List of Polish monarchs

Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, kings were elected by the nobility (14th to 18th centuries).

Duke Mieszko I adopted Christianity under the authority of Rome in the year 966. He was succeeded by his son, Bolesław I the Brave, who greatly expanded the boundaries of the Polish state and ruled as the first king in 1025. The following centuries gave rise to the mighty Piast dynasty, consisting of both kings such as Mieszko II Lambert, Przemysł II or Władysław I the Elbow-high and dukes like Bolesław III Wrymouth. The dynasty's rule over Poland ceased with the death of Casimir III the Great in 1370. In the same year, the Capetian House of Anjou became the ruling house with Louis I of Hungary as king of both Poland and Hungary. His daughter, Jadwiga, later married Jogaila, the pagan Grand Duke of Lithuania, who in 1386 was baptised and crowned as Władysław II Jagiełło. After Jadwiga had died in 1399 without surviving children, the Polish hereditary monarchy ended. Władysław remained on the throne as elected king. His descendants continued to be chosen as monarchs by noblemen, creating the Jagiellonian dynasty, and during this time, a personal union between Poland and Lithuania took place.

During the reign of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Sigismund I the Old, culture flourished and cities developed. This era of progress, also known as the Polish Renaissance, continued until the Union of Lublin under Sigismund II Augustus, which unofficially marked the end of the Polish Golden Age. After the death of the last Jagiellonian king, the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth continued the policy of elective monarchy, with mostly foreigners elected as monarchs, such as Henry III of France, who witnessed the introduction of the Golden Liberty system, and Stephen Báthory, a capable military commander who strengthened the nation. The Vasa dynasty, which descended from Jagiellons, initially expanded the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as the arts and crafts developed, as well as trade and commerce. King Sigismund III Vasa, a talented but somewhat despotic ruler, involved the country in many wars, which subsequently resulted in the successful capture of Moscow and the loss of Livonia to Sweden. His son, Władysław IV Vasa, fiercely defended the Commonwealth's borders and continued the policy of his father until his death, unlike John II Casimir, whose tragic rule resulted in his abdication.

The election of John III Sobieski to the Polish throne proved to be beneficial for the Commonwealth. A brilliant military tactician, John III led the coalition forces to victory at Vienna in 1683 and he partially recaptured land from the Ottoman Empire. However, in the following years, the contested rule of the Wettin dynasty (Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III of Poland) placed the Commonwealth under the influence of Saxony and the Russian Empire. Additional feuds with rebel nobility (szlachta) and most notably Stanislaus I Leszczyński and France diminished the influence of Poland–Lithuania in the region, which led to the partitions that occurred under King Stanisław August Poniatowski, yet another enlightened but ineffective monarch.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, ruled as Duke of Warsaw and attempted to rehabilitate the Polish state. After the Congress of Vienna, the territory of Poland was again divided by the Prussia (with the Prussian King as Grand Duke of Posen), Russia (Congress Poland was founded in 1815 with the Emperor of Russia as King of Poland) and Austria (with the Austrian Emperors as Kings of Galicia and Lodomeria). A new Kingdom of Poland was proclaimed as an independent state in 1916 with a Regency Council but the monarchy was abolished and a parliamentary republican authority was established when Poland was re-constituted as a sovereign state in 1918.

Legendary

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

|<big>Lech, Czech, and Rus|</big>

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Lech in Chronica Polonorum

| Unknown

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

| Lechites (Tribe)

|<big>Krakus</big> also Krak or Grakch –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Krakus in Chronica Polonorum

| Unknown

| Legendary founder of Kraków

| Lechites (Tribe)

|<big></big> –

| 100px

| Son of Krakus

| Unknown

| Succession

| Lechites (Tribe)

|<big></big> –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Lech II in Chronica Polonorum

| Son of Krakus I, brother of Krakus II

| Unknown

| Succession

| Lechites (Tribe)

|<big>Princess Wanda|</big> also Wąda –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Wanda in Chronica Polonorum

| Daughter of Krakus, sister of Krakus II and Lech II

| Unknown

| Succession

| Lechites (Tribe)

| Duke <big></big> also Leszek –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Leszko I in Sarmatiae Europeae descriptio by Alexander Guagnini

| –

| Unknown

| –

| Birth name Przemysław, defeated the Hungarians and was crowned<hr />Elected

| Goplans and Polans (Tribes)

| Duke <big></big> –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Leszko II in Sarmatiae Europeae descriptio by Alexander Guagnini

| Presumed son of Leszko I, Alleged progenitor of the Popielids dynasty

| Unknown

| Succession

| Popielids

| Duke <big></big> –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Leszko III in Sarmatiae Europeae descriptio by Alexander Guagnini

