1264) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1263 to 1264. Life Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to discourag ...

and

Daumantas Daumantas ( Ruthenian: ''Dowmont'' or ''Domont''; ; ) is a given name and a surname. Given name * Daumantas of Lithuania, Grand Duke of Lithuania (1282–1285) * Daumantas of Pskov, Prince of Pskov (1266–1299), previously Duke of Nalšia, Lithua ...

Aged about 60 , -

Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1263–1569)

Title:

Grand Duke Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. The title is used in some current and former independent monarchies in Europe, particularly: * in ...

(; ; ). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ...
(1263–1267)

, Grand Duke

1263
–
1264, , Treniota

, , ''Unknown''

Son of NN,
Mindaugas' sister
and

Vykintas 200 px, Monument to Duke Vykintas in Tverai Vykintas (died ) was the duke of Samogitia and a rival to the future king of Lithuania, Mindaugas. Life In 1236, he probably led the Samogitian forces in the Battle of Saule against the Livonian Ord ...

, , ''Unknown''
1 child , , 1264
Murdered by servants
loyal to Mindaugas' son

Vaišvilkas Vaišvilkas or Vaišelga (also spelled ''Vaišvila'', ''Vojszalak'', ''Vojšalk'', ''Vaišalgas''; died 18 April 1267) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1264 until his death in 1267. He was a son of Mindaugas, the first and only Christian Ki ...

, - , Grand Duke

1264
–
1267, , Vojshalk

, , ''Unknown''

Son of

Mindaugas Mindaugas (, , , , ; c. 1203 – 12 September 1263) was the first known grand duke of Lithuania, Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only crowned King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a ...

and Morta , , Unmarried and
childless, , 1268
Was murdered
by

Leo I of Galicia Leo I of Galicia (; – c. 1301) was King of Ruthenia, Prince of Belz (1245–1264), Przemyśl, Galicia (1264–1269), and Kiev (1271–1301). He was a son of King Daniel of Galicia and his first wife, Anna Mstislavna Smolenskaia (daughter ...

, -

House of Monomakh The House of Monomakh or Monomakhovichi were a major princely branch of the Rurikid dynasty, descendants of which managed to inherit many princely titles which originated in Kievan Rus'. History The progenitor of the house is Vladimir II Monomak ...
(1267–1269)

, Grand Duke

1267
–
1269, , , ,

Halych Halych (, ; ; ; ; , ''Halitsch'' or ''Galitsch''; ) is a historic List of cities in Ukraine, city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. The city gave its name to the Principality of Halych, the historic province of Galicia (Eastern Europe), ...

Son of

Daniel of Galicia Daniel Romanovich (1201–1264) was Prince of Galicia (1205–1207; 1211–1212; 1230–1232; 1233–1234; 1238–1264), Prince of Volhynia, Volhynia (1205–1208; 1215–1238), Grand Prince of Kiev (1240), and King of Ruthenia (1253–1264). B ...

, , NN, daughter of Mindaugas
No children , ,
Kholm
Aged about 39 , -

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ...
(1269–1285)

, Grand Duke

1270
–
1282, , Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis

, , 1220 , , Ona of Masovia
1 child, , 1282

Kernavė Kernavė was a medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and today is a tourist attraction and an archeological site (population 238, 2021). It is located in the Širvintos district municipality located in southeast Lithuania. A Lithuanian ...

Aged 62 , - , Grand Duke

1282
–
1285, , , , ''Unknown'' , , ''Unknown'' , , 3 March 1285
Died in a battle by

Tver Tver (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is situated at the confluence of the Volga and Tvertsa rivers. Tver is located northwest of Moscow. Population: The city is ...

, -

House of Gediminas The family of Gediminas is a group of family members of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (ca. 1275–1341), who interacted in the 14th century. The family included the siblings, children, and grandchildren of the Grand Duke and played the pivot ...
(1285–1440)

, Grand Duke

1285
–
1291, , , , ''None known'' , , ''Unknown''

Son of

Skalmantas Skalmantas or Skolomend is the name of a possible ancestor of the Gediminid dynasty. In 1975 historian Jerzy Ochmański noted that ''Zadonshchina'', a poem from the end of the 14th century, contains lines in which two sons of Algirdas name their anc ...

