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| History of Lithuania |
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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.[1]
Kingdom of Lithuania (1251–1263)
Title: King of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos karalius). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.
House of Mindaugas (1253–1263)
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Mindaugas 1236 – 1253 (as Grand Duke) 1253 – 1263 (as King) |
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c. 1203 Son of mythological Ringaudas |
(1) NN, sister of Morta 2 children (2) Morta 2 children |
1263 Aglona Assassinated by Treniota and Daumantas Aged about 60 |
Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1263–1569)
Title: Grand Duke (Lithuanian: didysis kunigaikštis; Belarusian: vialiki kniaź; Polish: wielki książę). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.
House of Mindaugas (1263–1267)
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Duke Treniota 1263 – 1264 |
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Unknown Son of NN, Mindaugas' sister and Vykintas |
Unknown 1 child |
1264 Murdered by servants loyal to Mindaugas' son Vaišvilkas |
| Grand Duke Vaišvilkas 1264 – 1267 |
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Unknown Son of Mindaugas and Morta |
Unmarried and childless |
1268 Was murdered by Leo I of Galicia |
House of Monomakh (1267–1269)
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Duke Shvarn Lithuanian: Švarnas 1267 – 1269 |
c. 1230 Halych Son of Daniel of Galicia |
NN, daughter of Mindaugas No children |
c. 1269 Kholm Aged about 39 |
House of Mindaugas (1269–1285)
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Duke Traidenis 1270 – 1282 |
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1220 | Ona of Masovia 1 child |
1282 Kernavė Aged 62 |
| Grand Duke Daumantas 1282 – 1285 |
Unknown | Unknown | 3 March 1285 Died in a battle by Tver |
House of Gediminas (1285–1440)
| Name | Portrait | Arms | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Duke Butigeidis 1285 – 1291 |
None known | Unknown Son of Skalmantas (?) |
Unknown | 1291 | |
| Grand Duke Butvydas 1291 – 1295 |
None known | Unknown Son of Skalmantas (?) |
Unknown | c. 1294–1295 | |
| Grand Duke Vytenis 1295 – 1316 |
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None known | 1260 Son of Butvydas |
Vikinda 1 child |
1316 Aged 56 |
| Grand Duke Gediminas 1316 – 1341 |
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None known | c. 1275 Son of Butvydas |
Jaunė 13 children |
c. 1341 Raudonė Aged about 66 |
| Grand Duke Jaunutis 1341 – 1345 |
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None known | c. 1306−1309 Son of Gediminas and Jaunė |
Unknown 3 children |
c. 1366 Aged 57−60 |
| Grand Duke (Diarchy with Kęstutis) Algirdas 1345 – 1377 |
 |
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c. 1296 Son of Gediminas and Jaunė |
(1) Maria of Vitebsk 6 children (2) Uliana of Tver 8 children |
c. 1377 Maišiagala Aged about 81 |
| Grand Duke (Diarchy with Kęstutis) Jogaila Algirdaitis May 1377 – August 1381 |
.jpg) |
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c. 1352−1362 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver |
(1) Jadwiga of Poland No children (2) Anna of Cilli 1 child (3) Elizabeth Granowska No children (4) Sophia of Halshany 2 children |
1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński Aged 72−82 |
| Grand Duke Kęstutis 1381 – 1382 |
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c. 1297 Senieji Trakai Son of Gediminas and Jaunė |
Birutė 3 children |
1382 Kreva Murdered by the order of Jogaila while imprisoned Aged 84–85 |
| Grand Duke Jogaila Algirdaitis 3 August 1382 – 1 June 1434 (51 years, 302 days) |
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c. 1352−1362 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver |
(1) Jadwiga of Poland No children (2) Anna of Cilli 1 child (3) Elizabeth Granowska No children (4) Sophia of Halshany 2 children |
1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński Aged 72−82 |
| Act of Kreva signed in 1385 Poland and Lithuania de jure are ruled by one monarch but remain to be separate states. | |||||
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Jogaila Algirdaitis 3 August 1382 – 1 June 1434 (51 years, 302 days) |
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c. 1352−1362 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver |
(1) Jadwiga of Poland No children (2) Anna of Cilli 1 child (3) Elizabeth Granowska No children (4) Sophia of Halshany 2 children |
1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński Aged 72−82 |
| Grand Duke Skirgaila 1386 – 1392 |
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c. 1353–1354 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver |
Unmarried and childless |
11 January 1397 Kyiv Possibly poisoned by the order of the Russian Orthodox priests Aged 43−44 |
| 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 Vytautas the Great 4 August 1392 – 27 October 1430 (38 years, 84 days) |
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c. 1350 Senieji Trakai Son of Kęstutis and Birutė |
(1) Anna 1 child (2) Uliana Olshanska No children |
27 October 1430 Trakai Aged about 80 |
| Grand Duke Švitrigaila October 1430 – 1 August 1432 |
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Before 1370 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver |
Anna of Tver 1 child |
10 February 1452 Lutsk Aged about 82 |
| Grand Duke Sigismund Kęstutaitis Lithuanian: Žygimantas Kęstutaitis 1432 – 1440 |
.jpg) |
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1365 Trakai Son of Kęstutis and Birutė |
Unknown 1 child |
20 March 1440 Trakai Murdered by supporters of Švitrigaila Aged 75 |
House of Jagiellon (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 was a direct continuation of the Gediminids.