| Presumed son of Leszko II

| Unknown

| Succession

| Popielids

| Duke <big></big> –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Popiel in Chronica Polonorum

| Presumed son of Leszko III

| Unknown

| Succession

| Popielids

| Duke <big>Popiel II|</big> –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Popiel in Sarmatiae Europeae descriptio by Alexander Guagnini

| NN, A German Princess

| A legendary ruler was dethroned by Piast. He appears (without the number) in the oldest Polish chronicle, from the early 12th century<hr />Succession

| Popielids

| <big></big> –

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Piast the Wheelwright by Walery Eljasz Radzikowski

| Son of Chościsko

| Rzepicha 1 child

| Legendary founder of the Piast dynasty. He appears in the oldest Polish chronicle, from the early 12th century

| Piast

House of Piast

The three direct predecessors of Mieszko I are known only from the account of Gallus Anonymus, who wrote the oldest Polish chronicle, at the beginning of the 12th century. Though their historicity was once debatable, now historians tend to consider them as actually existing rulers.

| Duke <big>Siemowit|</big> also Ziemowit – 9th century

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Siemowit by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski

| 9th century Presumed son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha

| Unknown

| 9th century

| Named Duke of the Polans after his father, Piast the Wheelwright, refused to take the place of legendary Duke Popiel<hr />Elected

| Piast

| Duke <big>Lestek|</big> also Leszek or Lestko 9th century – 10th century

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Lestek by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski

| – 880 Presumed son of Siemowit

| Unknown

| – 950

| Named Duke of the Polans after succeeding his father<hr />Succession

| Piast

| Duke <big>Siemomysł|</big> also Ziemomysł Latin: Zemomislaus 10th century – /960

| 100px|Imaginary depiction of Siemomysł by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski

| Presumed son of Lestek

| Unknown

| – 960

| Named Duke of the Polans after succeeding his father<hr />Succession

| Piast

Mieszko I started his reign as leader of the Polans, while other parts of future Poland were settled by other tribes, such as Masovians, Vistulans, Lendians, Silesians or Pomeranians. During his reign, Mieszko united Polish lands and adopted Christianity, connecting Poland with western Europe. His descendants ruled the state as natural lords and Poland was seen as their hereditary property. Because of that, the state was often divided between the sons of the deceased ruler and eventually united by one of them. Early Polish rulers were not considered equal to Western European kings, so their title is translated as a duke. Some of them managed to prepare a coronation and adopted the title of king, but the effects of those efforts were short lived.

| Duke <big>Mieszko I</big> Latin: Misico, dux Wandalorum – 25 May 992 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of semi-legendary Siemomysł

| Doubravka of Bohemia 1 child<hr /> Oda of Haldensleben 3 or 4 children

| 25 May 992 Poznań Aged about 62

| First Christian ruler of Poland<hr />Succession

| Piast

| King <big>Bolesław I the Brave</big> also Boleslaus I the Great 992 – 1025 (as duke)<hr />18 April 1025 – 17 June 1025 (as king) ( years)

| 100px

| Poznań<hr />Son of Mieszko I and Doubravka of Bohemia

| Hunilda, daughter of Rikdag<hr /> Judith of Hungary 1 child<hr /> Emnilda of Lusatia 5 children<hr /> Oda of Meissen 1 child

| 17 June 1025 Kraków Aged about 58

| First crowned king<hr />Succession

| Piast

| King <big>Mieszko II Lambert</big> 25 December 1025 – 1031 ( years)

| 100px|Mieszko II Lambert receiving a liturgical book from Matilda of Swabia

| <hr />Son of Bolesław I the Brave and Emnilda of Lusatia

| Richeza of Lotharingia 4 children

| 10/11 May 1034 Poznań Aged about 44

| Crowned king<hr />Succession<hr />Deposed by Bezprym

| Piast

| Duke <big>Bezprym</big> 1031 – 1032 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Bolesław I the Brave and Judith of Hungary

| Unknown

| Aged about 46

| Usurped

| Piast

| Duke <big>Otto</big> 1032 – 1033 ( years)

| 50px

| <hr />Son of Bolesław I the Brave and Emnilda of Lusatia

| Unknown

| Aged about 33

| Country divided, ruler of a Duchy

| Piast

| Duke <big>Dytryk</big> also Dietrich and Theoderick 1032 – 1033 ( years)

| 50px

| <hr />Son of Lambert Mieszkowic or Mieszko Mieszkowic

| Unknown

| Aged about 41

| Country divided, ruler of a Duchy

| Piast

| Duke <big>Mieszko II Lambert</big> 1032 – 1034 ( years)

