List of rulers of Lithuania
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of rulers over Lithuania
— grand dukes, kings, and presidents — the heads of authority over historical Lithuanian territory. The timeline includes Lithuania as a sovereign entity or legitimately part of a greater sovereign entity as well as Lithuania under control or occupation of an outside authority (i.e., Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic). The incumbents and office-holders are listed by names most commonly used in English language. Where appropriate, the alternations in Lithuanian
, Ruthenian
(later Belarusian
) and Polish
are included.
The state of Lithuania formed in 1230s, when threatened by the Livonian Order
in the north and the Teutonic Knights
in the west, Baltic tribes
united under Mindaugas
leadership. He became the only crowned king of Lithuania. His state became known as Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. After Grand Duke Jogaila
became also king of Poland
in 1386, the two states became closer connected and since 1440 both were ruled by a common ruler. In 1569 Union of Lublin
was signed and a new entity—the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth—emerged. The commonwealth was partitioned
in 1795 and Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire
till February 16, 1918. The Council of Lithuania
was able to establish the sovereignty only in 1919, after Germany
lost the World War I
. The first republic of Lithuania existed till 1940 when it was occupied by the Soviet Union
. During the Soviet-German War
, Lithuania was occupied by Nazi Germany
. In 1944, as Germany was losing the war, Russia re-occupied Lithuania and established the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence. The restored Republic of Lithuania is a democratic republic, a member of both the European Union
and NATO.
except for Mindaugas, who became king of Lithuania .
House of Mindaugas
Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.
House of Gediminas
Some dates are approximate.
with Poland was signed as early as 1385, however, continuous line of common rulers of the two countries started only with Casimir IV (even then Polish and Lithuanians twice selected different rulers following earlier common monarch's death, but the Lithuanian one always eventually assumed Polish throne). The monarchs retained separate titles for both parts of the state, and their numbering was kept separately. The Jagiellon dynasty
was a direct continuation of the Gediminids
.
in 1569. The elected King of Poland was to be elected by Lithuanian noble families as a Grand Duke of Lithuania (until then Lithuanian dukedom was hereditary). The first ruler of the common country was Sigismund II Augustus. Following the partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795, the commonwealth ceased to exist and Lithuania 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 Gediminyds line went 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 .
declared independence on February 16, 1918 when Lithuania was occupied by the Reichswehr
. The name of the state was the Kingdom of Lithuania. On July 9, 1918, the council declared that the Duke of Urach is to become King Mindaugas II of Lithuania
. However, on November 2, the council revoked this decision and declared that Lithuania is to be a democratic republic.
was created on April 4, 1919.
attacked the Soviet Union, Lithuania was occupied by the Germans. Few days before the German occupation, Lithuania was ruled by pro-German rebel government of Juozas Ambrazevičius
. Under Germans, the General District of Lithuania was governed by the administration of general Petras Kubiliūnas
. As Nazi Germany retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied the country and reestablished Lithuanian SSR in 1944.
Title: First Secretary of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of Lithuania
.
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet acted as a collective head of state from August 25, 1940 to March 11, 1990.
. The state and its leadership were not recognized internationally until September 1991.
Title from 1990 to 1992: Chairman of the Supreme Council (Parliament) .
Title from 1992 onwards: President .
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
— grand dukes, kings, and presidents — the heads of authority over historical Lithuanian territory. The timeline includes Lithuania as a sovereign entity or legitimately part of a greater sovereign entity as well as Lithuania under control or occupation of an outside authority (i.e., Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic). The incumbents and office-holders are listed by names most commonly used in English language. Where appropriate, the alternations in Lithuanian
Lithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
, Ruthenian
Ruthenian language
Ruthenian, or Old Ruthenian , is a term used for the varieties of Eastern Slavonic spoken in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later in the East Slavic territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth....
(later Belarusian
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
) and Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
are included.
