View source for List of heads of state of Lithuania

{{Short description|None}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{History of Lithuania}}
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 [[Republics of the Soviet Union|constituent republic]] subject to an outside authority. Currently, the head of state is the [[President of Lithuania]].

During the [[inauguration]]s of [[List of Lithuanian monarchs|Lithuanian monarchs]] until 1569, the [[Gediminas' Cap]] was placed on the monarch's heads by the [[Bishop of Vilnius]] in [[Vilnius Cathedral]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |author-link=Edvardas Gudavičius |title=Gedimino kepurė |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/gedimino-kepure/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |access-date=19 March 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

== Kingdom of Lithuania (1251–1263) ==
{{main|Kingdom of Lithuania}}Title: King of Lithuania ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos karalius}}). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.

===[[House of Mindaugas]] (1253–1263)===

{{Monarchs - table header}}
|King<br />{{Big|'''[[Mindaugas]]'''}}<br /> 1236<br/>–<br/>1253 <br /> ''(as Grand Duke)'' <br /> <hr /> 1253<br/>–<br/>1263 <br />''(as King)''|| [[File:Mindaugas (99259281).jpg|100px]] || {{Circa|1203}}<hr/>Son of mythological [[Ringaudas]] ||{{Gray|(1)}} [[Nomen nescio|NN]], sister of Morta <br/> 2 children <hr/>{{Gray|(2)}} [[Morta (queen)|Morta]] <br/> 2 children || 1263 <br /> [[Aglona]] <br /> Assassinated by [[Treniota]] <br /> and [[Daumantas]] <br /> Aged about 60
|-
|}

== Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1263–1569) ==
{{main|Grand Duchy of Lithuania}}

Title: [[Grand Duke]] ({{langx|lt|didysis kunigaikštis}}; {{langx|be|vialiki kniaź}}; {{langx|pl|wielki książę}}). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.

===[[House of Mindaugas]] (1263–1267)===
{{Monarchs - table header}}
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Treniota]]'''}}<br /> 1263<br/>–<br/>1264|| [[File:Treniota.jpg|100px]] || ''Unknown'' <hr/>Son of [[Nomen nescio|NN]], <br/> Mindaugas' sister <br/> and [[Vykintas]] || ''Unknown'' <br/> 1 child || 1264 <br /> Murdered by servants <br /> loyal to Mindaugas' son [[Vaišvilkas]]
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Vaišvilkas]]'''}}<br /> 1264<br/>–<br/>1267|| [[File:Vojshalk.png|100px]] || ''Unknown'' <hr/>Son of [[Mindaugas]]<br/>and [[Morta (queen)|Morta]] || Unmarried and <br/> childless||  1268 <br /> Was murdered <br /> by [[Leo I of Galicia]]
|-
|}

===[[House of Monomakh]] (1267–1269)===
{{Monarchs - table header}}
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Shvarn]]'''}}<br /><small>{{langx|lt|Švarnas}}</small><br /> 1267<br/>–<br/>1269|| || {{Circa|1230}} <br/> [[Halych]] <hr/>Son of [[Daniel of Galicia]]  || [[Nomen nescio|NN]], daughter of Mindaugas <br/> No children || {{Circa|1269}} <br/> [[Chełm|Kholm]] <br/> Aged about 39
|-
|}

===[[House of Mindaugas]] (1269–1285)===
{{Monarchs - table header}}
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Traidenis]]'''}}<br /> 1270<br/>–<br/>1282||[[File:Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis.JPG|100px]]|| 1220 || Ona of Masovia <br/> 1 child|| 1282 <br/> [[Kernavė]] <br/> Aged 62
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Daumantas of Lithuania|Daumantas]]'''}}<br /> 1282<br/>–<br/>1285|| || ''Unknown'' ||''Unknown'' || 3 March 1285 <br /> Died in a battle by [[Tver]]
|-
|}