| 100px|Mieszko II Lambert

| <hr />Son of Bolesław I the Brave and Emnilda of Lusatia

| Richeza of Lotharingia 4 children

| 10/11 May 1034 Poznań Aged about 44

| Country divided until 1033<hr />Restored as duke

| Piast

| King <big>Bolesław the Forgotten</big> 1034 – 1038/1039 ( years)

| 50px

| before 1016<hr />Presumed son of Mieszko II Lambert

| Unknown

| 1038/1039

| Semi-legendary, existence disputed

| Piast

| Duke <big>Casimir I the Restorer</big> 1034/1040 – 1058 ( years)

| 100px

| 25 July 1016<hr />Son of Mieszko II Lambert and Richeza of Lotharingia

| Maria Dobroniega 5 children

| 19 March 1058 Poznań Aged 41

| Made prince in 1034, returned from abroad in 1040<hr />Restoration

| Piast

| King <big>Bolesław II the Generous</big> 1058 – 1076 (as duke) 26 December 1076 – 1079 (as king) ( years)

| 100px

| 1042<hr />Son of Casimir I the Restorer and Maria Dobroniega of Kiev

| Wyszesława of Kiev 1 child

| 2/3 April 1081 Hungary or Ossiach Aged about 39

| Crowned king in 1076<hr />Deposed and exiled in 1079 after slaying Stanislaus of Szczepanów

| Piast

| Duke <big>Władysław I Herman</big> 1079 – 4 June 1102 ( years)

| 100px

| 1044<hr />Son of Casimir I the Restorer and Maria Dobroniega of Kiev

| Unknown 1 child<hr /> Judith of Bohemia 1 child<hr /> Judith of Swabia 3 children

| 24 June 1102 Płock Aged about 58

| Succeeded brother after his exile

| Piast

| Duke <big>Zbigniew (duke of Poland)</big> 1102 – 1107 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Władysław I Herman and Przecława (?)

| Unknown

| 8 July 1113 Aged about 40

| Country divided, ruler of a Duchy<hr />Succession

| Piast

| Duke <big>Bolesław III Wrymouth</big> also Boleslaus III 1102 – 1138 ( years)

| 100px

| 20 August 1086 Płock<hr />Son of Władysław I Herman and Judith of Bohemia

| Zbyslava of Kiev 1 child<hr /> Salomea of Berg 12 children

| 28 October 1138 Sochaczew Aged 52

| Country divided until 1107<hr />Succession<hr />His death led to the fragmentation of Poland

| Piast

Fragmentation of Poland (1138–1320)

After a period of fights between brothers and unstable inheritance, Bolesław III Wrymouth decided to formalize succession. According to his testament, the state was divided into provinces - one for every son and a Senioral Province with the capital city Kraków. The testament established two principles on which the new order in Poland was based: principate and seniorate. One duke, the princeps (also called in English high duke), had supreme authority over other dukes and ruled the senioral province. This princeps should be the oldest member of the dynasty, not necessarily the son of the predecessor. During the time of fragmentation, both principles were abolished. Seniorate was formally abolished in 1180 during the assembly of dukes and bishops in Łęczyca, when Casimir II the Just was made hereditary high duke. The Principate was de facto ended in 1227 with the assassination of Leszek I the White, after which local dukes no longer respected suzerainty of the high duke.

| High Duke <big>Władysław II the Exile</big> 1138 – 1146 ( years)

| 100px

| 1105 Kraków<hr />Son of Bolesław III Wrymouth and Zbyslava of Kiev

| Agnes of Babenberg 5 children

| 30 May 1159 Altenburg Aged 54

| Duke of Silesia Succession<hr />Deposed and exiled

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Bolesław IV the Curly</big> 1146 – 1173 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Bolesław III Wrymouth and Salomea of Berg

| Viacheslava of Novgorod 3 children

| 5 January 1173 Aged about 51

| Duke of Masovia 1138 Succeeded, exiled half-brother

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Mieszko III of Poland</big> 1173 – 1177 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Bolesław III Wrymouth and Salomea of Berg

| Elizabeth of Hungary, Duchess of Greater Poland<hr /> Eudoxia of Kiev

| 13 March 1202 Kalisz Aged about 75

| Duke of Greater Poland 1138 Succession<hr />Deposed by his brother in 1177

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Casimir II the Just</big> 1177 – 1191 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Bolesław III Wrymouth and Salomea of Berg