The state of Lithuania formed in 1230s, when threatened by the Livonian Order
Livonian Brothers of the Sword
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword were a military order founded by Bishop Albert of Riga in 1202. Pope Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204. The membership of the order comprised German "warrior monks"...
in the north and the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
in the west, Baltic tribes
Balts
The Balts or Baltic peoples , defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family, are descended from a group of Indo-European tribes who settled the area between the Jutland peninsula in the west and Moscow, Oka and Volga rivers basins in the east...
united under Mindaugas
Mindaugas
Mindaugas was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a 1219 treaty as an elder duke, and in 1236 as the leader of all the Lithuanians...
leadership. He became the only crowned king of Lithuania. His state became known as Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. After Grand Duke Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
became also king of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1386, the two states became closer connected and since 1440 both were ruled by a common ruler. In 1569 Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
was signed and a new entity—the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth—emerged. The commonwealth was partitioned
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
in 1795 and Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
till February 16, 1918. The Council of Lithuania
Council of Lithuania
The Council of Lithuania , after July 11, 1918 The State Council of Lithuania , was convened at the Vilnius Conference that took place between September 18 and 23, 1917. The council was granted the executive authority of the Lithuanian people and was entrusted to establish an independent...
was able to establish the sovereignty only in 1919, after Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
lost the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The first republic of Lithuania existed till 1940 when it was occupied by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. During the Soviet-German War
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, Lithuania was occupied by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. In 1944, as Germany was losing the war, Russia re-occupied Lithuania and established the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence. The restored Republic of Lithuania is a democratic republic, a member of both the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and NATO.
Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1236–1569)
Title: Grand DukeGrand Duke
The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not...
except for Mindaugas, who became king of Lithuania .
House of MindaugasHouse of MindaugasThe House of Mindaugas was the first royal family of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, centered around Mindaugas, the first known and undoubted sovereign of Lithuania. He was crowned as King of Lithuania in 1253 and assassinated ten years later...
(1236–1285)
Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.| Term | Grand Duke | Image | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1236–1263 | Mindaugas Mindaugas Mindaugas was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. Little is known of his origins, early life, or rise to power; he is mentioned in a 1219 treaty as an elder duke, and in 1236 as the leader of all the Lithuanians... |
 |
Initially Grand Duke Grand Duke The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not... , since 1253 King of Lithuania. After he was killed by his nephew Treniota, a war between nobles for power erupted. |
| 1263–1264 | Treniota Treniota Treniota was the Grand Duke of Lithuania .Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to discourage Livonian Order and Teutonic Knights attacks on Lithuania, becoming king in the process, Treniota remained a... |
100px | |
| 1264–1267 | Vaišvilkas Vaišvilkas Vaišelga or Vaišvilkas was the Grand Duke of Lithuania... |
 |
Son of Mindaugas, voluntarily gave up the throne for the benefit of his brother-in-law Shvarn |
| 1267–1269 | Shvarn | ||
| 1269–1282 | Traidenis Traidenis Traidenis was the Grand Duke Lithuania from 1270 till 1282. He is the second most prominent, after Mindaugas, Grand Duke of Lithuania in the 13th century. His reign ended a seven-year unrest period after Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and firmly established the Grand Duchy as a pagan state... |
||
| 1282–1285 | Daumantas Daumantas of Lithuania Daumantas or Dovmont was the Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1282/1283-1285.As a Grand Duke of Lithuania, Daumantas is mentioned in chronicles only once, and in absence of any other evidence, he is presumed to be a short ruled Grand Duke... |
||
House of GediminasHouse of GediminasThe family of Gediminas is a group of family members of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania , who interacted in the 14th century. The family included the siblings, children, and grandchildren of the Grand Duke and played the pivotal role in the history of Lithuania for the period as the Lithuanian...