===[[House of Gediminas]] (1285–1440)===
{{Sticky header}}
{{Monarchs - table header|extra column|arms=yes}}
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Butigeidis]]'''}}<br /> 1285<br/>–<br/>1291|| || ''None known'' || ''Unknown'' <hr/> Son of <br/> [[Skalmantas]] (?) || ''Unknown'' ||1291
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Butvydas]]'''}}<br /> 1291<br/>–<br/>1295|| || ''None known'' || ''Unknown'' <hr/> Son of <br/> [[Skalmantas]] (?) || ''Unknown'' || {{Circa|1294–1295}}
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Vytenis]]'''}}<br /> 1295<br/>–<br/>1316||[[File:Witenes.PNG|frameless|100px]]|| ''None known'' || 1260 <hr/>Son of [[Butvydas]] || Vikinda <br/> 1 child|| 1316 <br /> Aged 56
|- 
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Gediminas]]'''}}<br /> 1316<br/>–<br/>1341||[[File:Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, painted in 1709.png|100px]]|| ''None known'' || {{Circa|1275}} <hr/>Son of [[Butvydas]] || [[Jaunė]] <br/>13 children || {{Circa|1341}} <br /> [[Raudonė]] <br /> Aged about 66
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Jaunutis]]'''}}<br /> 1341<br/>–<br/>1345||[[File:Jaŭnut. Яўнут (A. Tarasievič, 1675).jpg|frameless|104x104px]]|| ''None known'' || {{Circa|1306−1309}} <hr/>Son of [[Gediminas]]<br/>and [[Jaunė]]|| ''Unknown'' <br/> 3 children || {{Circa|1366}} <br /> Aged 57−60
|-
|Grand Duke <br /> <small> ''([[Diarchy]] with Kęstutis)'' </small> <br />{{Big|'''[[Algirdas]]'''}}<br /> 1345<br/>–<br/>1377 ||[[File:Algirdas kunigaikštis.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1296}} <hr/>Son of [[Gediminas]]<br/>and [[Jaunė]]|| {{Gray|(1)}} [[Maria of Vitebsk]] <br /> 6 children <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Uliana of Tver]] <br/> 8 children|| {{Circa|1377}} <br /> [[Maišiagala]] <br /> Aged about 81
|-
|Grand Duke <br /> <small> ''([[Diarchy]] with Kęstutis)'' </small><br />{{Big|'''[[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]'''}}<br /> May 1377<br/>–<br/>August 1381||[[File:Žygimont Aŭgust-Jagajła. Жыгімонт Аўгуст-Ягайла (K. Aleksandrovič, 1790).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1352−1362}} <br/> [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]]<br/>and [[Uliana of Tver]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Jadwiga of Poland]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Anna of Cilli]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Elizabeth Granowska]] <br /> No children <hr/> {{Gray|(4)}} [[Sophia of Halshany]] <br/> 2 children || 1 June 1434 <br /> [[Horodok, Lviv Oblast|Gródek Jagielloński]] <br /> Aged 72−82
|-
|Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Kęstutis]]'''}}<br /> 1381<br/>–<br/>1382 || [[File:Kiejstut.JPG|100px]] || [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1297}} <br/> [[Senieji Trakai]] <hr/>Son of [[Gediminas]]<br/>and [[Jaunė]]|| [[Birutė]] <br/> 3 children|| 1382 <br /> [[Kreva]] <br /> Murdered by the order of <br /> Jogaila while imprisoned <br /> Aged 84–85
|-
|Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]'''}}<br /> 3 August 1382<br/>–<br/>1 June 1434 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|3 August 1382|1 June 1434}})''||[[File:Žygimont Aŭgust-Jagajła. Жыгімонт Аўгуст-Ягайла (K. Aleksandrovič, 1790).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1352−1362}} <br/> [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]]<br/>and [[Uliana of Tver]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Jadwiga of Poland]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Anna of Cilli]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Elizabeth Granowska]] <br /> No children <hr/> {{Gray|(4)}} [[Sophia of Halshany]] <br/> 2 children || 1 June 1434 <br /> [[Horodok, Lviv Oblast|Gródek Jagielloński]] <br /> Aged 72−82
|-
|-
! colspan="6" |'''[[Act of Kreva]] signed in 1385'''<br/><small>[[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] ''de jure'' are ruled by one monarch but remain to be separate states.</small>
|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]'''}}<br /> 3 August 1382<br/>–<br/>1 June 1434 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|3 August 1382|1 June 1434}})''||[[File:Žygimont Aŭgust-Jagajła. Жыгімонт Аўгуст-Ягайла (K. Aleksandrovič, 1790).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1352−1362}} <br/> [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]]<br/>and [[Uliana of Tver]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Jadwiga of Poland]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Anna of Cilli]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Elizabeth Granowska]] <br /> No children <hr/> {{Gray|(4)}} [[Sophia of Halshany]] <br/> 3 children || 1 June 1434 <br /> [[Horodok, Lviv Oblast|Gródek Jagielloński]] <br /> Aged 72−82
|-
|-
|Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Skirgaila]]'''}}<br /> 1386<br/>–<br/>1392 ||[[File:Skirgajła._Скіргайла_(A._Guagnini,_1578).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]]|| {{Circa|1353–1354}} <br/> [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]]<br/>and [[Uliana of Tver]] || ''Unknown''<br/> 1 child || 11 January 1397 <br /> [[Kyiv]] <br/> Possibly poisoned <br/> by the order of the <br/> [[Russian Orthodox]] priests <br /> Aged 43−44
|-
|-
! colspan="6" |'''[[Astrava Agreement]] signed in 1392'''<br/><small>Following the [[Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)|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.</small>
|-
|Grand Duke<br />King-elect of Lithuania<br />{{Big|'''[[Vytautas]]'''}}<br/>'''Vytautas the Great'''<br/>4 August 1392<br/>–<br/>27 October 1430 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|4 August 1392|27 October 1430}})''||[[File:Vitaŭt Vialiki. Вітаўт Вялікі (XVIII).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1350}} <br/> [[Senieji Trakai]] <hr/>Son of [[Kęstutis]]<br/>and [[Birutė]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Anna, Grand Duchess of Lithuania|Anna]] <br /> 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Uliana Olshanska]] <br/> No children || 27 October 1430 <br /> [[Trakai]] <br /> Aged about 80
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Švitrigaila]]'''}}<br /> October 1430<br/>–<br/>1 August 1432||[[File:Svitrigaila (118503655).jpg|frameless|100x100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || Before 1370 <br/> [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]]<br/>and [[Uliana of Tver]] || Anna of Tver <br/> 1 child || 10 February 1452 <br /> [[Lutsk]] <br /> Aged about 82
|-
|Grand Duke<br />{{Big|'''[[Sigismund Kęstutaitis]]'''}}<br /><small>{{langx|lt|Žygimantas Kęstutaitis}}</small><br /> 1432<br/>–<br/>1440 ||[[File:Žygimont Kiejstutavič. Жыгімонт Кейстутавіч (XIX).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || 1365 <br/> [[Trakai]] <hr/>Son of [[Kęstutis]]<br/>and [[Birutė]]|| ''Unknown''<br/> 1 child|| 20 March 1440 <br /> [[Trakai]] <br /> Murdered by supporters <br /> of Švitrigaila <br /> Aged 75
|-
|}

===[[House of Jagiellon]] (1440–1569)===
[[File:Decius 1521.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Jagiellonian dynasty|Gediminids-Jagiellonians]] ruled [[medieval]] Lithuania.]]
The [[Union of Krewo|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]].{{Monarchs - table header|extra column|arms=yes}}
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Casimir IV Jagiellon]]'''}}<br /><small>{{langx|lt|Kazimieras Jogailaitis}}</small> <br /> 29 June 1440<br/>–<br/>7 June 1492 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|29 June 1440|7 June 1492}})''||[[File:Kazimier Jagajłavič. Казімер Ягайлавіч (1645).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 30 November 1427 <br/> [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]<br/>and [[Sophia of Halshany]] || [[Elizabeth of Austria (1436–1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]] <br/> 12 children || 7 June 1492 <br /> [[Old Grodno Castle]] <br /> Aged 64
|-{{circa|}} 1263 – {{circa|}} 1265||||{{circa|}}||  ||
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Alexander Jagiellon]]'''}}<br /><small>{{langx|lt|Aleksandras Jogailaitis}}</small> <br /> 30 July 1492<br/>–<br/>19 August 1506 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|30 July 1492|19 August 1506}})''||[[File:Aleksander Jagiellonczyk (275208).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 5 August 1461 <br/> [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Kazimieras Jogailaitis]] and <br/>[[Elizabeth of Austria (1436–1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]] || [[Helena of Moscow]] <br/> No children|| 19 August 1506 <br /> [[Vilnius]] <br /> Aged 45
|-{{circa|}} 1263 – {{circa|}} 1265||||{{circa|}}||  ||
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Sigismund I the Old|Sigismund I]]'''}}<br/>'''Sigismund I the Old'''<br/><small>{{langx|lt|Žygimantas Senasis}}</small><br /> 8 December 1506<br/>–<br/>1 April 1548 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|8 December 1506|1 April 1548}})''||[[File:Kulmbach Sigismund I the Old.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 1 January 1467 <br/> [[Kozienice]] <hr/>Son of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Kazimieras Jogailaitis]] and <br/>[[Elizabeth of Austria (1436–1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]]  || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Barbara Zápolya]] <br /> 2 children <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Bona Sforza]] <br/> 6 children|| 1 April 1548 <br /> [[Kraków]] <br /> Aged 81
|-{{circa|}} 1263 – {{circa|}} 1265||||{{circa|}}||  ||
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br />{{Big|'''[[Sigismund II Augustus]]'''}}<br /><small>{{langx|lt|Žygimantas Augustas}}</small><br /> 18 October 1529<br/>–<br/>7 July 1572 <br/>''({{Age in years and days|18 October 1529|7 July 1572}})'' ||[[File:Cranach the Younger Sigismund II Augustus.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 1 August 1520 <br/> [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Sigismund I the Old|Žygimantas the Old]]<br/>and [[Bona Sforza]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Elizabeth of Austria (1526–1545)|Elisabeth of Austria]] <br /> No children <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Barbara Radziwiłł]] <br /> No children <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland|Catherine of Austria]] <br/> No children|| 7 July 1572 <br /> [[Knyszyn]] <br /> Aged 51
|-
! colspan="6" |'''[[Union of Lublin]] signed in 1569'''<br/><small>[[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] are united into a single [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Commonwealth]].</small> 
|-{{circa|}} 1263 – {{circa|}} 1265||||{{circa|}}||  ||
|}

==Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)==
{{main|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth}}

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 (history)|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

{{langx|lt|Lenkijos karalius ir Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis}}

{{langx|pl|Król Polski, wielki książę litewski}}

{{langx|la|Rex Poloniae et Magnus Dux Lituaniae}}

{{Nobility table header|arms=yes|extra column=Claim !! House}}
|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Sigismund II Augustus]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Žygimantas Augustas}}</small><br /><small><br />1 July 1569<br />{{ndash}}<br />7 July 1572<br />''({{age in years and days|18 October 1529|7 July 1572|duration=yes}})''</small>
| [[File:Cranach the Younger Sigismund II Augustus.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]]
| 1 August 1520<br />[[Kraków]]<hr />Son of [[Sigismund I the Old|Žygimantas the Old]]<br/>and [[Bona Sforza]]
| {{grey|(3)}} [[Elizabeth of Austria (1526–1545)|Elisabeth of Austria]] <br /> [[Barbara Radziwiłł]] <br /> [[Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland|Catherine of Austria]]
| 7 July 1572<br />[[Knyszyn]]<br />Aged 51
| Hereditary<hr /> First monarch to <br /> introduce elective <br /> monarchy 
| [[House of Jagiellon|Jagiellon]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Henry III of France|Henry]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Henrikas Valua}}</small><br />16 May 1573<br />{{ndash}}<br />12 May 1575<br />''({{age in years and days|16 May 1573|12 May 1575|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Henri III - portrait after Jean Decourt - Musée Condé.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Henri de Valois as lifelong king of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 19 September 1551<br />[[Château de Fontainebleau|Fontainebleau]]<hr />Son of [[Henry II of France|Henry II]] and [[Catherine de' Medici]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Louise of Lorraine, Queen of France|Louise of Lorraine]], no children
| 2 August 1589<br />[[Château de Saint-Cloud|Saint-Cloud]]<br />Aged 37
| Elected<hr />Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his [[Charles IX of France|brother]] in France<hr />Interregnum until 1575
| [[House of Valois|Valois]]