| Helen of Znojmo 7 children

| 5 May 1194 Kraków Aged about 56

| Usurped power from brother

| Piast

| <big>Mieszko III</big> 1191 – 1191

| 100px

| –

| Usurped

| Piast

| <big>Casimir II the Just</big> 1191 – 1194

| 100px

| –

| Restoration

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Leszek I the White</big> 1194 – 1198 ( years)

| 100px

| /1185<hr />Son of Casimir II the Just and Helen of Znojmo

| Grzymisława of Luck 2 children

| 24 November 1227 Marcinkowo Górne Aged about 43

| Succession

| Piast

| <big>Mieszko III</big> 1198 – 1199

| 100px

| –

| Agreement with Leszek and his regents

| Piast

| <big>Leszek I the White</big> 1199 – 1199

| 100px

| –

| Restored

| Piast

| <big>Mieszko III</big> 1199 – 1202

| 100px

| –

| Restored

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Władysław III Spindleshanks</big> 1202 – 1206 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Mieszko III of Poland and Eudoxia of Kiev

| Lucia of Rügen 2 children

| 3 November 1231 Aged about 64

| Invited to rule by voivode Mikołaj Gryfita

| Piast

| <big>Leszek I the White</big> 1206 – 1210

| 100px

| –

| Restored

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Mieszko IV Tanglefoot</big> 1210 – 1211 ( years)

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Władysław II the Exile and Agnes of Babenberg

| Ludmila 5 children

| 16 May 1211 Aged about 81

| Usurped

| Piast

| <big>Leszek I the White</big> 1211 – 1227 ( years)

| 100px

| –

| Restored<hr />Murdered in 1227

| Piast

| <big>Władysław III Spindleshanks</big> 1228 – 1231

| 100px

| –

| Succession agreement with predecessor

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Henry the Bearded</big> 1231 – 1238 ( years)

| 100px

| /1188 Głogów<hr />Son of Bolesław I the Tall and Christina (?)

| Hedwig of Silesia 7 children

| 19 March 1238 Krosno Odrzańskie Aged about 73

| Succession agreement with predecessor

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Henry II the Pious</big> 1238 – 1241 ( years)

| 100px

| Głogów<hr />Son of Henry the Bearded and Hedwig of Silesia

| Anne of Bohemia 10 children

| 9 April 1241 Legnickie Pole Aged about 45

| Succession<hr />Killed at the Battle of Legnica

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Bolesław II the Horned</big> 1241 – 1241

| 50px

| /1225 Głogów<hr />Son of Henry II the Pious and Anne of Bohemia

| Hedwig of Anhalt 7 children Euphemia of Pomerania Sophia of Dyhrn

| 26 December 1278 Legnica

| Succession<hr />Deposed

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Konrad I of Masovia</big> 1241 – 1243 ( years)

| 100px

| /1188<hr />Son of Casimir II the Just and Helen of Znojmo

| Agafia of Rus 10 children

| 31 August 1247 Aged about 60

| Usurped

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Bolesław V the Chaste</big> 1243 – 1279 ( years)

| 100px

| 21 June 1226 Stary Korczyn<hr />Son of Leszek I the White and Grzymisława of Luck

| Kinga of Poland

| 7 December 1279 Kraków Aged 52

| Restored as the rightful Duke

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Leszek II the Black</big> 1279 – 1288 ( years)

| 100px

| Brześć Kujawski<hr />Son of Casimir I of Kuyavia and Constance of Wrocław

| Gryfina of Halych

| 30 September 1288 Kraków Aged about 47

| Adopted by predecessor<hr />Succession

| Piast

| High Duke <big>Henry Probus</big> English: Henry the Righteous 1288 – 1290 ( years)

| 100px

| /1258<hr />Son of Henry III the White and Judith of Masovia

| Constance, Duchess of Wodzisław<hr /> Matilda of Brandenburg

| 23 June 1290 Wrocław Aged about 32

| Usurped

| Piast

Attempt at restoration (1295–1296)

In the 13th century, the idea of the reunification of Poland under a single ruler started to gain popularity. It was often connected with the coronation and establishment of the hereditary kingdom. First attempts were made by Henry II the Pious and Henry Probus, but both of them died before they managed to achieve their goals. The first duke, who became king in this period, was Przemysł II. He ruled briefly as high duke but didn't manage to unite all Polish lands. He crowned himself when ruling in his hereditary province, Greater Poland, and in the province of Eastern Pomerania. His assassination in 1296 delayed the unification of Poland by 20 years.