(?) , , ''Unknown'' , , 1291 , - , Grand Duke

1291
–
1295, , , , ''None known'' , , ''Unknown''

Son of

(?) , , ''Unknown'' , , , - , Grand Duke

1295
–
1316, , , , ''None known'' , , 1260

Son of

Butvydas Butvydas or Pukuveras (died ) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from until his death in . Butvydas is believed to have been the father of Grand Duke Gediminas, under whom Lithuania emerged as a major Northern and Eastern European power. Background Th ...

, , Vikinda
1 child, , 1316
Aged 56 , - , Grand Duke

1316
–
1341, , , , ''None known'' , ,

Son of

, ,

Jaunė Jaunė (, , literally, ''young woman'' in Lithuanian; died ca. 1344) was daughter of Prince Ivan of Polatsk and wife of Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1316–1341). She is mentioned in written sources only once – the ''Bychowiec Chronic ...

13 children , ,

Raudonė Raudonė ( Samogitian: ''Rauduonė''; ) is a town on the Nemunas River in Tauragė County, Lithuania. The town is primarily known for its castle ( Raudonė Castle) and a large park complex. History Raudonė has been traditionally identified ...

Aged about 66 , - , Grand Duke

1341
–
1345, , , , ''None known'' , ,

Son of

Gediminas Gediminas ( – December 1341) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341. He is considered the founder of Lithuania's capital Vilnius (see: Iron Wolf legend). During his reign, he brought under his rule lands from t ...

and

, , ''Unknown''
3 children , ,
Aged 57−60 , - , Grand Duke
''(

Diarchy Diarchy (from Greek , ''di-'', "double", and , ''-arkhía'', "ruled"),Occasionally spelled ''dyarchy'', as in the ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'' article on the colonial British institution duarchy, or duumvirate. is a form of government charac ...

with Kęstutis)''

1345
–
1377 , , , , , ,

Son of

and

, ,

Maria of Vitebsk Maria of Vitebsk (died before 1349) was the first wife of Algirdas, future Grand Duke of Lithuania (marriage took place around 1318). Life Very little is known about her life. The only child of a Russian prince Yaroslav, Maria was the only heir to ...

6 children

Uliana of Tver Uliana Aleksandrovna ( – 17 March 1391) was a grand duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Algirdas. She was the daughter of Alexander of Tver and Anastasia of Galicia, daughter of Yuri I of Galicia. Life After her father and eldes ...

8 children, ,

Maišiagala Maišiagala is a historic town in Vilnius district municipality, Lithuania. It is located about northwest of Vilnius city municipality near the Vilnius–Panevėžys highway. According to the 2021 census, it had a population of 1 562, a decreas ...

Aged about 81 , - , Grand Duke
''(

with Kęstutis)''

May 1377
–
August 1381, , , , , ,

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...

Son of

Algirdas Algirdas (; , ; – May 1377) was List of Lithuanian monarchs, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his brother Kęstutis (who defended the western border of the Duchy) he created an empire stretching from the pre ...

and

, ,

Jadwiga of Poland Jadwiga (; 1373 or 137417 July 1399), also known as Hedwig (from German) and in , was the first woman to be crowned as monarch of the Kingdom of Poland. She reigned from 16 October 1384 until her death. Born in Buda, she was the youngest daught ...

No children

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

1 child

Elizabeth Granowska Elizabeth Granowska or Elisabeth Pilecki (; – 12 May 1420 in Kraków) was Queen of Poland (1417–1420) as the third wife of Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila), Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland (reigning from 1386 to 1434). Early ...

No children

Sophia of Halshany Sophia of Halshany (; ; ; – 21 September 1461 in Kraków), known simply as Sonka, was a princess of Lithuanian Alšėniškiai princely family who was Queen of Poland as the fourth and last wife of Jogaila, King of Poland and Supreme Duke ...

2 children , , 1 June 1434

Gródek Jagielloński __NOTOC__ Horodok (, ; ) is a city in Lviv Raion, Lviv Oblast, western Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Horodok urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. Population: History Horodok was first mentioned by Nestor the Chronicler in ...

Aged 72−82 , - , Grand Duke

1381
–
1382 , , Kiejstut

, , , ,

Senieji Trakai Senieji Trakai (literally: ''Old Trakai'', ) is a historic Lithuanian village located east of Trakai. According to the Lithuanian census of 2011, it has 1,396 inhabitants – Lithuanians, Poles and Russians. The Saint Petersburg–Warsaw Railwa ...

Son of

and

, ,

Birutė Birutė (died 1382) was the Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Kęstutis, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and mother of Vytautas the Great. There is very little known about Birutė's life, but after her death a cu ...

