The article is a list of heads of state of Lithuania over historical Lithuanian state. The timeline includes all heads of state of Lithuania as a sovereign entity, legitimately part of a greater sovereign entity, a client state, or a constituent republic subject to an outside authority. Currently, the head of state is the President of Lithuania.
During the inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs until 1569, the Gediminas' Cap was placed on the monarch's heads by the Bishop of Vilnius in Vilnius Cathedral.
Title: King of Lithuania (). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.
|Grand Duke/King<br /><br /> 1236<br/>âÂÂ<br/>17 July 1251 <br /> as Grand Duke <br /> <hr /> 17 July 1251<br/>âÂÂ<br/>12 September 1263<br>(crowned 1253)<br />as King|| || <hr/>Son of mythological Ringaudas || NN<br/> 2 children <hr/> Morta <br/> 2 or 4 children <hr/> NN (sister of Morta)<br> no children|| 1263 <br /> Aglona <br /> Assassinated by Treniota <br /> and Daumantas <br /> Aged about 60 |-
Title: Grand Duke (; ; ). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.
|Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1263<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1264|| || Unknown <hr/>Son of NN, <br/> Mindaugas' sister <br/> and Vykintas || Unknown <br/> 1 child || 1264 <br /> Murdered by servants <br /> loyal to Mindaugas' son Vaià ¡vilkas |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1264<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1267|| || Unknown <hr/>Son of Mindaugas<br/>and Morta || Unmarried and <br/> childless|| 1268 <br /> Was murdered <br /> by Leo I of Galicia |-
|Grand Duke<br /><br /><small></small><br /> 1267<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1269|| || <br/> Halych <hr/>Son of Daniel of Galicia || NN, daughter of Mindaugas <br/> No children || <br/> Kholm <br/> Aged about 39 |-
|Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1270<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1282|||| 1220 || Ona of Masovia <br/> 1 child|| 1282 <br/> Kernavà<br/> Aged 62 |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1282<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1285|| || Unknown ||Unknown || 3 March 1285 <br /> Died in a battle by Tver |-
|Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1285<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1291|| || None known || Unknown <hr/> Son of <br/> Skalmantas (?) || Unknown ||1291 |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1291<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1295|| || None known || Unknown <hr/> Son of <br/> Skalmantas (?) || Unknown || |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1295<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1316|||| None known || 1260 <hr/>Son of Butvydas || Vikinda <br/> 1 child|| 1316 <br /> Aged 56 |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1316<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1341|||| None known || <hr/>Son of Butvydas || Jaunà<br/>13 children || <br /> Raudonà<br /> Aged about 66 |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> 1341<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1345|||| None known || <hr/>Son of Gediminas<br/>and JaunÃÂ|| Unknown <br/> 3 children || <br /> Aged 57âÂÂ60 |- |Grand Duke <br /><br /> 1345<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1377 |||| || <hr/>Son of Gediminas<br/>and JaunÃÂ|| Maria of Vitebsk <br /> 6 children <hr/> Uliana of Tver <br/> 8 children|| <br /> Maià ¡iagala <br /> Aged about 81 |- |Grand Duke <br /><br /> May 1377<br/>âÂÂ<br/>August 1381|||| || <br/> Vilnius <hr/>Son of Algirdas<br/>and Uliana of Tver || Jadwiga of Poland <br /> 1 child <hr/> Anna of Cilli <br /> 1 child <hr/> Elizabeth Granowska <br /> No children <hr/> Sophia of Halshany <br/> 3 children || 1 June 1434 <br /> Gródek Jagielloà Âski <br /> Aged 72âÂÂ82 |- |Grand Duke <br /><br>probably<br />1345<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1382<br />attested:<br/>1349âÂÂ1351<br>(as co-ruler with Algirdas),<br>1381âÂÂ1382 || || || <br/> Senieji Trakai <hr/>Son of Gediminas<br/>and JaunÃÂ|| Birutà<br/> 9 children|| 1382 <br /> Kreva <br /> Died in captivity<br />possibly murdered on Jogaila's order<br /> Aged 84âÂÂ85 |- |Grand Duke <br /><br /> 3 August 1382<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1 June 1434 <br/>()|||| || <br/> Vilnius <hr/>Son of Algirdas<br/>and Uliana of Tver || Jadwiga of Poland <br /> 1 child <hr/> Anna of Cilli <br /> 1 child <hr/> Elizabeth Granowska <br /> No children <hr/> Sophia of Halshany <br/> 3 children || 1 June 1434 <br /> Gródek Jagielloà Âski <br /> Aged 72âÂÂ82 |- |- ! colspan="6" |Act of Kreva signed in 1385<br/><small>Poland and Lithuania de jure are ruled by one monarch but remain to be separate states.