| King <big>Przemysł II</big> English: Premislaus II 1290 – 1291 (as High Duke)<hr />1295 – 1296 (as King) (1 year)

| 100px

| 14 October 1257 Poznań<hr />Son of Przemysł I of Greater Poland and Elisabeth of Wrocław

| Ludgarda of Mecklenburg<hr /> Richeza of Sweden 1 child<hr /> Margaret of Brandenburg

| 8 February 1296 Rogoźno Aged 38

| Named an heir in predecessor's testament<hr />Crowned king in 1295<hr />Granted Poland its coat of arms<hr />Assassinated

| Piast

Přemyslid House

The House of Přemyslid were kings of Bohemia and had many family connections with the Piast dynasty. In 1291, Wenceslaus II of Bohemia exploited the weakness of an internally divided Poland and conquered Kraków, basing his claim on loose family ties with one of the previous high dukes. He later legitimised his rule by marrying the daughter of Przemysł II, which also gave him claims to Polish kingship.

| King <big>Wenceslaus II of Bohemia</big> 1291 – 1300 (as High Duke)<hr />1300 – 1305 (as King) ( years)

| 100px

| 27 September 1271 Prague<hr />Son of Ottokar II of Bohemia and Kunigunda of Halych

| Judith of Habsburg 10 children<hr /> Elisabeth Richeza of Poland 1 child

| 21 June 1305 Prague Aged 33

| Usurped<hr />Crowned himself King of Poland in 1300

| Přemyslid

| (Uncrowned) <big>Wenceslaus III of Bohemia</big> 1305 – 1306 (1 year)

| 100px

| 6 October 1289 Prague<hr />Son of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and Judith of Habsburg

| Viola of Teschen

| 4 August 1306 Olomouc Aged 16

| Succession<hr />Uncrowned and assassinated

| Přemyslid

House of Piast (restored)

Near the end of the reign of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, his rule over Poland was undermined by the remaining polish dukes - especially by Władysław I the Elbow-high, who had been exiled by Wenceslaus and had a strong claim to inheritance of Przemysł II, and by Henry III, Duke of Głogów, who also was an heir of Przemysł. The assassination of Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, which led to the extinction of the Přemyslid dynasty and a succession crisis in Bohemia, left Poland to Wenceslaus's opponents. His successors in Bohemia called themselves kings of Poland until 1335. Eventually, Władysław I the Elbow-high managed to unite the two main provinces of Poland - Greater Poland and Lesser Poland - and crowned himself king in 1320, ending the period of feudal fragmentation.

| King <big>Władysław I the Elbow-high</big> 1306 – 1320 (as High Duke)<hr />20 January 1320 – 2 March 1333 (as King) ()

| 100px|16th century portrait by Antoni Boys

| 100px

| <hr />Son of Casimir I of Kuyavia and Euphrosyne of Opole

| Jadwiga of Kalisz 6 children

| 2 March 1333 Kraków Aged about 73

| Rebellion against Přemyslid rule<hr/ >Reunited the Kingdom of Poland after fragmentation<hr />Crowned King in 1320

| Piast

| King <big>Casimir III the Great</big> 25 April 1333 – 5 November 1370 ()

| 100px|Sarcophagus effigy at Wawel Cathedral, Kraków

| 100px

| 30 April 1310 Kowal<hr />Son of Władysław I Łokietek and Jadwiga of Kalisz

| Aldona of Lithuania 2 children<hr /> Adelaide of Hesse<hr /> Christina Rokiczana<hr /> Hedwig of Sagan 3 children

| 5 November 1370 Kraków Aged 60

| Succession<hr />Strengthened Poland's position in Europe<hr />Died without a male heir<hr />Last monarch from the Piast Dynasty

| Piast

House of Anjou

Casimir III the Great died without male heir. According to previous agreements, his successor became his nephew, king of Hungary Louis I of Hungary, beginning the Polish-Hungarian personal union. After Louis death, his kingdoms were separated - his younger daughter, Jadwiga of Poland, became the female king of Poland after a brief interregnum. Mary, Queen of Hungary became queen of Hungary.

| King <big>Louis I of Hungary</big> 17 November 1370 – 10 September 1382 ()

| 100px

| 5 March 1326 Visegrád<hr />Son of Charles I of Hungary and Elizabeth of Poland, Queen of Hungary

| Margaret of Bohemia, Queen of Hungary<hr /> Elizabeth of Bosnia 4 children

| 10 September 1382 Nagyszombat (Trnava) Aged 56

| Succeeded his uncle, Casimir III the Great, to the Polish throne

| Anjou

| Queen <big>Jadwiga of Poland</big> 16 October 1384 – 17 July 1399 ()

| 100px|Portrait on seal

| 100px

| 3 October 1373–18 February 1374 Buda<hr />Daughter of Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of Bosnia

| William, Duke of Austria (disputed)<hr /> Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila) 1 child

| 17 July 1399 Kraków Aged 25

| Succeeded her father in Poland. The last hereditary ruler of Poland.<hr />Her husband was crowned jure uxoris on 4 March 1386.