|-
|Queen of Poland<br /> and Grand Duchess <br /><big>[[Anna Jagiellon|Anna]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Ona Jogailaitė}}</small><br />15 December 1575<br />{{ndash}}<br />19 August 1587 <br />''(de facto)'' <br/>''({{Age in years and days|15 December 1575|19 August 1587|duration=yes}})'' <br/>{{Ndash}}<br />9 September 1596 <br />''(de jure)'' <br/> ''({{age in years and days|15 December 1575|9 September 1596|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Kober Anna Jagiellon as a widow.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]]
| 18 October 1523<br />[[Kraków]]<hr />Daughter of [[Sigismund I the Old|Sigismund I]] and [[Bona Sforza]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Stephen Báthory]], no children
| 9 September 1596<br />[[Warsaw]]<br />Aged 72
| Elected co-monarch with [[Stephen Báthory]]<hr />Sole ruler until Báthory's arrival and coronation in May 1576<hr />Ruled after husband's death until her nephew was elected 
| [[Jagiellonian Dynasty|Jagiellon]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Stephen Báthory]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Steponas Batoras}}</small><br />1 May 1576<br />{{ndash}}<br />12 December 1586<br />''({{age in years and days|1 May 1576|12 December 1586|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Riehl Portrait of Stephen Bathory.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Bathory coat of arms.svg|100px]]
| 27 September 1533<br />[[Șimleu Silvaniei|Szilágysomlyó (Șimleu Silvaniei)]]<hr />Son of [[Stephen Báthory of Somlyó]] and [[Catherine Telegdi]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Anna Jagiellon]], no children
| 12 December 1586<br />[[Grodno]]<br />Aged 53
| Elected as co-monarch with [[Anna Jagiellon]]<hr />Previously Prince of [[Transylvania]]
| [[Báthory family|Báthory]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund III]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Zigmantas Vaza}}</small><br />19 August 1587<br />{{ndash}}<br />30 April 1632<br />''({{age in years and days|19 August 1587|30 April 1632|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Rubens Sigismund III Vasa.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Polish House of Vasa Coa.svg|100px]]
| 20 June 1566<br />[[Gripsholm Castle|Gripsholm]]<hr />Son of [[John III of Sweden]] and [[Catherine Jagiellon]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland|Anne of Austria]], 5 children<hr />{{grey|(2)}} [[Constance of Austria]], 7 children
| 30 April 1632<br />[[Warsaw]]<br />Aged 65
| Elected, nephew of Anna Jagiellon<hr />Transferred capital from [[Kraków]] to Warsaw<hr />Hereditary King of [[Sweden]] until deposition in 1599
| [[House of Vasa|Vasa]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Władysław IV]]</big><br />also '''Ladislaus IV'''<br /><small>{{langx|lt|Vladislovas Vaza}}</small><br />8 November 1632<br />{{ndash}}<br />20 May 1648<br />''({{age in years and days|8 November 1632|20 May 1648|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Rubens Władysław Vasa.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Polish House of Vasa Coa.svg|100px]]
| 9 June 1595<br />[[Łobzów]]<hr />Son of [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund III]] and [[Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland|Anne of Austria]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Cecilia Renata of Austria]], 3 children<hr />{{grey|(2)}} [[Marie Louise Gonzaga]]
| 20 May 1648<br />[[Merkinė]]<br />Aged 52
| Elective succession<hr />Also titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610–1613) when the Polish army captured [[Moscow]]
| [[House of Vasa|Vasa]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[John II Casimir]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Jonas Kazimieras Vaza}}</small><br />20 November 1648<br />{{ndash}}<br />16 September 1668<br />''({{age in years and days|20 November 1648|16 September 1668|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Schultz John II Casimir Vasa.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Polish House of Vasa Coa.svg|100px]]
| 22 March 1609<br />[[Kraków]]<hr />Son of [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund III]] and [[Constance of Austria]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Marie Louise Gonzaga]], 2 children<hr />{{grey|(2)}} [[Claudine Françoise Mignot]] ([[morganatic marriage]])
| 16 December 1672<br />[[Nevers]]<br />Aged 63
| Elective succession, succeeded half-brother<hr />Previously a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]]<hr />Disputed with [[Charles X Gustav]] between 1655–1657<hr />Titular King of Sweden<hr />[[Abdication|Abdicated]]
| [[House of Vasa|Vasa]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki|Michael I]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Mykolas Kaributas Višnioveckis}}</small><br />19 June 1669<br />{{ndash}}<br />10 November 1673<br />''({{age in years and days|19 June 1669|10 November 1673|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:King Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki as king of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 31 May 1640<br />[[Bilyi Kamin|Biały Kamień]]<hr />Son of [[Jeremi Wiśniowiecki]] and [[Gryzelda Konstancja Wiśniowiecka|Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Eleonora Maria of Austria]], 1 child
| 10 November 1673<br />[[Lwów]]<br />Aged 33
| Elected<hr />Born into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor
| [[Wiśniowiecki]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[John III Sobieski]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Jonas Sobieskis}}</small><br />19 May 1674<br />{{ndash}}<br />17 June 1696<br />''({{age in years and days|19 May 1674|17 June 1696|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Schultz John III Sobieski.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Jan Sobieski as king of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 17 August 1629<br />[[Olesko Castle|Olesko]]<hr />Son of [[Jakub Sobieski]] and [[Teofila Zofia Sobieska|Teofila Zofia]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien|Marie Casimire d'Arquien]], 13 children
| 17 June 1696<br />[[Wilanów Palace|Wilanów]]<br />Aged 66
| Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />A successful military commander
| [[House of Sobieski|Sobieski]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Augustus the Strong|Augustus II]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Augustas II Stiprusis}}</small><br />15 September 1697<br />{{ndash}}<br />1706<br />''(1st reign, 9 years)''
| [[File:August II the Strong.PNG|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 12 May 1670<br />[[Dresden]]<hr />Son of [[John George III, Elector of Saxony|John George III]] and [[Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth]], 1 son by wife
| 1 February 1733<br />[[Warsaw]]<br />Aged 62
| Elected<hr />Previously Elector and ruler of [[Saxony]]<hr />Dethroned by [[Stanislaus I]] in 1706 during the [[Great Northern War]]
| [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Stanislaus I]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Stanislovas I Leščinskis}}</small><br />12 July 1704<br />{{ndash}}<br />8 July 1709<br />''(1st reign, {{age in years and days|12 July 1704|8 July 1709|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Mányoki Stanislaus Leszczyński.png|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Leszczynski as king of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 20 October 1677<br />[[Lwów]]<hr />Son of [[Rafał Leszczyński (1650–1703)|Rafał Leszczyński]] and [[Anna Leszczyńska (1660–1727)|Anna Jabłonowska]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Catherine Opalińska]], 2 children
| 23 February 1766<br />[[Lunéville]]<br />Aged 88
| Usurped<hr />Nominated as ruler in 1704, crowned in 1705 and deposed predecessor in 1706<hr />Exiled in 1709
| [[House of Leszczyński|Leszczyński]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Augustus the Strong|Augustus II]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Augustas II Stiprusis}}</small><br />8 July 1709<br />{{ndash}}<br />1 February 1733<br />''(2nd reign, {{age in years and days|8 July 1709|1 February 1733|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:August II (1670-1733).jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 12 May 1670<br />[[Dresden]]<hr />Son of [[John George III, Elector of Saxony|John George III]] and [[Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth]], 1 son by wife
| 1 February 1733<br />[[Warsaw]]<br />Aged 62
| Restored
| [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Stanislaus I]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Stanislovas I Leščinskis}}</small><br />12 September 1733<br />{{ndash}}<br />26 January 1736<br />''(2nd reign, {{age in years and days|12 September 1733|26 January 1736|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Portrait of Stanisław I Leszczyński.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Leszczynski as king of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 20 October 1677<br />[[Lwów]]<hr />Son of [[Rafał Leszczyński (1650–1703)|Rafał Leszczyński]] and [[Anna Leszczyńska (1660–1727)|Anna Jabłonowska]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Catherine Opalińska]], 2 children
| 23 February 1766<br />[[Lunéville]]<br />Aged 88
| Elected<hr />His election sparked the [[War of the Polish Succession]]<hr />Deposed by [[Augustus III of Poland|Augustus III]] in 1736
| [[House of Leszczyński|Leszczyński]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Augustus III]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Augustas III Saksas}}</small><br />5 October 1733<br />{{ndash}}<br />5 October 1763<br />''(30 years)''
| [[File:Louis de Silvestre - Portrait of Augustus III of Poland (after 1733) - Google Art Project.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 17 October 1696<br />[[Dresden]]<hr />Son of [[Augustus II the Strong]] and [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Christiane Eberhardine]]
| {{grey|(1)}} [[Maria Josepha of Austria]], 16 children
| 5 October 1763<br />[[Dresden]]<br />Aged 66
| Usurped<hr />Proclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734<hr />Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736
| [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]

|-
|King of Poland<br /> and Grand Duke <br /><big>[[Stanisław II Augustus|Stanislaus II Augustus]]</big><br /><small>{{langx|lt|Stanislovas Augustas II Poniatovskis}}</small><br />7 September 1764<br />{{ndash}}<br />25 November 1795<br />''({{age in years and days|7 September 1764|25 November 1795|duration=yes}})''
| [[File:Vigee Stanislaw Augustus.jpg|100px]]
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Augustus as king of Poland.svg|100px]]
| 17 January 1732<br />[[Wołczyn]]<hr />Son of [[Stanisław Poniatowski (1676–1762)|Stanisław Poniatowski]] and [[Konstancja Czartoryska (1700–1759)|Konstancja Czartoryska]]
| Unmarried
| 1 February 1798<br />[[Saint Petersburg]]<br />Aged 66
| Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />Last King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, his reign ended in the [[Partitions of Poland]]
| [[House of Poniatowski|Poniatowski]]
|}

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

===[[House of Urach]] (1918)===

{{Monarchs - table header|arms=yes|extra column}}
|King<br /><big>[[Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach|Mindaugas II]]</big> <br /> {{dts|11 July 1918}} <br /> – <br /> {{dts|2 November 1918}}<br />''({{age in years and days|July 11, 1918|November 2, 1918|duration=yes}})''||[[File:WilhelofUrach.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:Wappen des Herzogs von Urach.svg|100px]] || 30 May 1864 <hr/>Son of [[Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach]] and <br/>[[Princess Florestine of Monaco]] || [[Duchess Amalie in Bavaria]] <br /> Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria || 24 March 1928 
|-
|}

== Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) ==
{{main|Republic of Lithuania}}