</small> |- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><br /> 3 August 1382<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1 June 1434 <br/>()|||| || <br/> Vilnius <hr/>Son of Algirdas<br/>and Uliana of Tver || Jadwiga of Poland <br /> 1 child <hr/> Anna of Cilli <br /> 1 child <hr/> Elizabeth Granowska <br /> No children <hr/> Sophia of Halshany <br/> 3 children || 1 June 1434 <br /> Gródek Jagielloà Âski <br /> Aged 72âÂÂ82 |- |- |Duke <br /><br /> 1386<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1392<br>(regent)|||| || <br/> Vilnius <hr/>Son of Algirdas<br/>and Uliana of Tver || Unknown<br/> 1 child || 11 January 1397 <br /> Kyiv <br/> Possibly poisoned <br/> by the order of the <br/> Russian Orthodox priests <br /> Aged 43âÂÂ44 |- |- ! colspan="6" |Astrava Agreement signed in 1392 and Pact of Vilnius and Radom in 1401<br/><small>Following the Lithuanian Civil War, Skirgaila is replaced by Vytautas. The latter de jure acts as regent for the King of Poland until 1401, when he is formally recognized as the Grand Duke. His successors rule as Grand Dukes alongside Polish monarchs until 1440.</small> |- |Grand Duke<br />King-elect of Lithuania<br /><br/>Vytautas the Great<br/>4 August 1392<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1401<br/>(regent)<br/>1401<br/>âÂÂ<br/>27 October 1430<br/>(Grand Duke)<br>(in total:<br/>)|||| || <br/> Senieji Trakai <hr/>Son of KÃÂstutis<br/>and Birutà|| Anna <br /> 1 child <hr/> Uliana Olshanska <br/> No children || 27 October 1430 <br /> Trakai <br /> Aged about 80 |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /> October 1430<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1 August 1432|||| || Before 1370 <br/> Vilnius <hr/>Son of Algirdas<br/>and Uliana of Tver || Anna of Tver <br/> 1 child || 10 February 1452 <br /> Lutsk <br /> Aged about 82 |- |Grand Duke<br /><br /><small></small><br /> 1432<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1440 |||| || 1365 <br/> Trakai <hr/>Son of KÃÂstutis<br/>and BirutÃÂ|| Unknown<br/> 1 child|| 20 March 1440 <br /> Trakai <br /> Murdered by supporters <br /> of à  vitrigaila <br /> Aged 75 |-
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 was a direct continuation of the Gediminids. |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><br /><small></small> <br /> 29 June 1440<br/>âÂÂ<br/>7 June 1492 <br/>()|||| || 30 November 1427 <br/> Kraków <hr/>Son of Jogaila Algirdaitis<br/>and Sophia of Halshany || Elisabeth of Austria <br/> 12 children || 7 June 1492 <br /> Old Grodno Castle <br /> Aged 64 |- 1263 â 1265|||||| || |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><br /><small></small> <br /> 30 July 1492<br/>âÂÂ<br/>19 August 1506 <br/>()|||| || 5 August 1461 <br/> Kraków <hr/>Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and <br/>Elisabeth of Austria || Helena of Moscow <br/> No children|| 19 August 1506 <br /> Vilnius <br /> Aged 45 |- 1263 â 1265|||||| || |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><br/>Sigismund I the Old<br/><small></small><br /> 8 December 1506<br/>âÂÂ<br/>1 April 1548 <br/>()|||| || 1 January 1467 <br/> Kozienice <hr/>Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and <br/>Elisabeth of Austria || Barbara Zápolya <br /> 2 children <hr/> Bona Sforza <br/> 6 children|| 1 April 1548 <br /> Kraków <br /> Aged 81 |- 1263 â 1265|||||| || |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><br /><small></small><br /> 18 October 1529<br/>âÂÂ<br/>7 July 1572 <br/>() |||| || 1 August 1520 <br/> Kraków <hr/>Son of à ½ygimantas the Old<br/>and Bona Sforza || Elisabeth of Austria <br /> No children <hr/> Barbara Radziwià Âà  <br /> No children <hr/> Catherine of Austria <br/> No children|| 7 July 1572 <br /> Knyszyn <br /> Aged 51 |- ! colspan="6" |Union of Lublin signed in 1569<br/><small>Poland and Lithuania are united into a single Commonwealth.</small> |- 1263 â 1265|||||| ||
The PolishâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth was established by the Union of Lublin 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 of the Second Northern War, Lithuania signed the Union of KÃÂdainiai with the Swedish Empire 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 PolishâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth. Following the partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795, the commonwealth ceased to exist and Lithuania proper 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, who had made an effort to be recognized as Grand Duke of Lithuania by establishing Vilnius University.