(1285–1440)
Some dates are approximate.| Term | Grand Duke | Image | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1285–1291 | Butigeidis Butigeidis Butigeidis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1285 to 1291. He is the first known and undisputed member of the Gediminids.He started his rule when the Livonian Order and the Teutonic Knights were finalizing their conquest of the Baltic tribes. In 1289, leading about 8,000 troops, Butigeidis... |
Founder of the Gediminid dynasty Gediminids The Gediminids were a dynasty of monarchs of Grand Duchy of Lithuania that reigned from the 14th to the 16th century. One branch of this dynasty, known as the Jagiellons, reigned also in Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Hungary and Kingdom of Bohemia... |
|
| 1291–1295 | Butvydas Butvydas Butvydas was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1292 to 1295. His influence was strong during his brother Butigeidis' reign. This led some historians to believe, that they were co-rulers, much like the grandsons Algirdas and Kęstutis... |
Brother of Butigeidis Butigeidis Butigeidis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1285 to 1291. He is the first known and undisputed member of the Gediminids.He started his rule when the Livonian Order and the Teutonic Knights were finalizing their conquest of the Baltic tribes. In 1289, leading about 8,000 troops, Butigeidis... , father of Vytenis and Gediminas |
|
| 1295–1316 | Vytenis Vytenis Vytenis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from c. 1295 to c. 1316. He became the first of the Gediminid dynasty to rule for a considerable amount of time. In the early 14th century his reputation outshone that of Gediminas, who is regarded by modern historians as one of the greatest Lithuanian rulers... |
Son of Butvydas | |
| 1316–1341 | Gediminas |  |
Son of Butvydas. After his death the domain was divided between his 7 sons. |
| 1341–1345 | Jaunutis Jaunutis Jaunutis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from his father Gediminas' death in 1341 until he was deposed by his elder brothers Algirdas and Kęstutis in 1345.... |
Son of Gediminas. Overlord and Grand Duke, deposed by his brothers Algirdas Algirdas Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians... and Kęstutis Kestutis Kęstutis was monarch of medieval Lithuania. He was the Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1342–82, together with his brother Algirdas , and with his nephew Jogaila... . |
|
| 1345–1377 | Algirdas Algirdas Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians... |
Son of Gediminas. His co-ruler was Kęstutis, who was active in the west. Algirdas was mostly active in the east. | |
| 1377–1381 | Jogaila Jogaila Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis... |
 |
Son of Algirdas. Crowned the King of Poland in 1386 and established the personal union of Lithuania and Poland. Founder of the House of Jogailaičiai Jagiellon dynasty The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century... . |
| 1381–1382 | Kęstutis Kestutis Kęstutis was monarch of medieval Lithuania. He was the Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1342–82, together with his brother Algirdas , and with his nephew Jogaila... |
 |
Son of Gediminas, co-ruler with Algirdas. Kęstutis ruled the western Lithuania (with capital in Trakai Trakai Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of... ). Deposed Jogaila in 1381 and took control of the whole of Lithuania, only to be captured and killed by him the next year. |
| 1382–1392 | Jogaila Jogaila Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis... |
|
Also King of Poland 1386–1434. His governor in Lithuania was Skirgaila Skirgaila Skirgaila , also known as Ivan; ca. 1353 or 1354 – 11 January 1397 in Kiev; baptized 1383/1384 as Casimir) was a regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for his brother Jogaila from 1386 to 1392. He was son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver.-Biography:After... (1387–1392). |
| 1392–1430 | Vytautas the Great Vytautas the Great Vytautas ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians... |
 |
Son of Kęstutis. Joined his father in the fight against Jogaila, then changed sides and became Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1392. Was to be crowned King of Lithuania in 1429, but the crown was stopped by the Poles. Died before the second crown arrived. |
| 1430–1432 | Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila (ca 1370 – 10 February 1452; was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1430 to 1432. He spent most of his life in largely unsuccessful dynastic struggles against his cousins Vytautas and Sigismund Kęstutaitis.-Struggle against Vytautas:... |
Son of Algirdas, brother of Jogaila. Deposed by followers of Žygimantas, son of Kęstutis. | |
| 1432–1440 | Sigismund Kęstutaitis Sigismund Kestutaitis Sigismund Kęstutaitis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1432 to 1440. Sigismund was his baptismal name; Sigismund's pagan Lithuanian birth name is unknown. He was son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kęstutis and his wife Birutė.... |
 |
Son of Kęstutis, brother of Vytautas. Killed by Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila (ca 1370 – 10 February 1452; was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1430 to 1432. He spent most of his life in largely unsuccessful dynastic struggles against his cousins Vytautas and Sigismund Kęstutaitis.-Struggle against Vytautas:... supporters. |
House of Jagiellon (1440–1569)
The act of personal unionUnion of Krewo
In a strict sense, the Union of Krewo or Act of Krėva was a set of prenuptial promises made in the Kreva Castle on 14 August 1385 by Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, in exchange for marriage to the underage reigning Queen Jadwiga of Poland...