=== Presidents of the Presidium of the [[Council of Lithuania]] ===
The state of Lithuania was ruled by the Presidium of the State Council of Lithuania, its chairman was de facto Head of State. The institution of President was established on 4 April 1919. Chairman of the Presidium [[Antanas Smetona]] was elected as First President of the State of Lithuania by the State Council of Lithuania and was the only one in under whose rule this position has been considered the office of the head of state.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Portrait
! scope="col" |Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Term
! colspan="2" scope="col" |Party
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Election
!Prime Minister
|- style="height:6em;"
! rowspan="4" scope="row" |1
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Antanas Smetona-edit2.jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Antanas Smetona]]''' <br /> {{Small|(1874–1944)}}
| rowspan="4" |{{dts|2 November 1918}} <br /> – 
{{dts|4 April 1919}}
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:#ADD8E6" |
| rowspan="4" |[[Party of National Progress|Party of <br> National Progress]]
| rowspan="4" class="nowrap" |1917
''<small>By the [[Council of Lithuania|Council]]</small>''
| style="background-color:#ececec" |''Position officially <br> established on <br> November 11, 1918''
|-
|[[Augustinas Voldemaras]]
|-
|[[Mykolas Sleževičius]]
|-
|[[Pranas Dovydaitis]]
|}

=== [[President of Lithuania|Presidents]] of the Republic of Lithuania ===
The institution of President ({{langx|lt|Prezidentas}}) was created on 4 April 1919. Antanas Smetona was elected as the first President of Lithuania.
{{Sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header" style="text-align:center;"
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Portrait
! scope="col" |Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Term
! colspan="2" scope="col" |Party
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Election
! scope="col" |Prime Minister
|- style="height:6em;"
! rowspan="3" scope="row" |1
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Antanas_Smetona_2.jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Antanas Smetona]]'''<br>{{Small|(1874–1944)}}
| rowspan="2" |{{dts|4 April 1919}}<br>–<br>{{dts|19 June 1920}}
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#ADD8E6" |
| rowspan="2" |[[Party of National Progress|Party of]]
[[Party of National Progress|National Progress]]
| rowspan="2" class="nowrap" |4 April 1919
''<small>By the [[Council of Lithuania|Council]]</small>''
| data-sort-value="Adams, John" |[[Pranas Dovydaitis]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Mykolas Sleževičius]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Aleksandras_Stulginskis_(1885-1969).jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Aleksandras Stulginskis]]'''<br>{{Small|(1885–1969)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
| rowspan="4" |{{dts|19 June 1920}}<br>–<br>{{dts|21 December 1922}}
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:#00008B" |
| rowspan="4" |[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party|Lithuanian Christian]]
[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party|Democratic Party]]
| rowspan="4" |''<small>[[Acting president|Acting President]] as<br>Chairman of the<br>Constituent Assembly<br>of Lithuania</small>''
|-
! rowspan="4" |'''–'''
|-
|[[Ernestas Galvanauskas]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Kazys Grinius]]
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[File:Aleksandras_Stulginskis_(1885-1969).jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="6" |'''[[Aleksandras Stulginskis]]'''<br>{{Small|(1885–1969)}}
| rowspan="6" |{{dts|21 December 1922}}<br>–<br>{{dts|7 June 1926}}
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#00008B" |
| rowspan="6" |[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party|Lithuanian Christian]]
[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party|Democratic Party]]
| rowspan="6" |21 December 1922
''<small>By the [[Seimas]]</small>''
|-
! rowspan="6" |2
|-
|[[Ernestas Galvanauskas]]
|-
|[[Antanas Tumėnas]]
|-
|[[Vytautas Petrulis]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Leonas Bistras]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Kazys_Grinius.jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Kazys Grinius]]'''<br>{{Small|(1866–1950)}}
| rowspan="4" |{{dts|7 June 1926}}<br>–<br>{{dts|18 December 1926}}
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:#008000" |
| rowspan="4" |[[Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union|Lithuanian Popular]]
[[Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union|Peasants' Union]]
| rowspan="4" |7 June 1926
''<small>By the [[Seimas]]</small>''
|-
! rowspan="3" |3
|-
|[[Mykolas Sleževičius]]
|-
|[[Augustinas Voldemaras]]
|-
! colspan="8" |'''[[1926 Lithuanian coup d'état]]'''
|-
!'''–'''
|[[File:Jonas_Staugaitis.jpg|175px]]
|'''[[Jonas Staugaitis]]'''<br>{{Small|(1866–1950)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
|{{dts|18 December 1926}}<br>–<br>{{dts|19 December 1926}}
| style="background-color:#008000" |
|[[Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union|Lithuanian Popular]]
[[Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union|Peasants' Union]]
|''<small>Unelected — [[Acting president|acting President]]</small>''
''<small>following [[coup d'état]]</small>''
| rowspan="4" |[[Augustinas Voldemaras]]
|-
! rowspan="2" |'''–'''
|[[File:Aleksandras_Stulginskis_(1885-1969).jpg|175px]]
|'''[[Aleksandras Stulginskis]]'''<br>{{Small|(1885–1969)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
|{{dts|19 December 1926}}
| style="background-color:#00008B" |
|[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party|Lithuanian Christian]]
[[Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party|Democratic Party]]
|''<small>Unelected — [[Acting president|acting President]]</small>''
''<small>following [[Coup d'état|coup d<nowiki>'</nowiki>état]]</small>''
|-
| rowspan="11" |[[File:Antanas_Smetona_2.jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="11" |'''[[Antanas Smetona]]'''<br>{{Small|(1874–1944)}}
| rowspan="11" |{{dts|19 December 1926}}<br>–<br>{{dts|15 June 1940}}
| rowspan="11" style="background-color:#800000" |
| rowspan="11" |[[Lithuanian Nationalist Union|Lithuanian]]
[[Lithuanian Nationalist Union|Nationalist Union]]
| rowspan="5" |19 December 1926
''<small>In illegitimate elections</small>''
|-
! rowspan="10" |1
|-
|[[Juozas Tūbelis]]
|-
|[[Juozas Tūbelis]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Juozas Tūbelis]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |11 December 1931
''<small>In illegitimate elections</small>''
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Vladas Mironas]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |14 October 1938
''<small>In illegitimate</small>'' ''<small>elections</small>''
|-
|[[Vladas Mironas]]
|-
|[[Jonas Černius]]
|-
|[[Antanas Merkys]]
|-
! colspan="8" |15 June 1940 — [[Occupation of the Baltic states|1st Soviet occupation of Lithuania]]
|-
!'''–'''
|[[File:Antanas_Merkys.jpg|175px]]
|'''[[Antanas Merkys]]'''<br>{{Small|(1877–1955)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
|{{dts|15 June 1940}}<br>–<br>{{dts|17 June 1940}}
| style="background-color:#800000" |
|[[Lithuanian Nationalist Union|Lithuanian]]
[[Lithuanian Nationalist Union|Nationalist Union]]
|''<small>Unelected — [[de jure]]</small>''
''<small>[[Acting president|acting President]]</small>''
|[[Antanas Merkys]]
|-
! rowspan="2" |'''–'''
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Justas_Paleckis_1961b.jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Justas Paleckis]]'''<br>{{Small|(1899–1980)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
| rowspan="2" |{{dts|17 June 1940}}<br>–<br>{{dts|15 August 1940}}
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
| rowspan="2" |[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
| rowspan="2" |''<small>Unelected — nominal</small>''<br>''<small>[[Acting president|acting President]]</small>''<br>''<small>placed by the</small>''<br>''<small>Soviet leadership</small>''
|[[Justas Paleckis]]''<br><small>Acting</small>''
|-
| style="background-color:#ececec" |''Position officially<br>abolished on<br>June 24, 1940''
|}