| Anjou

House of Jagiellon

Female king Jadwiga of Poland started her reign young and unmarried, which gave Poland a huge opportunity. She eventually married the pagan Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila, who adopted the name Władysław II Jagiełło after baptism. This event led to the creation of the Polish–Lithuanian personal union. After Jadwiga's death, Władysław remained king of Poland, but he and his successors were no longer considered natural lords of Poland and often had to give privileges to nobility in exchange for support of the succession of their children.

| King <big>Władysław II Jagiełło</big> 2 February 1386 – 1 June 1434 ()

| 100px

| /1362 Vilnius<hr />Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver

| Jadwiga of Poland 1 child<hr /> Anna of Cilli 1 child<hr /> Elizabeth Granowska<hr /> Sophia of Halshany 3 children

| 1 June 1434 Gródek Aged 72–82

| Born a pagan<hr />Previously Grand Duke of Lithuania<hr />Crowned co-ruler as husband Jadwiga of Poland<hr />Longest-reigning Polish monarch

| Jagiellon

| King <big>Władysław III of Poland</big> English: Ladislaus III of Varna 25 July 1434 – 10 November 1444 ()

| 100px

| 31 October 1424 Kraków<hr />Son of Władysław II Jagiełło and Sophia of Halshany

| Unmarried and childless

| 10 November 1444 Varna Aged 20 (presumed)

| Elected as his father's successor in Poland<hr />Presumed to be killed at the Battle of Varna<hr />Interregnum until 1447

| Jagiellon

| King <big>Casimir IV Jagiellon</big> 25 June 1447 – 7 June 1492 ()

| 100px

| 30 November 1427 Kraków<hr />Son of Władysław II Jagiełło and Sophia of Halshany

| Elizabeth of Austria 13 children

| 7 June 1492 Grodno Aged 64

| Election<hr />Previously Grand Duke of Lithuania<hr />Divided the Polish–Lithuanian realm between John I Albert and Alexander Jagiellon

| Jagiellon

| King <big>John I Albert</big> 27 August 1492 – 17 June 1501 ()

| 100px

| 27 December 1459 Kraków<hr />Son of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Elizabeth of Austria

| Unmarried and childless

| 17 June 1501 Toruń Aged 41

| Elected as his father's successor in Poland<hr />Laid foundation for the Sejm and Senate (Polish Parliament)

| Jagiellon

| King <big>Alexander Jagiellon</big> 3 October 1501 – 19 August 1506 ()

| 100px

| 5 August 1461 Kraków<hr />Son of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Elizabeth of Austria

| Helena of Moscow

| 19 August 1506 Vilnius Aged 45

| Succeeded his brother in Poland as elective monarch<hr />Previously Grand Duke of Lithuania<hr />Buried in Lithuania

| Jagiellon

| King <big>Sigismund I the Old</big> 8 December 1506 – 1 April 1548 ()

| 100px

| 1 January 1467 Kozienice<hr />Son of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Elizabeth of Austria

| Barbara Zápolya 2 children<hr /> Bona Sforza 6 children

| 1 April 1548 Kraków Aged 81

| Succeeded his brother in Lithuania, elected as his successor in Poland.

| Jagiellon

| King <big>Sigismund II Augustus</big> 18 December 1529 – 7 July 1572 ()

| 100px

| 1 August 1520 Kraków<hr />Son of Sigismund I the Old and Bona Sforza

| Elizabeth of Austria<hr /> Barbara Radziwiłł<hr /> Catherine of Austria

| 7 July 1572 Knyszyn Aged 51

| Election vivente rege<hr />Formation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth with an elective monarchy<hr />Last male member of the Jagiellonian Dynasty, died heirless.

| Jagiellon

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1569–1795

In 1569, King Sigismund II Augustus, knowing that he had no heir, united Poland and Lithuania into a single entity — the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth — to ensure that after his death both nations would remain under the same monarch. He also declared that after his death, the nobility would elect his successor, beginning the elective monarchy not constricted to members of one dynasty, like during the Jagiellons. He also ensured that all nobles would decide the next king, not only the richest and most powerful ones. The first post-Jagiellonic elective king, Henry III of France, signed the Henrician Articles, which guaranteed free elections and the rule of the nobility over the state. He, and every ruler after him, had to sign a "pacta conventa" — a document of policies that the king promised to implement. After the death of every king, the primate of Poland became an interrex; a temporary head of state, until a new king was elected.