with Poland was signed as early as 1385, however, continuous line of common rulers of the two countries started only with Casimir IV (even then Polish and Lithuanians twice selected different rulers following earlier common monarch's death, but the Lithuanian one always eventually assumed Polish throne). The monarchs retained separate titles for both parts of the state, and their numbering was kept separately. The Jagiellon dynasty
Jagiellon dynasty
The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...
was a direct continuation of the Gediminids
Gediminids
The Gediminids were a dynasty of monarchs of Grand Duchy of Lithuania that reigned from the 14th to the 16th century. One branch of this dynasty, known as the Jagiellons, reigned also in Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Hungary and Kingdom of Bohemia...
.
| Term | Incumbent | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1440–1492 | Casimir IV Jagiellon Casimir IV Jagiellon Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna.... |
Son of Jogaila. Elected and crowned King of Poland in 1447 after the death of king Wladyslaw Warnenczyk |
| 1492–1506 | Alexander I Alexander Jagiellon Alexander of the House of Jagiellon was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and later also King of Poland. He was the fourth son of Casimir IV Jagiellon... |
Son of Casimir IV. Elected and crowned King of Poland in 1501 after the death of king Jan I Olbracht |
| 1506–1548 | Sigismund II Sigismund I the Old Sigismund I of Poland , of the Jagiellon dynasty, reigned as King of Poland and also as the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1506 until 1548... |
Son of Casimir IV. |
| 1548–1569 | Sigismund III Sigismund II Augustus Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548... |
Son of Sigismund I the Old. Factual ruler since 1529. |
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was established by Union of LublinUnion of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
in 1569. The elected King of Poland was to be elected by Lithuanian noble families as a Grand Duke of Lithuania (until then Lithuanian dukedom was hereditary). The first ruler of the common country was Sigismund II Augustus. Following the partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795, the commonwealth ceased to exist and Lithuania 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 Gediminyds line went extinct and after the Valois fled back to France was Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory may refer to several noblemen of Hungarian descent:* Stephen III Báthory , Palatine of Hungary* Stephen V Báthory , judge of the Royal Court and Prince of Transylvania...
, who had made an effort to be recognized as Grand Duke of Lithuania by establishing Vilnius University
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
.
Title: King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania .
| Term | Incumbent | House | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1569–1572 | Sigismund II Augustus Sigismund II Augustus Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548... |
Jagiellon | Son of Sigismund I the Old. |
| 1573–1575 | Henry Valois Henry III of France Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,... |
Valois | He abandoned the throne and fled to France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... where he was crowned as Henry III. |
| 1576–1586 | Stephen Bathory | Báthory Báthory The Báthory were a Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ecclesiastical positions in the Kingdom of Hungary... |
|
| 1588–1632 | Sigismund III Vasa Sigismund III Vasa Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599... |
Vasa House of Vasa The House of Vasa was the Royal House of Sweden 1523-1654 and of Poland 1587-1668. It originated from a noble family in Uppland of which several members had high offices during the 15th century.... |
Proponent of a personal union Personal union A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state... between The Republic Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century... and Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... , King of Sweden between 1592 and 1599. |
| 1632–1648 | Ladislaus IV Vasa | ||
| 1648–1668 | John II Casimir Vasa | Abdicated and became a monk, last of the Vasa dynasty in Poland-Lithuania. | |
| 1669–1673 | Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki | Lithuanian nobility | |
| 1674–1696 | John III Sobieski John III Sobieski John III Sobieski was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski's 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and... |
Polish szlachta Szlachta The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of... |
|
| 1697–1706 | Augustus II the Strong | Wettin Wettin (dynasty) The House of Wettin is a dynasty of German counts, dukes, prince-electors and kings that once ruled the area of today's German states of Saxony, the Saxon part of Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia for more than 800 years... |