Title: King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Sigismund II Augustus</big><br /><small></small><br /><small><br />1 July 1569<br /><br />7 July 1572<br />()</small> | | | 1 August 1520<br />Kraków<hr />Son of à ½ygimantas the Old<br/>and Bona Sforza | Elisabeth of Austria <br /> Barbara Radziwià Âà  <br /> Catherine of Austria | 7 July 1572<br />Knyszyn<br />Aged 51 | Hereditary<hr /> First monarch to <br /> introduce elective <br /> monarchy | Jagiellon
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Henry</big><br /><small></small><br />16 May 1573<br /><br />12 May 1575<br />() | | | 19 September 1551<br />Fontainebleau<hr />Son of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici | Louise of Lorraine, no children | 2 August 1589<br />Saint-Cloud<br />Aged 37 | Elected<hr />Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his brother in France<hr />Interregnum until 1575 | Valois
|- |Queen of Poland<br /> and Grand Duchess <br /><big>Anna</big><br /><small></small><br />15 December 1575<br /><br />19 August 1587 <br />(de facto) <br/>() <br/><br />9 September 1596 <br />(de jure) <br/> () | | | 18 October 1523<br />Kraków<hr />Daughter of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza | Stephen Báthory, no children | 9 September 1596<br />Warsaw<br />Aged 72 | Elected co-monarch with Stephen Báthory<hr />Sole ruler until Báthory's arrival and coronation in May 1576<hr />Ruled after husband's death until her nephew was elected | Jagiellon
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Stephen Báthory</big><br /><small></small><br />1 May 1576<br /><br />12 December 1586<br />() | | | 27 September 1533<br />Szilágysomlyó (ÃÂimleu Silvaniei)<hr />Son of Stephen Báthory of Somlyó and Catherine Telegdi | Anna Jagiellon, no children | 12 December 1586<br />Grodno<br />Aged 53 | Elected as co-monarch with Anna Jagiellon<hr />Previously Prince of Transylvania | Báthory
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Sigismund III</big><br /><small></small><br />19 August 1587<br /><br />30 April 1632<br />() | | | 20 June 1566<br />Gripsholm<hr />Son of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagiellon | Anne of Austria, 5 children<hr /> Constance of Austria, 7 children | 30 April 1632<br />Warsaw<br />Aged 65 | Elected, nephew of Anna Jagiellon<hr />Transferred capital from Kraków to Warsaw<hr />Hereditary King of Sweden until deposition in 1599 | Vasa
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Wà Âadysà Âaw IV</big><br />also Ladislaus IV<br /><small></small><br />8 November 1632<br /><br />20 May 1648<br />() | | | 9 June 1595<br />à Âobzów<hr />Son of Sigismund III and Anne of Austria | Cecilia Renata of Austria, 3 children<hr /> Marie Louise Gonzaga | 20 May 1648<br />MerkinÃÂ<br />Aged 52 | Elective succession<hr />Also titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610âÂÂ1613) when the Polish army captured Moscow | Vasa
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>John II Casimir</big><br /><small></small><br />20 November 1648<br /><br />16 September 1668<br />() | | | 22 March 1609<br />Kraków<hr />Son of Sigismund III and Constance of Austria | Marie Louise Gonzaga, 2 children<hr /> Claudine Françoise Mignot (morganatic marriage) | 16 December 1672<br />Nevers<br />Aged 63 | Elective succession, succeeded half-brother<hr />Previously a cardinal<hr />Disputed with Charles X Gustav between 1655âÂÂ1657<hr />Titular King of Sweden<hr />Abdicated | Vasa
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Michael I</big><br /><small></small><br />19 June 1669<br /><br />10 November 1673<br />() | | | 31 May 1640<br />Biaà Ây Kamieà Â<hr />Son of Jeremi Wià Âniowiecki and Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska | Eleonora Maria of Austria, 1 child | 10 November 1673<br />Lwów<br />Aged 33 | Elected<hr />Born into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor | Wià Âniowiecki
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>John III Sobieski</big><br /><small></small><br />19 May 1674<br /><br />17 June 1696<br />() | | | 17 August 1629<br />Olesko<hr />Son of Jakub Sobieski and Teofila Zofia | Marie Casimire d'Arquien, 13 children | 17 June 1696<br />Wilanów<br />Aged 66 | Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />A successful military commander | Sobieski