3 children, , 1382

Kreva Kreva (, ; ; ; ) is an agrotown in Smarhon District, Grodno Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Krevas selsoviet. The first mention dates to the 13th century. The toponym is derived from the name of the Krivichs tribe. ...

Murdered by the order of
Jogaila while imprisoned
Aged 84–85 , - , Grand Duke

3 August 1382
–
1 June 1434
''()'', , , , , ,

Son of

and

, ,

No children

1 child

No children

2 children , , 1 June 1434

Aged 72−82 , - , - ! colspan="6" , Act of Kreva signed in 1385

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

and

''de jure'' are ruled by one monarch but remain to be separate states. , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

3 August 1382
–
1 June 1434
''()'', , , , , ,

Son of

and

, ,

No children

1 child

No children

2 children , , 1 June 1434

Aged 72−82 , - , - , Grand Duke

1386
–
1392 , , , , , ,

Son of

and

, , Unmarried
and childless , , 11 January 1397

Kyiv Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

Possibly poisoned
by the order of the

Russian Orthodox The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC; ;), also officially known as the Moscow Patriarchate (), is an autocephaly, autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Christian church. It has 194 dioceses inside Russia. The Primate (bishop), p ...

priests
Aged 43−44 , - , - ! colspan="6" , Astrava Agreement signed in 1392
Following the Lithuanian Civil War, Skirgaila is replaced by Vytautas. The latter and his successors ''de jure'' act as regents of the King of Poland until 1440. , - , Grand Duke
King-elect of Lithuania

Vytautas the Great
4 August 1392
–
27 October 1430
''()'', , , , , ,

Son of

Kęstutis Kęstutis ( – 3 or 15 August 1382) was sole Duke of Trakai from 1342 to 1382 and List of Lithuanian monarchs, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1342 to 1382, together with his brother Algirdas (until 1377), and with his nephew Jogaila (from 1377 to ...

and

, ,

Anna Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna of East Anglia, King (died c.654) * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th c ...

1 child

Uliana Olshanska Princess Uliana Olshanska ( or , ; d. 1448) was a noblewoman from the Alšėniškiai family and the Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Vytautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania. They had no issue. Very little is known about Uliana's life. ...

No children , , 27 October 1430

Trakai Trakai (; see Trakai#Names and etymology, names section for alternative and historic names) is a city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania or just from the administrative limits of the Lithuanian capi ...

Aged about 80 , - , Grand Duke

October 1430
–
1 August 1432, , , , , , Before 1370

Son of

and

, , Anna of Tver
1 child , , 10 February 1452

Lutsk Lutsk (, ; see #Names and etymology, below for other names) is a city on the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of Lutsk Raion within the oblast. Lutsk has a populati ...

Aged about 82 , - , Grand Duke

1432
–
1440 , , , , , , 1365

Son of

and

, , ''Unknown''
1 child, , 20 March 1440

Murdered by supporters
of Švitrigaila
Aged 75 , -

House of Jagiellon The Jagiellonian ( ) or Jagellonian dynasty ( ; ; ), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty (), the House of Jagiellon (), or simply the Jagiellons (; ; ), was the name assumed by a cadet branch of the Lithuanian ducal dynasty of Gediminids upon recep ...
(1440–1569)

The act of personal union with Poland was signed as early as 1385; however, the continuous line of common rulers of the two countries started only with Casimir IV (even then, Polish and Lithuanians twice selected different rulers following the death of an earlier common monarch, but the Lithuanian one always eventually assumed the Polish throne). The monarchs retained separate titles for both parts of the state, and their numbering was kept separate. The

Jagiellon dynasty The Jagiellonian ( ) or Jagellonian dynasty ( ; ; ), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty (), the House of Jagiellon (), or simply the Jagiellons (; ; ), was the name assumed by a cadet branch of the Lithuanian ducal dynasty of Gediminids upon recep ...

was a direct continuation of the

Gediminids The House of Gediminas (), or simply the Gediminids, were a dynasty of monarchs in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that reigned from the 14th to the 16th century. A cadet branch of this family, known as the Jagiellonian dynasty, reigned also in th ...

. , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

29 June 1440
–
7 June 1492
''()'', , , , , , 30 November 1427

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

Son of Jogaila Algirdaitis
and

, , Elisabeth of Austria
12 children , , 7 June 1492

Old Grodno Castle The Old Grodno Castle (; also known as the ''Grodno Upper Castle'' and ''Bathory's Castle'') in Grodno, Belarus, originated in the 11th century as the seat of a dynasty of Black Ruthenian rulers, descended from a younger son of Yaroslav the Wise ...

Aged 64 , - 1263 – 1265, , , , , , , , , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

30 July 1492
–
19 August 1506
''()'', , , , , , 5 August 1461

Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and
Elisabeth of Austria , ,

Helena of Moscow Helena Ivanovna of Moscow (; ; ; 19 May 1476 – 20 January 1513) was Grand Duchess of Lithuania and List of Polish consorts, Queen of Poland as the consort of Alexander Jagiellon. She was a daughter of Ivan III, Grand Prince of Moscow, and she ...

No children, , 19 August 1506

Aged 45 , - 1263 – 1265, , , , , , , , , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

Sigismund I the Old

8 December 1506
–
1 April 1548
''()'', , Kulmbach Sigismund I the Old

, ,

, , 1 January 1467

Kozienice Kozienice (; ''Kozhnits'') 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 Poland, it is situated in the Masovian Voi ...

Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and
Elisabeth of Austria , ,

Barbara Zápolya Barbara Zápolya (, , 1495–1515) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the first wife of Sigismund I the Old from 1512 to 1515. Marriage to Barbara represented an alliance between Sigismund and the House of Zápolya against ...

2 children

Bona Sforza Bona Sforza (2 February 1494 – 19 November 1557) was Queen consort, Queen of Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569), Poland and List of Lithuanian consorts, Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Sigismund the Old, and Duchess of Bari and ...

6 children, , 1 April 1548

Aged 81 , - 1263 – 1265, , , , , , , , , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

1 April 1548
–
7 July 1572
''()'' , , Cranach the Younger Sigismund II Augustus

, ,

, , 1 August 1520

Son of Žygimantas the Old
and

, , Elisabeth of Austria
No children

Barbara Radziwiłł Barbara Radziwiłł (, ; 6 December 1520/23 – 8 May 1551) was List of Polish royal consorts, Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as consort of Sigismund II Augustus, the last male monarch of the Jagiellon dynasty. Barbara, a great b ...

No children

Catherine of Austria Catherine of Habsburg or Catherine of Austria may refer to: * Catherine of Habsburg (1256–1282), daughter of Rudolf I of Germany and wife of Otto III, Duke of Bavaria * Catherine of Austria, Duchess of Calabria (1295–1323), daughter of Albert I ...

No children, , 7 July 1572

Knyszyn Knyszyn (, ) is a town in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, northwest of Białystok. It is situated on the Jaskranka River, within the historic region of Podlachia. History In 1358 the territory became part of the Grand Duchy o ...

Aged 51 , - ! colspan="6" ,

Union of Lublin The Union of Lublin (; ) 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 personal union of the Crown of the Kingd ...

signed in 1569

and

are united into a single

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

. , - 1263 – 1265, , , , , , , ,

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was established by the

in 1569. The elected King of Poland was automatically a Grand Duke of Lithuania (until then the Lithuanian dukedom was hereditary). The first common ruler of both countries was Sigismund II Augustus. During the

Deluge A deluge is a large downpour of rain, often a flood. The Deluge refers to the flood narrative in the biblical book of Genesis. Deluge or Le Déluge may also refer to: History *Deluge (history), the Swedish and Russian invasion of the Polish-L ...

of the

Second Northern War The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of ...

, Lithuania signed the

Union of Kėdainiai The Union of Kėdainiai or Agreement of Kėdainiai ( Lithuanian: ''Kėdainių unija'', Swedish: ''Kėdainiai förbund'') was an agreement between magnates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the king of the Swedish Empire, Charles X Gustav, that w ...

with the

Swedish Empire The Swedish Empire or the Great Power era () was the period in Swedish history spanning much of the 17th and early 18th centuries during which Sweden became a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic regi ...

in 1655, thus ''de jure'' ending its union with Poland. However, due to Sweden's losses, the agreement soon fell out of favor and was not properly enforced, leading to the further continuation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Following the partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795, the commonwealth ceased to exist and

Lithuania proper Lithuania proper refers to a region that existed within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania where the Lithuanian language was spoken. The primary meaning is identical to the Duchy of Lithuania, a land around which the Grand Duchy of Lithuania evolved. T ...

became part of the Russian Empire for 123 years. There are some gaps in the timeline as it took a while to elect a new king. The first Grand Duke elected after the Gediminid line became extinct and after the Valois fled back to France was

Stephen Báthory Stephen Báthory (; ; ; 27 September 1533 – 12 December 1586) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1576–1586) as well as Prince of Transylvania, earlier Voivode of Transylvania (1571–1576). The son of Stephen VIII Báthory ...