also Elector of Saxony as Frederick Augustus I. |
| 1706–1709 | Stanislaus Leszczyński | Polish szlachta Szlachta The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of... |
War of Polish Succession. |
| 1709–1733 | Augustus II the Strong Augustus II the Strong Frederick Augustus I or Augustus II the Strong was Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania .... |
Wettin Wettin (dynasty) The House of Wettin is a dynasty of German counts, dukes, prince-electors and kings that once ruled the area of today's German states of Saxony, the Saxon part of Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia for more than 800 years... |
also Elector of Saxony as Frederick Augustus I. |
| 1733–1736 | Stanislaus Leszczyński | Polish szlachta Szlachta The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of... |
War of Polish Succession. |
| 1733–1763 | August III Wettin Augustus III of Poland Augustus III, known as the Saxon ; ; also Prince-elector Friedrich August II was the Elector of Saxony in 1733-1763, as Frederick Augustus II , King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1734-1763.-Biography:Augustus was the only legitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, Imperial Prince-Elector... |
Wettin Wettin (dynasty) The House of Wettin is a dynasty of German counts, dukes, prince-electors and kings that once ruled the area of today's German states of Saxony, the Saxon part of Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia for more than 800 years... |
|
| 1764–1795 | Stanislaus August II | Polish szlachta Szlachta The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of... |
During his reign the merger of the Grand Duchy with the Kingdom of Poland was passed in 1791; abdicated following the Partitions of Poland Partitions of Poland The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years... ; died in exile in Russia. |
Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)
The Council of LithuaniaCouncil of Lithuania
The Council of Lithuania , after July 11, 1918 The State Council of Lithuania , was convened at the Vilnius Conference that took place between September 18 and 23, 1917. The council was granted the executive authority of the Lithuanian people and was entrusted to establish an independent...
declared independence on February 16, 1918 when Lithuania was occupied by the Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
. The name of the state was the Kingdom of Lithuania. On July 9, 1918, the council declared that the Duke of Urach is to become King Mindaugas II of Lithuania
Mindaugas II of Lithuania
Prince Wilhelm of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 2nd Duke of Urach was a German prince who was elected King of Lithuania with the regnal name Mindaugas II on 11 July 1918...
. However, on November 2, the council revoked this decision and declared that Lithuania is to be a democratic republic.
Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)
The institution of PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
was created on April 4, 1919.
| No | Term | President | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 4, 1919 – June 19, 1920 | Antanas Smetona Antanas Smetona Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before... |
Elected by the Council of Lithuania. |
| 2 | June 19, 1920 – June 7, 1926 | Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis (born (February 26, 1885 in Kutaliai, in Šilalė district municipality near Tauragė, Lithuania, Russian Empire; died September 22, 1969 in Kaunas) was the second President of Lithuania (1920–1926)... |
Acting President (as Constituent Assembly). Re-elected by the Seimas Seimas The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation... on December 21, 1922 and in June 1923. |
| 3 | June 7 - December 18, 1926 | Kazys Grinius Kazys Grinius Kazys Grinius was the third President of Lithuania, and held that office from 7 June 1926 to 17 December 1926.When Grinius was born in Selema, near Marijampolė, Lithuania was part of the Russian empire. He studied medicine at the University of Moscow and became a physician... |
Elected by parliament, but overthrown by a military coup d'état. |
| December 18–19, 1926 | Jonas Staugaitis Jonas Staugaitis Jonas Staugaitis was the acting President of Lithuania during the December 1926 coup d'état. He was formally elected for few hours as the Speaker of Seimas; as the highest-ranked official, he became de jure the President of Lithuania. He renounced the office after the coup d'état was complete.He... |
Formally, for one day, as the head of Seimas Seimas The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation... (renounced the office after the coup d'état). |
|
| December 19, 1926 | Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis Aleksandras Stulginskis (born (February 26, 1885 in Kutaliai, in Šilalė district municipality near Tauragė, Lithuania, Russian Empire; died September 22, 1969 in Kaunas) was the second President of Lithuania (1920–1926)... |