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Augustus II</big><br /><small></small><br />15 September 1697<br /><br />1706<br />(1st reign, 9 years) | | | 12 May 1670<br />Dresden<hr />Son of John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife | 1 February 1733<br />Warsaw<br />Aged 62 | Elected<hr />Previously Elector and ruler of Saxony<hr />Dethroned by Stanislaus I in 1706 during the Great Northern War | Wettin
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Stanislaus I</big><br /><small></small><br />12 July 1704<br /><br />8 July 1709<br />(1st reign, ) | | | 20 October 1677<br />Lwów<hr />Son of Rafaà  Leszczyà Âski and Anna Jabà Âonowska | Catherine Opalià Âska, 2 children | 23 February 1766<br />Lunéville<br />Aged 88 | Usurped<hr />Nominated as ruler in 1704, crowned in 1705 and deposed predecessor in 1706<hr />Exiled in 1709 | Leszczyà Âski
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Augustus II</big><br /><small></small><br />8 July 1709<br /><br />1 February 1733<br />(2nd reign, ) | | | 12 May 1670<br />Dresden<hr />Son of John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife | 1 February 1733<br />Warsaw<br />Aged 62 | Restored | Wettin
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Stanislaus I</big><br /><small></small><br />12 September 1733<br /><br />26 January 1736<br />(2nd reign, ) | | | 20 October 1677<br />Lwów<hr />Son of Rafaà  Leszczyà Âski and Anna Jabà Âonowska | Catherine Opalià Âska, 2 children | 23 February 1766<br />Lunéville<br />Aged 88 | Elected<hr />His election sparked the War of the Polish Succession<hr />Deposed by Augustus III in 1736 | Leszczyà Âski
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Augustus III</big><br /><small></small><br />5 October 1733<br /><br />5 October 1763<br />(30 years) | | | 17 October 1696<br />Dresden<hr />Son of Augustus II the Strong and Christiane Eberhardine | Maria Josepha of Austria, 16 children | 5 October 1763<br />Dresden<br />Aged 66 | Usurped<hr />Proclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734<hr />Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736 | Wettin
|- |King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>Stanislaus II Augustus</big><br /><small></small><br />7 September 1764<br /><br />25 November 1795<br />() | | | 17 January 1732<br />Woà Âczyn<hr />Son of Stanisà Âaw Poniatowski and Konstancja Czartoryska | Unmarried | 1 February 1798<br />Saint Petersburg<br />Aged 66 | Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />Last King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, his reign ended in the Partitions of Poland | Poniatowski
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.
|King<br /><big>Mindaugas II</big> <br /> <br /> â <br /> <br />()|||| || 30 May 1864 <hr/>Son of Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach and <br/>Princess Florestine of Monaco || Duchess Amalie in Bavaria <br /> Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria || 24 March 1928 |-
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.
The institution of President () was created on 4 April 1919. Antanas Smetona was elected as the first President of Lithuania.
Following Lithuania's occupation by the Soviet Union on 15 June 1940, in his telegram dated 31 May 1940, the last Foreign Minister Juozas Urbà ¡ys 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.
The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and established the Lithuanian SSR in July 1940.
As Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, Lithuania liberated itself with the anti-Soviet June Uprising and re-declared Lithuanian Independence. Lithuania was ruled for some time by the Provisional Government of Lithuania, whose prime minister was Juozas AmbrazeviÃÂius. 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.
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.
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 ().