=== [[Posthumous promotion|Posthumously recognized]] acting Presidents ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Portrait
! scope="col" |Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |In office
!Cause of death
!Date of recognition
|- style="height:6em;"
! scope="row" |'''–'''
|[[File:JZemaitis.JPG|175px]]
|<small>[[Brigadier general|General]]</small><br>'''[[Jonas Žemaitis]]'''<br>{{Small|(1909–1954)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
|{{dts|16 February 1949}}<br>–<br>{{dts|26 November 1954}}
|In 1954, [[Execution by shooting|executed by shooting]] in <br> [[Butyrka prison]], [[Moscow]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]].
|March, 2009''<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Jonas Žemaitis-Vytautas |url=http://www.istorineprezidentura.lt/prezidentai/jonas-zemaitis-vytautas.html |access-date=12 June 2019 |website=istorineprezidentura.lt}}</ref>''
''<small>By the [[Seimas]]</small>''
|-
!'''–'''
|[[File:Adolfas Ramanauskas-Vanagas.jpg|175px]]
|<small>[[Colonel]]</small><br>'''[[Adolfas Ramanauskas]]'''<br>{{Small|(1918–1957)}}''<br><small>Acting</small>''
|{{dts|26 November 1954}}<br>–<br>{{dts|29 November 1957}}
|In 1957, [[Execution by shooting|executed by shooting]] <br> in [[Vilnius]], [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic|Lithuanian SSR]].
|November, 2018''<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=20 November 2018 |title=XIII-1651 Dėl Adolfo Ramanausko-Vanago pripažinimo Lietuvos valstybės vadovu |url=https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/10feae80ee2f11e89d4ad92e8434e309 |access-date=1 December 2019 |publisher=Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas |language=lt}}</ref>''
''<small>By the [[Seimas]]</small>''
|}

=== Heads of the [[Lithuanian Diplomatic Service]] ===
Following Lithuania's occupation by the [[Soviet Union]] on 15 June 1940, in his telegram dated 31 May 1940, the last Foreign Minister [[Juozas Urbšys]] provisioned that, in the event of occupation, [[Stasys Lozoraitis]], minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary to [[Rome]], be appointed the head of the Lithuanian diplomatic service. The Lithuanian diplomatic service became a [[Government in exile]] that was a critical piece to ensuring the recognition of the continuity of Lithuanian legal statehood until independence after the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union]].<ref>Lithuanian Diplomats in Emigration in 1940–1991, compiled by D. Dapkutė, A. Petraitytė, Vilnius, 2007</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="clear:right"
|-
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! Image
! Name
! Term
! Notes
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1
| [[File:Stasys Lozoraitis.jpg|70px]]
| '''[[Stasys Lozoraitis]]'''
| 15 June 1940 – 24 December 1983
| Assumed office after the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] invasion of [[Lithuania]] in 1940.
|-
| style="text-align:center"|2
| [[File:Lietuvos diplomatas Stasys Antanas Bačkis.jpg|70px]]
| '''[[Stasys Bačkis]]'''
| 24 December 1983 – 15 November 1987
| Assumed office after the death of [[Stasys Lozoraitis]] in 1983.
|-
| style="text-align:center"|–
| [[File:Lozoraitis Jr.png|70px]]
| '''[[Stasys Lozoraitis Jr.]]'''
| 15 November 1987 – 6 September 1991
| Became ''de facto'' Head of the Diplomat Service after [[Stasys Bačkis]] left [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1988. 
|}

== Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941) ==
{{main|Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic}}
The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and established the Lithuanian SSR in July 1940.

=== First Secretaries of the [[Central Committee]] of the [[Communist Party of Lithuania]] ===
{{Langx|lt|Lietuvos komunistų partijos Centro komiteto pirmasis sekretorius}}; {{Langx|ru|link=no|Первый секретарь Центрального Комитета Коммунистической партии Литвы}}.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Portrait
! scope="col" |Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |In office
! colspan="2" scope="col" |Party
!Chairman of the Presidium <br> of the [[Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic|Supreme Soviet]]
![[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|General Secretary]] of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union|CPSU]]
|-
!1
|[[File:Emblem_of_Lithuanian_SSR_(early_version).svg|175px]]
|'''[[Antanas Sniečkus]]''' <br /> {{Small|(1903–1974)}}
|{{dts|21 July 1940}} <br /> – 
{{dts|24 June 1941}}
| style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
|[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party <br> of Lithuania]]
|[[Justas Paleckis]]<br>{{Small|(1899–1980)}}
|[[Joseph Stalin]]
|-
! colspan="8" |22 June 1941 — [[German occupation of Lithuania during World War II|Nazi occupation of Lithuania]]
|}

== Generalbezirk Litauen (1941–1944) ==
{{main|Reichskommissariat Ostland}}
{{main|Generalbezirk Litauen}}

As [[Nazi Germany]] attacked the Soviet Union in [[Operation Barbarossa]], Lithuania liberated itself with the anti-Soviet [[June Uprising in Lithuania|June Uprising]] and re-declared Lithuanian Independence. Lithuania was ruled for some time by the [[Provisional Government of Lithuania]], whose prime minister was [[Juozas Ambrazevičius]]. The Provisional Government was formed on 23 June 1941, but was dissolved on 5 August of the same year.

Lithuania was occupied by the Germans, who formed ''[[Generalbezirk Litauen]]'' on 25 July 1941, which was governed by the administration of general commissioner [[Adrian von Renteln]] and was a part of ''[[Reichskommissariat Ostland]]''.