| King <big>Henry III of France</big> 16 May 1573 – 12 May 1575 ()

| 100px

| 19 September 1551 Fontainebleau<hr />Son of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici

| Louise of Lorraine

| 2 August 1589 Saint-Cloud Aged 37

| Elected<hr />Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his brother in France<hr />Interregnum until 1575

| Valois

| Queen <big>Anna Jagiellon</big> 15 December 1575 – 19 August 1587 (de facto) () – 9 September 1596 (de jure) ()

| 100px

| 18 October 1523 Kraków<hr />Daughter of Sigismund I the Old and Bona Sforza

| Stephen Báthory

| 9 September 1596 Warsaw Aged 72

| Elected co-monarch with Stephen Báthory<hr />Ruled only formally<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 <big>Stephen Báthory</big> 1 May 1576 – 12 December 1586 ()

| 100px

| 27 September 1533 Szilágysomlyó<hr />Son of Stephen VIII Báthory and Catherine Telegdi

| Anna Jagiellon

| 12 December 1586 Grodno Aged 53

| Elected as co-monarch with Anna Jagiellon<hr />Prince of Transylvania.

| Báthory

| King <big>Sigismund III Vasa</big> 19 August 1587 – 30 April 1632 ()

| 100px

| 20 June 1566 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 Warsaw 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 <big>Władysław IV Vasa</big> also Ladislaus IV 8 November 1632 – 20 May 1648 ()

| 100px

| 9 June 1595 Łobzów<hr />Son of Sigismund III Vasa and Anne of Austria

| Cecilia Renata of Austria 3 children<hr /> Marie Louise Gonzaga

| 20 May 1648 Merkinė Aged 52

| Elected after the death of his father<hr />Also titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610–1613) when the Polish army captured Moscow.

| Vasa

| King <big>John II Casimir</big> 20 November 1648 – 16 September 1668 ()

| 100px

| 22 March 1609 Kraków<hr />Son of Sigismund III Vasa and Constance of Austria

| Marie Louise Gonzaga 2 children<hr /> Claudine Françoise Mignot (allegedly) 1 child?

| 16 December 1672 Nevers Aged 63

| Elected after the death of his half-brother<hr />Previously a cardinal<hr />Titular King of Sweden<hr />Abdicated.

| Vasa

| King <big>Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki</big> 19 June 1669 – 10 November 1673 ()

| 100px

| 31 May 1640 Biały Kamień<hr />Son of Jeremi Wiśniowiecki and Gryzelda Konstancja Wiśniowiecka

| Eleonora Maria of Austria 1 child

| 10 November 1673 Lwów Aged 33

| Elected<hr />Born into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor

| Wiśniowiecki

| King <big>John III Sobieski</big> 19 May 1674 – 17 June 1696 ()

| 100px

| 17 August 1629 Olesko<hr />Son of Jakub Sobieski and Teofila Zofia Sobieska

| Marie Casimire d'Arquien 13 children

| 17 June 1696 Wilanów Aged 66

| Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />A successful military commander

| Sobieski

| King <big>Augustus II the Strong</big> 15 September 1697 – 1706 (1st reign, 9 years)

| 100px

| 12 May 1670 Dresden<hr />Son of John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark

| Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth 1 child

| 1 February 1733 Warsaw Aged 62

| Elected<hr />Previously Elector and ruler of Saxony<hr />Dethroned by Stanislaus I in 1706 during the Great Northern War

| Wettin

| King <big>Stanisław Leszczyński</big> 12 July 1704 – 8 July 1709 (1st reign, )

| 100px

| 20 October 1677 Lwów<hr />Son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Leszczyńska

| Catherine Opalińska 2 children

| 23 February 1766 Lunéville Aged 88

| Usurped<hr />Nominated as ruler in 1704, crowned in 1705 and deposed predecessor in 1706<hr />Exiled in 1709

| Leszczyński

| King <big>Augustus II the Strong</big> 8 July 1709 – 1 February 1733 (2nd reign, )

| 100px

| 12 May 1670 Dresden<hr />Son of John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark

| Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth 1 child

| 1 February 1733 Warsaw Aged 62

| Restored

| Wettin

| King <big>Stanisław Leszczyński</big> 12 September 1733 – 26 January 1736 (2nd reign, )

| 100px

| 20 October 1677 Lwów<hr />Son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska

| Catherine Opalińska 2 children, including Marie, Queen of France

| 23 February 1766 Lunéville Aged 88

| Elected<hr />His election sparked the War of the Polish Succession<hr />Deposed by Augustus III of Poland in 1736