, who had made an effort to be recognized as Grand Duke of Lithuania by establishing

Vilnius University Vilnius University ( Lithuanian: ''Vilniaus universitetas'') is a public research university, which is the first and largest university in Lithuania, as well as one of the oldest and most prominent higher education institutions in Central and Ea ...

. Title: King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

Sigismund II Augustus Sigismund II Augustus (, ; 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 ruler of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and t ...

1 July 1569

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

, 1 August 1520

Son of Žygimantas the Old
and

, Elisabeth of Austria

, 7 July 1572

Aged 51 , Hereditary

First monarch to
introduce elective
monarchy ,

Jagiellon The Jagiellonian ( ) or Jagellonian dynasty ( ; ; ), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty (), the House of Jagiellon (), or simply the Jagiellons (; ; ), was the name assumed by a cadet branch of the Lithuanian ducal dynasty of Gediminids upon recep ...

, - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke

Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

16 May 1573

12 May 1575
''()'' , , , 19 September 1551

Fontainebleau Fontainebleau ( , , ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Functional area (France), metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the Kilometre zero#France, centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a Subprefectures in Franc ...

Son of

Henry II Henry II may refer to: Kings * Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (972–1024), crowned King of Germany in 1002, of Italy in 1004 and Emperor in 1014 *Henry II of England (1133–89), reigned from 1154 *Henry II of Jerusalem and Cyprus (1271–1 ...

and

Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici (, ; , ; 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Italian Republic of Florence, Florentine noblewoman of the Medici family and Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to Henry II of France, King Henry II. Sh ...

Louise of Lorraine Louise of Lorraine (; 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 months of their marriage, she was also ...

, no children , 2 August 1589

Saint-Cloud Saint-Cloud () is a French 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 wealthie ...

Aged 37 , Elected

Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his

brother A brother (: brothers or brethren) 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 family, familial relationship, it is sometimes used ende ...

in France

Interregnum until 1575 , Valois , - , Queen of Poland
and Grand Duchess

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, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

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 of Poland
and Grand Duke

1 May 1576

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

, 27 September 1533
Szilágysomlyó (Șimleu Silvaniei)

Son of Stephen Báthory of Somlyó and

Catherine Telegdi Catherine Telegdi of Kincstartó ( Hungarian: Katalin Telegdi de Kincstartó) (1492–1547) was a Hungarian noblewoman, the daughter of royal treasurer Stephen Telegdi de Telegd and his wife, Margit Bebek de Pelsőcz. Family Catherine Telegdi ...

, Anna Jagiellon, no children , 12 December 1586
Grodno
Aged 53 , Elected as co-monarch with Anna Jagiellon

Previously Prince of Transylvania , Báthory family, Báthory , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Sigismund III Vasa, Sigismund III

19 August 1587

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

, 20 June 1566
Gripsholm Castle, Gripsholm

Son of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagiellon , Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland, Anne of Austria

Constance of Austria , 30 April 1632

Aged 65 , Elected, nephew of Anna Jagiellon

Transferred capital from

to Warsaw

Hereditary King of Sweden until deposition in 1599 , House of Vasa, Vasa , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Władysław IV
also Ladislaus IV

8 November 1632

20 May 1648
''()'' , , , 9 June 1595
Łobzów

Son of Sigismund III Vasa, Sigismund III and Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland, Anne of Austria , Cecilia Renata of Austria

Marie Louise Gonzaga , 20 May 1648
Merkinė
Aged 52 , Elective succession

Also titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610–1613) when the Polish army captured Moscow , House of Vasa, Vasa , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
John II Casimir

20 November 1648

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

, 22 March 1609

Son of Sigismund III Vasa, Sigismund III and Constance of Austria , Marie Louise Gonzaga

Claudine Françoise Mignot (morganatic marriage) , 16 December 1672
Nevers
Aged 63 , Elective succession, succeeded half-brother

Previously a Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal

Disputed with Charles X Gustav between 1655–1657

Titular King of Sweden

Abdication, Abdicated , House of Vasa, Vasa , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, Michael I