Formally, as the new head of Seimas Seimas The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation... , only for several hours. |
|
| December 19, 1926 – June 15, 1940 | Antanas Smetona Antanas Smetona Antanas Smetona was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920. He again served as the last President of the country from December 19, 1926 to June 15, 1940, before... |
Second term, elected president after a military coup d'état; after the Soviet Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... ultimatum of 1940 he fled to Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... and then to the USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... . |
|
| June 15–17, 1940 | Antanas Merkys Antanas Merkys Antanas Merkys |Bajorai]], near Skapiškis, Vilna Governorate of the Russian Empire; died on March 5, 1955 in Vladimir Oblast, Soviet Union) was the last Prime Minister of independent Lithuania, serving from November 1939 to June 1940. When Soviet Union presented an ultimatum to Lithuania, President... |
The Prime Minister, de facto acting president after Smetona's defection. Not recognised by Lithuanian diplomats abroad; he assumed the role of president illegally, as Smetona neither resigned nor died. | |
| June 17 – August, 1940 | Justas Paleckis Justas Paleckis Justas Paleckis was a Lithuanian journalist and politician. He was acting president of Lithuania after the Soviet invasion while Lithuania was still ostensibly independent, in office from June 17 – August 3, 1940.... |
Chosen unconstitutionally by leaders of the Lithuanian communists under pressure from the Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... , not recognized internationally or by the Lithuanian diplomatic service. |
|
| 4 | February 16, 1949 – November 26, 1954 | Jonas Žemaitis Jonas Žemaitis Jonas Žemaitis was one of the leaders of armed resistance against the Soviet occupation in Lithuania and acknowledged as the Head of State of contemporary occupied Lithuania.Žemaitis was born in Jonas Žemaitis and Petronėlė Daukšaitė's family... |
Officially named as the fourth President of Lithuania in March 2009. |
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941 and 1944–1990)
The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and established Lithuanian SSR in July 1940. As Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
attacked the Soviet Union, Lithuania was occupied by the Germans. Few days before the German occupation, Lithuania was ruled by pro-German rebel government of Juozas Ambrazevičius
Juozas Ambrazevicius
Juozas Ambrazevičius or Juozas Brazaitis was a Lithuanian literary historian, better known for his political career and nationalistic views...
. Under Germans, the General District of Lithuania was governed by the administration of general Petras Kubiliūnas
Petras Kubiliunas
Petras Kubiliūnas was a Lithuanian Lieutenant General and Chief of Lithuanian General staff in 1929–1934.-World War I:...
. As Nazi Germany retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied the country and reestablished Lithuanian SSR in 1944.
Title: First Secretary of the Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
of the Communist Party of Lithuania
Communist Party of Lithuania
The Communist Party of Lithuania was a communist party in Lithuania, established in early October 1918. The party was banned in December 1926.-History:...
.
| No | Term | First Secretary | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 21, 1940 – June 24, 1941 July 13, 1944 – January 22, 1974 |
Antanas Sniečkus Antanas Snieckus Antanas Sniečkus was First Secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party from August 1940 to January 22, 1974.- Biography :Antanas Sniečkus was born in 1903, in the village of Būbleliai, near Šakiai. During the First World War, his family fled to Russia where he observed the Russian revolution of 1917... |
|
| 2 | February 18, 1974 – November 14, 1987 | Petras Griškevičius Petras Griškevicius Petras Griškevičius was a high-level communist party official in the Lithuanian SSR. He was the First Secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party from 1974 to his death.At the beginning of World War II, Griškevičius retreated into the Russian SFSR... |
|
| 3 | December 1, 1987 – October 19, 1988 | Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila was an official of the Lithuanian SSR nomenclatura.Songaila was member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania , Chairman of the Council of Ministers , Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR , and First Secretary of... |
First leader of the party to be deposed of his power (Sniečkus and Griškevičius held office until their death) |
| 4 | October 19, 1988 – March 11, 1990 | Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas | Lost power as independence was declared |
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet acted as a collective head of state from August 25, 1940 to March 11, 1990.