=== General Commissioners of Generalbezirk Litauen ===
{{Langx|lt|Lietuvos generalinės srities generalinis komisaras}}; {{Langx|de|Generalkommissar des Generalbezirks Litauen}}.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Portrait
! scope="col" |Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |In office
! colspan="2" scope="col" |Party
!General Counselor
![[Reichskommissar]] of the [[Reichskommissariat Ostland|Ostland]]
|-
!1
|[[File:Adrian von Renteln.jpg|175px]]
|'''[[Adrian von Renteln]]'''<br>{{Small|(1897–1946)}}
|{{dts|August, 1941}} <br /> – 
{{dts|August, 1944}}
| style="background-color:#000000" |
|[[Nazi Party]]
|<small>[[Brigadier general|General]]</small><br>[[Petras Kubiliūnas]]<br>{{Small|(1894–1946)}}
|[[Hinrich Lohse]]
|-
! colspan="8" |[[Baltic offensive|1944]] — [[Occupation of the Baltic states|2nd Soviet occupation of Lithuania]]
|}

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

=== First Secretaries of the [[Central Committee]] of the [[Communist Party of Lithuania]] ===
{{Sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Portrait
! scope="col" |Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |In office
! colspan="2" scope="col" |Party
!Chairman of the Presidium<br/>of the [[Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic|Supreme Soviet]]
![[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|General Secretary]] of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union|CPSU]]
|-
! rowspan="4" |1
| rowspan="4" |[[File:Antanas Snieckus (cropped).jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="4" |'''[[Antanas Sniečkus]]'''
{{Small|(1903–1974)}}
| rowspan="4" |{{dts|13 July 1944}}
–

{{dts|22 January 1974}}
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
| rowspan="4" |[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Justas Paleckis]]
{{Small|(1899–1980)}}
|[[Joseph Stalin]]
|-
|[[Nikita Khrushchev|Nikita Khruschev]]
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[Leonid Brezhnev]]
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Motiejus Šumauskas]]
{{Small|(1905–1982)}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |'''–'''
|[[File:Emblem_of_Lithuanian_SSR_(early_version).svg|175px]]
|'''Valery Khazarov'''
{{Small|(1918–2013)}}

''<small>Acting</small>''
|{{dts|22 January 1974}}
–

{{dts|18 February 1974}}
| style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
|[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[File:P. Griškevičius (1971).png|175px]]
| rowspan="6" |'''[[Petras Griškevičius]]'''
{{Small|(1924–1987)}}
| rowspan="6" |{{dts|18 February 1974}}
–

{{dts|14 November 1987}}
| rowspan="6" style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
| rowspan="6" |[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
|-
! rowspan="6" |2
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[Antanas Barkauskas]]
{{Small|(1899–1980)}}
|-
|[[Yuri Andropov]]
|-
|[[Konstantin Chernenko]]
|-
| rowspan="8" |[[Mikhail Gorbachev]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Emblem_of_the_Lithuanian_SSR.svg|175px]]
| rowspan="3" |'''Nikolay Mitkin'''
{{Small|(1929–1998)}}

''<small>Acting</small>''
| rowspan="3" |{{dts|14 November 1987}}
–

{{dts|1 December 1987}}
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
|-
! rowspan="2" |'''–'''
|-
|[[Ringaudas Songaila]]
{{Small|(1929–2019)}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |3
|[[File:Emblem_of_the_Lithuanian_SSR.svg|175px]]
|'''[[Ringaudas Songaila]]'''
{{Small|(1929–2019)}}
|{{dts|1 December 1987}}
–

{{dts|19 October 1988}}
| style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
|[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Vytautas Astrauskas]]
{{Small|(1930–2017)}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Algirdas Mykkolas Brazauskas, Litauens statsminster, under det Nordiskt-Baltiska statsministermotet i Reykjavik 2005-10-24.jpg|175px]]
| rowspan="3" |'''[[Algirdas Brazauskas]]'''
{{Small|(1932–2010)}}
| rowspan="3" |{{dts|19 October 1988}}
–

{{dts|11 March 1990}}
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#C33B1E" |
| rowspan="3" |[[Communist Party of Lithuania|Communist Party]]
[[Communist Party of Lithuania|of Lithuania]]
|-
! rowspan="2" |4
|-
|[[Algirdas Brazauskas]]
{{Small|(1932–2010)}}
|-
! colspan="8" |7 December 1989 — "Leading role" of the Communist Party removed from the constitution
|-
! colspan="8" |11 March 1990 — [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|Restoration of Independence]]
|}

==Republic of Lithuania (1990–present)==
The leader of the Supreme Council was the official head of state from the declaration of independence on 11 March 1990 until the new Constitution came into effect in 1992 establishing the office of President and the institution of [[Seimas]]. The state and its leadership were not recognized internationally until September 1991 [NB: Iceland was the first country to recognise the regained independence of Lithuania in February 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2016/03/07/lithuania_thank_you_iceland/|title=Lithuania: "Thank you, Iceland!|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308112412/https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2016/03/07/lithuania_thank_you_iceland/|archive-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> Title from 1990 to 1992: Chairman of the Supreme Council (Parliament; {{langx|lt|Aukščiausiosios Tarybos pirmininkas}}).
Title from 1992 onwards: [[President of Lithuania|President]] ({{langx|lt|prezidentas}}).
{{Sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header"
|-
!  No
!  Portrait
! Name<br />{{Small|(Birth–Death)}}
!  Elected
! Took office
! Left office 
! Political party
! Affiliation/Notes
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Sąjūdis}}"|'''{{white|-}}'''
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Landsbergis,_Vytautas-0085.jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Vytautas Landsbergis]]'''<br />(born 1932)
| style="text-align:center;"| –
| style="text-align:center;"| 11 March 1990 
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 November 1992
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Sąjūdis]]
| style="text-align:center;"| As Chairman of the Supreme Council.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=8 | ''Speaker of the Seimas [[Algirdas Brazauskas]] served as acting President from 25 November 1992 to 25 February 1993.''
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania}}"|'''{{white|1}}'''
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Algirdas Mykkolas Brazauskas, Litauens statsminster, under det Nordiskt-Baltiska statsministermotet i Reykjavik 2005-10-24.jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | '''[[Algirdas Brazauskas]]'''<br />(1932–2010)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1993 Lithuanian presidential election|1993]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 February 1993 
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 February 1998
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania]]
| style="text-align:center;"| First president of the Republic of Lithuania
|-
! 2
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:BDF Summit 2010.06.01 587 (4709180104) (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Valdas Adamkus]]'''<br />(born 1926)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1997–98 Lithuanian presidential election|1997–98]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 26 February 1998
| style="text-align:center;"| 26 February 2003
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Lithuania)}}"|'''3'''
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:2009_m._Respublikos_Prezidento_rinkimai_Paksas_(cropped).jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Rolandas Paksas]]'''<br />(born 1956)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2002–03 Lithuanian presidential election|2002–03]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 26 February 2003
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 April 2004
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Order and Justice]]
| style="text-align:center;"| Impeached and removed from office.
|-
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan=8 | ''Speaker of the Seimas [[Artūras Paulauskas]] served as acting President from 6 April to 12 July 2004.''
|-
! (2)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:BDF Summit 2010.06.01 587 (4709180104) (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Valdas Adamkus]]'''<br />(born 1926)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2004 Lithuanian presidential election|2004]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 July 2004
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 July 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| Independent
| style="text-align:center;"| 
|-
! 4
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:EU Leaders Arrive at Sofia Airport Ahead of the EU – Western Balkans Summit (42146983351) (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Dalia Grybauskaitė]]'''<br />(born 1956)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2009 Lithuanian presidential election|2009]]<br />[[2014 Lithuanian presidential election|2014]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 July 2009
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 July 2019 
| style="text-align:center;"| Independent
| style="text-align:center;"| First female President of Lithuania. Became the first President to be reelected. 
|-
! 5
| style="text-align:center;"| [[File:Gitanas Nausėda 2023.jpg|75px]]
| style="text-align:center;"| '''[[Gitanas Nausėda]]'''<br />(born 1964)
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2019 Lithuanian presidential election|2019]]<br />[[2024 Lithuanian presidential election|2024]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 July 2019
| style="text-align:center;"| Incumbent
| style="text-align:center;"| Independent
| style="text-align:center;"| 
|}