19 June 1669

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

Coat of Arms of Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki as king of Poland

, 31 May 1640
Bilyi Kamin, Biały Kamień

Son of Jeremi Wiśniowiecki and Gryzelda Konstancja Wiśniowiecka, Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska , Eleonora Maria of Austria, no children , 10 November 1673
Lwów
Aged 33 , Elected

Born into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor , Wiśniowiecki , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
John 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 Castle, Olesko

Son of Jakub Sobieski and Teofila Zofia Sobieska, Teofila Zofia , Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien, Marie Casimire d'Arquien, 13 children , 17 June 1696
Wilanów Palace, Wilanów
Aged 66 , Elected

Born into nobility

A successful military commander , House of Sobieski, Sobieski , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Augustus the Strong, Augustus II

15 September 1697

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

, 12 May 1670
Dresden

Son of John George III, Elector of Saxony, John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark , Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife , 1 February 1733

Aged 62 , Elected

Previously Elector and ruler of Saxony

Dethroned by Stanislaus I in 1706 during the Great Northern War , House of Wettin, Wettin , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Stanislaus I

12 July 1704

8 July 1709
''(1st reign, )'' , , , 20 October 1677
Lwów

Son of Rafał Leszczyński (1650–1703), Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Leszczyńska (1660–1727), Anna Jabłonowska , Catherine Opalińska, 2 children , 23 February 1766
Lunéville
Aged 88 , Usurped

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

Exiled in 1709 , House of Leszczyński, Leszczyński , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Augustus the Strong, Augustus II

8 July 1709

1 February 1733
''(2nd reign, )'' , , , 12 May 1670
Dresden

Son of John George III, Elector of Saxony, John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark , Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife , 1 February 1733

Aged 62 , Restored , House of Wettin, Wettin , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Stanislaus I

12 September 1733

26 January 1736
''(2nd reign, )'' , , , 20 October 1677
Lwów

Son of Rafał Leszczyński (1650–1703), Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Leszczyńska (1660–1727), Anna Jabłonowska , Catherine Opalińska, 2 children , 23 February 1766
Lunéville
Aged 88 , Elected

His election sparked the War of the Polish Succession

Deposed by Augustus III of Poland, Augustus III in 1736 , House of Leszczyński, Leszczyński , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Augustus III

5 October 1733

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

Son of Augustus II the Strong and Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, Christiane Eberhardine , Maria Josepha of Austria, 16 children , 5 October 1763
Dresden
Aged 66 , Usurped

Proclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734

Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736 , House of Wettin, Wettin , - , King of Poland
and Grand Duke
Stanisław II Augustus, Stanislaus II Augustus

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 (1676–1762), Stanisław Poniatowski and Konstancja Czartoryska (1700–1759), Konstancja Czartoryska , Unmarried , 1 February 1798
Saint Petersburg
Aged 66 , Elected

Born into nobility

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

Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)

The Council of Lithuania declared independence on 16 February 1918 and invited Wilhelm of Urach to become king of Lithuania. The name of the state was the Kingdom of Lithuania. On 9 July 1918, Duke Wilhelm accepted the offer and took the name Mindaugas II. However, on 2 November the council revoked this decision as it was likely Germany would lose the war.

House of Urach (1918)

, King
Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach, Mindaugas II

–

''()'', , , , , , 30 May 1864

Son of Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach and
Princess Florestine of Monaco , , Duchess Amalie in Bavaria
Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria , , 24 March 1928 , -

Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)

Presidents of the Presidium of the Council of Lithuania

The state of Lithuania was ruled by the Presidium of the State Council of Lithuania, its chairman was de facto Head of State. The institution of President was established on 4 April 1919. Chairman of the Presidium Antanas Smetona was elected as First President of the State of Lithuania by the State Council of Lithuania and was the only one in under whose rule this position has been considered the office of the head of state.

President of Lithuania, Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania

The institution of President () was created on 4 April 1919. Antanas Smetona was elected as the first President of Lithuania.

Posthumous promotion, Posthumously recognized acting Presidents

Heads of the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service

Following Lithuania's occupation by the Soviet Union on 15 June 1940, in his telegram dated 31 May 1940, the last Foreign Minister Juozas Urbšys provisioned that, in the event of occupation, Stasys Lozoraitis, minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Rome, be appointed the head of the Lithuanian diplomatic service. The Lithuanian diplomatic service became a Government in exile that was a critical piece to ensuring the recognition of the continuity of Lithuanian legal statehood until independence after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941)

The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and established the Lithuanian SSR in July 1940.