| Name | Portrait | Arms | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Casimir IV Jagiellon Lithuanian: Kazimieras Jogailaitis 29 June 1440 – 7 June 1492 (51 years, 344 days) |
.jpg) |
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30 November 1427 Kraków Son of Jogaila Algirdaitis and Sophia of Halshany |
Elisabeth of Austria 12 children |
7 June 1492 Old Grodno Castle Aged 64 |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon Lithuanian: Aleksandras Jogailaitis 30 July 1492 – 19 August 1506 (14 years, 20 days) |
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5 August 1461 Kraków Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and Elisabeth of Austria |
Helena of Moscow No children |
19 August 1506 Vilnius Aged 45 |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund I Sigismund I the Old Lithuanian: Žygimantas Senasis 8 December 1506 – 1 April 1548 (41 years, 115 days) |
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1 January 1467 Kozienice Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and Elisabeth of Austria |
(1) Barbara Zápolya 2 children (2) Bona Sforza 6 children |
1 April 1548 Kraków Aged 81 |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus Lithuanian: Žygimantas Augustas 1 April 1548 – 7 July 1572 (24 years, 97 days) |
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1 August 1520 Kraków Son of Žygimantas the Old and Bona Sforza |
(1) Elisabeth of Austria No children (2) Barbara Radziwiłł No children (3) Catherine of Austria No children |
7 July 1572 Knyszyn Aged 51 |
| Union of Lublin signed in 1569 Poland and Lithuania are united into a single Commonwealth. | |||||
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)
The Polish–Lithuanian 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 Kėdainiai 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 Polish–Lithuanian 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
Lithuanian: Lenkijos karalius ir Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis
Polish: Król Polski, wielki książę litewski
Latin: Rex Poloniae et Magnus Dux Lituaniae
| Name | Portrait | Arms | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death | Claim | House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus Lithuanian: Žygimantas Augustas 1 July 1569 – 7 July 1572 (24 years, 98 days) |
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1 August 1520 Kraków Son of Žygimantas the Old and Bona Sforza |
(3) Elisabeth of Austria Barbara Radziwiłł Catherine of Austria |
7 July 1572 Knyszyn Aged 51 |
Hereditary First monarch to introduce elective monarchy |
Jagiellon |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Henry Lithuanian: Henrikas Valua 16 May 1573 – 12 May 1575 (1 year, 362 days) |
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19 September 1551 Fontainebleau Son of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici |
(1) Louise of Lorraine, no children | 2 August 1589 Saint-Cloud Aged 37 |
Elected Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his brother in France Interregnum until 1575 |
Valois |
| Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess Anna Lithuanian: Ona Jogailaitė 15 December 1575 – 19 August 1587 (de facto) (11 years, 248 days) – 9 September 1596 (de jure) (20 years, 270 days) |
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18 October 1523 Kraków Daughter of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza |
(1) Stephen Báthory, no children | 9 September 1596 Warsaw Aged 72 |
Elected co-monarch with Stephen Báthory Sole ruler until Báthory's arrival and coronation in May 1576 Ruled after husband's death until her nephew was elected |
Jagiellon |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Stephen Báthory Lithuanian: Steponas Batoras 1 May 1576 – 12 December 1586 (10 years, 226 days) |
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27 September 1533 Szilágysomlyó (Șimleu Silvaniei) Son of Stephen Báthory of Somlyó and Catherine Telegdi |
(1) Anna Jagiellon, no children | 12 December 1586 Grodno Aged 53 |
Elected as co-monarch with Anna Jagiellon Previously Prince of Transylvania |
Báthory |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund III Lithuanian: Zigmantas Vaza 19 August 1587 – 30 April 1632 (44 years, 256 days) |
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20 June 1566 Gripsholm Son of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagiellon |
(1) Anne of Austria (2) Constance of Austria |
30 April 1632 Warsaw Aged 65 |
Elected, nephew of Anna Jagiellon Transferred capital from Kraków to Warsaw Hereditary King of Sweden until deposition in 1599 |
Vasa |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Władysław IV also Ladislaus IV Lithuanian: Vladislovas Vaza 8 November 1632 – 20 May 1648 (15 years, 195 days) |
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9 June 1595 Łobzów Son of Sigismund III and Anne of Austria |
(1) Cecilia Renata of Austria (2) 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 |
Vasa |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke John II Casimir Lithuanian: Jonas Kazimieras Vaza 20 November 1648 – 16 September 1668 (19 years, 302 days) |
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22 March 1609 Kraków Son of Sigismund III and Constance of Austria |
(1) Marie Louise Gonzaga (2) Claudine Françoise Mignot (morganatic marriage) |
16 December 1672 Nevers Aged 63 |
Elective succession, succeeded half-brother Previously a cardinal Titular King of Sweden Abdicated |
Vasa |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Michael I Lithuanian: Mykolas Kaributas Višnioveckis 19 June 1669 – 10 November 1673 (4 years, 145 days) |
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31 May 1640 Biały Kamień Son of Jeremi Wiśniowiecki and Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska |
(1) 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 |