| Term | Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet | Justas Paleckis Justas Paleckis Justas Paleckis was a Lithuanian journalist and politician. He was acting president of Lithuania after the Soviet invasion while Lithuania was still ostensibly independent, in office from June 17 – August 3, 1940.... | In Russian SFSR exile 1941–1944 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 14, 1967 – December 24, 1975 | Motiejus Šumauskas Motiejus Šumauskas Motiejus or Matas Šumauskas was a Lithuanian communist activist and politician. He served as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1956 to 1963 and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR from 1967 to 1975.Šumauskas received only... |
||
| December 24, 1975 – November 18, 1985 | Antanas Barkauskas | ||
| November 18, 1985 – December 7, 1987 | Ringaudas Songaila | ||
| December 7, 1987 – January 15, 1990 | Vitautas Astrauskas | ||
| January 15, 1990 – March 11, 1990 | Algirdas Brazauskas Algirdas Brazauskas Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas was the first President of a newly independent post-Soviet Union Lithuania from 1993 to 1998 and Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006.... |
Republic of Lithuania (1990–present)
The leader of the Supreme Council was the official head of state from the declaration of independence on March 11, 1990 until the new Constitution came into effect in 1992 establishing the office of President and the institution of SeimasSeimas
The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation...
. The state and its leadership were not recognized internationally until September 1991.
Title from 1990 to 1992: Chairman of the Supreme Council (Parliament) .
Title from 1992 onwards: President .
| No. | Image | Name | Date of birth/death | Took office | Left office | Affiliation/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Vytautas Landsbergis Vytautas Landsbergis Professor Vytautas Landsbergis is a Lithuanian conservative politician and Member of the European Parliament. He was the first head of state of Lithuania after its independence declaration from the Soviet Union, and served as the Head of the Lithuanian Parliament Seimas... |
18 October 1932 | 11 March 1990 | 25 November 1992 | As Chairman of the Supreme Council. |
| Algirdas Brazauskas Algirdas Brazauskas Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas was the first President of a newly independent post-Soviet Union Lithuania from 1993 to 1998 and Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006.... (acting) |
22 September 1932 - 26 June 2010 | 25 November 1992 | 25 February 1993 | |||
| 2 | Algirdas Brazauskas Algirdas Brazauskas Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas was the first President of a newly independent post-Soviet Union Lithuania from 1993 to 1998 and Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006.... |
22 September 1932 - 26 June 2010 | 25 February 1993 | 25 February 1998 | First post-Soviet President. | |
| 3 |  |
Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next... |
3 November 1926 | 26 February 1998 | 26 February 2003 | |
| 4 | Rolandas Paksas Rolandas Paksas Rolandas Paksas is a Lithuanian politician who was President of Lithuania from 2003 to 2004. He was previously Prime Minister of Lithuania in 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001, and he also served as Mayor of Vilnius from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2001... |
23 August 1953 | 26 February 2003 | 6 April 2004 | Impeached and removed from office. | |
 |
Artūras Paulauskas Arturas Paulauskas Artūras Paulauskas is a Lithuanian politician. He was the Speaker of Seimas, the parliament of Lithuania, from 2000 to 2006, and he served as Acting President of Lithuania from 6 April 2004 to 12 July 2004.-Early career:... (acting) |
23 August 1953 | 6 April 2004 | 12 July 2004 | As leader of Seimas, temporarily performed the duties of the President until the next election. | |
| 5 | |
Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus Valdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next... |
3 November 1926 | 12 July 2004 | 12 July 2009 | |
| 6 | Dalia Grybauskaitė Dalia Grybauskaitė Dalia Grybauskaitė is the current President of Lithuania, inaugurated on 12 July 2009. She had previously been Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance Minister, and European Commissioner for Financial Programming and the Budget... |
1 March 1956 | 12 July 2009 | Present |