First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

; .

Generalbezirk Litauen (1941–1944)

As Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, Lithuania liberated itself with the anti-Soviet June Uprising in Lithuania, June Uprising and re-declared Lithuanian Independence. Lithuania was ruled for some time by the Provisional Government of Lithuania, whose prime minister was Juozas Ambrazevičius. The Provisional Government was formed on 23 June 1941, but was dissolved on 5 August of the same year. Lithuania was occupied by the Germans, who formed ''Generalbezirk Litauen'' on 25 July 1941, which was governed by the administration of general commissioner Adrian von Renteln and was a part of ''Reichskommissariat Ostland''.

General Commissioners of Generalbezirk Litauen

; .

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1944–1990)

As Nazi Germany retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied the country and reestablished the Lithuanian SSR in 1944. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ''de jure'' acted as a collective head of state from 25 August 1940 to 11 March 1990. However, the Supreme Soviet ''de facto'' was controlled by the Communist Party of Lithuania led by the First Secretary.

First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

Republic of Lithuania (1990–present)

The leader of the Supreme Council was the official head of state from the declaration of independence on 11 March 1990 until the new Constitution came into effect in 1992 establishing the office of President and the institution of Seimas. The state and its leadership were not recognized internationally until September 1991 [NB: Iceland was the first country to recognise the regained independence of Lithuania in February 1991. Title from 1990 to 1992: Chairman of the Supreme Council (Parliament; ). Title from 1992 onwards: President of Lithuania, President ().

Timeline

References

History
''Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania''. Retrieved 26 August 2006. * Vytautas Spečiūnas (ed.), Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.) (Rulers of Lithuania (13–18th centuries)), ''Mokslo ir enicklopedijų leidybos institutas'', Vilnius 2004.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of Rulers of Lithuania Heads of state of Lithuania, Lithuania politics-related lists, Rulers Lists of heads of state, Lithuanian People of medieval Lithuania Middle Ages-related lists

Kingdom of Lithuania (1251–1263)

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ... (1253–1263)

Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1263–1569)

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ... (1263–1267)

House of Monomakh The House of Monomakh or Monomakhovichi were a major princely branch of the Rurikid dynasty, descendants of which managed to inherit many princely titles which originated in Kievan Rus'. History The progenitor of the house is Vladimir II Monomak ... (1267–1269)

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ... (1269–1285)

House of Gediminas The family of Gediminas is a group of family members of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (ca. 1275–1341), who interacted in the 14th century. The family included the siblings, children, and grandchildren of the Grand Duke and played the pivot ... (1285–1440)

House of Jagiellon The Jagiellonian ( ) or Jagellonian dynasty ( ; ; ), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty (), the House of Jagiellon (), or simply the Jagiellons (; ; ), was the name assumed by a cadet branch of the Lithuanian ducal dynasty of Gediminids upon recep ... (1440–1569)

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)

Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)

House of Urach (1918)

Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)

Presidents of the Presidium of the Council of Lithuania

President of Lithuania, Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania

Posthumous promotion, Posthumously recognized acting Presidents

Heads of the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941)

First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

Generalbezirk Litauen (1941–1944)

General Commissioners of Generalbezirk Litauen

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1944–1990)

First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

Republic of Lithuania (1990–present)

Timeline

See also

References

External links

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ...
(1253–1263)

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ...
(1263–1267)

House of Monomakh The House of Monomakh or Monomakhovichi were a major princely branch of the Rurikid dynasty, descendants of which managed to inherit many princely titles which originated in Kievan Rus'. History The progenitor of the house is Vladimir II Monomak ...
(1267–1269)

House of Mindaugas The House of Mindaugas () was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered on Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later. His known ...
(1269–1285)

House of Gediminas The family of Gediminas is a group of family members of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (ca. 1275–1341), who interacted in the 14th century. The family included the siblings, children, and grandchildren of the Grand Duke and played the pivot ...
(1285–1440)

House of Jagiellon The Jagiellonian ( ) or Jagellonian dynasty ( ; ; ), otherwise the Jagiellon dynasty (), the House of Jagiellon (), or simply the Jagiellons (; ; ), was the name assumed by a cadet branch of the Lithuanian ducal dynasty of Gediminids upon recep ...
(1440–1569)