| Leszczyński

| King <big>Augustus III of Poland</big> 5 October 1733 – 5 October 1763 (30 years)

| 100px

| 17 October 1696 Dresden<hr />Son of Augustus II the Strong and Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

| Maria Josepha of Austria 16 children

| 5 October 1763 Dresden Aged 66

| Usurped<hr />Proclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734<hr />Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736

| Wettin

| King <big>Stanisław August Poniatowski</big> 7 September 1764 – 25 November 1795 ()

| 100px

| 17 January 1732 Wołczyn<hr />Son of Stanisław Poniatowski and Konstancja Czartoryska

| Officially unmarried; Elżbieta Szydłowska (allegedly) presumably several unacknowledged children

| 1 February 1798 Saint Petersburg 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

Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815

After a long period of instability and anarchy, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was divided among its neighbours—Russia, Prussia and Austria. During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon created the Duchy of Warsaw from the lands of the Prussian partition. Some parts of the Austrian partition were later added to the Duchy. The Duchy had its own duke and government, but was fully dependent on France. After the fall of Napoleon, the duchy was divided between Russia and Prussia.

| Grand Duke <big>Frederick Augustus I of Saxony</big> 9 June 1807 – 22 May 1815 ()

| 100px

| 23 December 1750 Dresden<hr />Son of Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony and Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria

| Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld 1 child

| 5 May 1827 Dresden Aged 76

| Treaties of Tilsit<hr />Designated as a king of Poland by General Confederation of the Kingdom of Poland, 1812.

| Wettin

Poland from 1815 to 1918

After the fall of the Duchy of Warsaw, the Polish lands were reorganised. Prussia annexed Greater Poland and created the Grand Duchy of Posen, Kraków became a free city and the rest of the former Duchy of Warsaw became part of the Russian Empire, as Congress Kingdom of Poland. In 1846, Kraków was annexed by Austria, as Grand Duchy of Kraków, and in 1848, the Grand Duchy of Posen was dissolved. In 1867, after the failed January Uprising, the remaining autonomy of Congress Poland was abolished. During World War I, in German occupied Congress Poland, the Regency Kingdom was formed and lasted from 1917 to 1918. After Poland regained independence in 1918, a republican system with the president as head of state was established.

See the list of rulers of partitioned Poland.

Family tree of the rulers of Poland

Pretenders to the Polish throne

Vratislaus II of Bohemia (1085–1092)
Rudolf I of Bohemia (1306–1307)
Henry of Bohemia (1307–1310)
John of Bohemia (1310–1335)
William, Duke of Austria (1384–1406)
Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria (1916–1918)
Kiril, Prince of Preslav (1916–1918)

Modern

Alexander Prinz von Sachsen (2012–present), disputed
Rüdiger von Sachsen (2012–2022), disputed
Daniel von Sachsen (2022–present), disputed. Son of Rüdiger

Not recognized royal elections

Maxmilian II Habsburg (1575–1576), See: 1576 Free election
Maxmilian III Habsburg (1587–1589), See: 1587 Free election
François Louis de Bourbon (1697), See: 1697 Free election

Notes

References

Bibliography

Borkowska U., Dynastia Jagiellonów w Polsce, Warszawa 2012, .
Duczmal M., Jagiellonowie. Leksykon biograficzny, Kraków 1996.
Dybkowska A., Żaryn J., Żaryn M., Polskie dzieje. Od czasów najdawniejszych po współczesność, wyd. 2, Warszawa 1995. .
Gierowski J.A., Rzeczpospolita w dobie złotej wolności (1648–1763), Kraków 2001. .
Grodziski S., Polska w czasach przełomu (1764–1815), Kraków 2001. .
Grodziski S., Porównawcza historia ustrojów państwowych, Kraków 1998. .
Grzybowski S., Dzieje Polski i Litwy (1506–1648), Kraków 2000. .
Morby J.E., Dynastie świata. Przewodnik chronologiczny i genealogiczny, Kraków 1995, pp. 261–263. .
Wyrozumski J., Dzieje Polski piastowskiej (VIII w.-1370), Kraków 1999. .
Zientara B., Henryk Brodaty i jego czasy, wyd. 2, Warszawa 1997.

External links

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

lt:Lenkijos karalius

Legendary

House of Piast

Fragmentation of Poland (1138–1320)

Attempt at restoration (1295–1296)

Přemyslid House

House of Piast (restored)

House of Anjou

House of Jagiellon

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1569–1795

Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815

Poland from 1815 to 1918

Family tree of the rulers of Poland

Pretenders to the Polish throne

Modern

Not recognized royal elections

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links