==Timeline==
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1150 height:auto barincrement:15
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:100 right:150 left:20
AlignBars = late

Colors =
 id:Independent value:gray(0.8)           legend: Independent
 id:Urach       value:rgb(0.92,0.83,0.32) legend: House_of_Urach
 id:TPP         value:rgb(0.68,0.85,0.90) legend: Party_of_National_Progress
 id:LCDP        value:rgb(0,0,0.545)      legend: Lithuanian_Christian_Democratic_Party
 id:LPPU        value:rgb(0,0.502,0)      legend: Lithuanian_Popular_Peasants'_Union
 id:Nationalist value:rgb(0.502,0,0)      legend: Lithuanian_Nationalist_Union
 id:Communist   value:rgb(1,0,0)          legend: Communist_Party_of_Lithuania
 id:Nazi        value:rgb(0,0,0)          legend: National_Socialist_German_Worker's_Party
 id:Sajudis     value:rgb(0.23,0.57,0.23) legend: Sąjūdis
 id:LDDP        value:rgb(0.90,0.33,0.50) legend: Democratic_Labour_Party_of_Lithuania
 id:Justice     value:rgb(1,0.925,0)      legend: Order_and_Justice_Party
 id:NewUnion    value:rgb(0.39,0.51,0.64) legend: New_Union
 id:liteline    value:gray(0.8)
 id:line        value:rgb(0.3,0.3,0.3)
 id:bg          value:white

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1918 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+1}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:6 start:1918
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1918

Legend     = columns:4 left:110 top:57 columnwidth:220

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y|-3 hours}}

TextData =
  pos:(20,57) textcolor:black fontsize:s
  text:"Political Affiliation:"

BarData =
 bar:MindaugasII
 bar:Smetona
 bar:Stulginskis
 bar:Grinius
 bar:Staugaitis
 bar:Merkys
 bar:Paleckis
 bar:Snieckus
 bar:Renteln
 bar:Khazarov
 bar:Griskevicius
 bar:Mitkin
 bar:Songaila
 bar:Brazauskas
 bar:Landsbergis
 bar:Adamkus
 bar:Pakas
 bar:Paulauskas
 bar:Grybauskaite
 bar:Nauseda

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:s shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

 bar:MindaugasII
  from: 11/07/1918 till: 02/11/1918 color:Urach text:"[[Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach|Mindaugas II]]"
 bar:Smetona
  from: 02/11/1918 till: 19/06/1920 color:TPP
  from: 19/12/1926 till: 15/06/1940 color:Nationalist text:"[[Antanas Smetona]]"
 bar:Stulginskis
  from: 19/06/1920 till: 07/06/1926 color:LCDP
  from: 19/12/1926 till: 19/12/1926 color:LCDP        text:"[[Aleksandras Stulginskis]]"
 bar:Grinius
  from: 07/06/1926 till: 18/12/1926 color:LPPU        text:"[[Kazys Grinius]]"
 bar:Staugaitis 
  from: 18/12/1926 till: 19/12/1926 color:LPPU        text:"[[Jonas Staugaitis]]"
 bar:Merkys 
  from: 15/06/1940 till: 17/06/1940 color:Nationalist text:"[[Antanas Merkys]]"
 bar:Paleckis
  from: 17/06/1940 till: 15/08/1940 color:Communist   text:"[[Justas Paleckis]]"
 bar:Snieckus
  from: 21/07/1940 till: 24/06/1941 color:Communist
  from: 13/07/1944 till: 22/01/1974 color:Communist   text:"[[Antanas Sniečkus]]"
 bar:Renteln
  from: 01/08/1941 till: 01/08/1944 color:Nazi        text:"[[Adrian von Renteln]]"
 bar:Khazarov
  from: 22/01/1974 till: 18/02/1974 color:Communist   text:"[[Valery Khazarov]]"
 bar:Griskevicius
  from: 18/02/1974 till: 14/11/1987 color:Communist   text:"[[Petras Griškevičius]]"
 bar:Mitkin
  from: 14/11/1987 till: 01/12/1987 color:Communist   text:"[[Nikolay Mitkin]]"
 bar:Songaila
  from: 01/12/1987 till: 19/10/1988 color:Communist   text:"[[Ringaudas Songaila]]"
 bar:Brazauskas
  from: 15/01/1990 till: 11/03/1990 color:Communist
  from: 25/11/1992 till: 25/02/1998 color:LDDP        text:"[[Algirdas Brazauskas]]"
 bar:Landsbergis
  from: 11/03/1990 till: 25/11/1992 color:Sajudis     text:"[[Vytautas Landsbergis]]"
 bar:Adamkus
  from: 26/02/1998 till: 26/02/2003 color:Independent
  from: 12/07/2004 till: 12/07/2009 color:Independent text:"[[Valdas Adamkus]]"
 bar:Pakas
  from: 26/02/2003 till: 06/04/2004 color:Justice     text:"[[Rolandas Paksas]]"
 bar:Paulauskas
  from: 06/04/2004 till: 12/07/2004 color:NewUnion    text:"[[Artūras Paulauskas]]"
 bar:Grybauskaite
  from: 12/07/2009 till: 12/07/2019 color:Independent text:"[[Dalia Grybauskaitė]]"
 bar:Nauseda
  from: 12/07/2019 till: $today     color:Independent text:"[[Gitanas Nausėda]]"
}}

==See also==
*[[List of Lithuanian monarchs]]
*[[List of Lithuanian consorts]]
*[[List of early Lithuanian dukes]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.president.lt/institution/istorija History], ''Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania''. Retrieved 26 August 2006.
*{{in lang|lt}} Vytautas Spečiūnas (ed.), Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.) (Rulers of Lithuania (13–18th centuries)), ''Mokslo ir enicklopedijų leidybos institutas'', Vilnius 2004. {{ISBN|5-420-01535-8}}

==External links==
*[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Lithuania.htm Another list of Lithuanian rulers]

{{Lithuania topics}}
{{Leaders of Lithuania since 1919}}
{{Years in Lithuania}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of Rulers of Lithuania}}
[[Category:Heads of state of Lithuania| ]]
[[Category:Lithuania politics-related lists|Rulers]]
[[Category:Lists of heads of state|Lithuanian]]
[[Category:People of medieval Lithuania]]
[[Category:Middle Ages-related lists]]