List of rulers of Lithuania 670646 223356432 2008-07-03T18:49:32Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Politics of Lithuania}} The following is a '''list of [[Lithuania]]n rulers''' — grand dukes, kings, and presidents — when Lithuania was a sovereign state or was regarded as a separate entity (i.e. [[Lithuanian SSR]]) {{Dubious|date=March 2008}}. The incumbents and officeholders are listed by names most commonly used in English language. Where appropriate, the alternations in [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]], [[Ruthenian language|Ruthenian]] (later [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]) and [[Polish language|Polish]] are included. The state of Lithuania formed in 1230s, when threatened by the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Livonian Order]] in the north and the [[Teutonic Knights]] in the west, [[Balts|Baltic tribes]] united under [[Mindaugas]] leadership. He became the only crowned [[king of Lithuania]]. His state became know as [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]. After Grand Duke [[Jogaila]] became also king of [[Poland]] in 1386, the two states became closer connected and since 1440 both were ruled by a common ruler. In 1569 [[Union of Lublin]] was signed and a new entity — [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] — emerged. The [[Partitions of Poland|commonwealth was partitioned]] in 1795 and Lithuania became part of the [[Russian Empire]] till February 16, 1918. The [[Council of Lithuania]] was able to establish the sovereignty only in 1919, after [[Germany]] lost the [[World War I]]. The first republic of Lithuania existed till 1940 when it was occupied by the [[Soviet Union]]. During the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Soviet-German War]], Lithuania was occupied by [[Nazi Germany]]. In 1944, as Germany was losing the war, Russia re-occupied Lithuania and established the [[Lithuanian SSR]]. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence. The second Republic of Lithuania is a democratic republic, a member of both the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]]. == The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1236-1569) == Title: [[Grand Duke]] ({{lang-lt|didysis kunigaikštis}}; {{lang-be|vialiki kniaź}}; {{lang-pl|wielki książę}}) except for Mindaugas, who became king of Lithuania ({{lang-lt|Lietuvos karalius}}). === Early Grand Dukes (1236–1291)=== Dates are approximate because of scant written sources. {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! width="8%"|Term ! width="20%" | Grand Duke (Lithuanian&nbsp;name) ! Alternate names ! Remarks |- valign=top | 1236-1263 | '''[[Mindaugas]]''' || Mindovg, Mendog || <small>Initially [[Grand Duke]], since 1253 [[King of Lithuania]]. After he was killed by his nephew Treniota, a war between nobles for power erupted. |- | 1263-1264 | '''[[Treniota]]''' || || |- | 1264-1267 | '''[[Vaišvilkas]]''' || Voishelg ||<small>Son of Mindaugas, died heirless |- | 1267-1269 | '''[[Shvarn]]''' ||Švarnas, Shvarno ||<small> Son of [[Roman of Ruthenia|Wolk]] |- | 1269-1282 | '''[[Traidenis]]''' ||Trojden, Troiden, Trajdzien || |- | 1282-1285 | '''[[Daumantas of Lithuania]]''' || Dovmont, Dowmont || |- | 1285-1291 | '''[[Butigeidis]]''' or || Butideidas, Butegeidis ||<small>Founder of the [[Gediminids|Gediminid dynasty]] |} === [[Gediminids|House of Gediminaičiai]] (1291-1440) === Some dates are approximate. {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! width="8%"|Term ! Grand Duke (Lithuanian&nbsp;name) ! Ruthenian name ! Polish name ! Remarks |- valign=top | 1291-1295 | '''[[Butvydas]]''' | Lutavier ||Budwid ||<small>Brother of [[Butigeidis]], father of Vytenis and Gediminas |- valign=top | 1295-1316 || '''[[Vytenis]]''' || Vitien || Witenes ||<small>Son of Butvydas |- valign=top | 1316-1341 || '''[[Gediminas]]''' || Giedymin ||Giedymin | <small>Son of Butvydas. After his death the domain was divided between his 7 sons. |- valign=top | 1341-1345 || '''[[Jaunutis]]''' || Jewnut || Jewnuta | <small>Son of Gediminas. Overlord and Grand Duke, deposed by his brothers [[Algirdas]] and [[Kęstutis]]. |- valign=top | 1345-1377 || '''[[Algirdas]]''' || colspan=2 | Olgierd | <small>Son of Gediminas. His co-ruler was Kęstutis, who was active in the west. Algirdas was mostly active in the east. |- valign=top | 1377-1381 || '''[[Jogaila]]''' || Jahajla || Władysław II Jagiełło ||<small>Son of Algirdas. Crowned the [[King of Poland]] in 1386 and established the personal union of Lithuania and Poland. Founder of the House of [[Jagiellon dynasty|Jogailaičiai]]. |- valign=top | 1381-1382 || '''[[Kęstutis]]''' || colspan=2 | Kiejstut |<small>Son of [[Gediminas]], co-ruler with Algirdas. Kęstutis ruled the western Lithuania (with capital in [[Trakai]]). Deposed Jogaila in 1381 and took control of the whole of Lithuania, only to be captured and killed by him the next year. |- valign=top | 1382-1392 || '''[[Jogaila]]''' || Jahajla ||Władysław II Jagiełło | <small>Also King of Poland 1386-1434. His governor in Lithuania was [[Skirgaila]] (1387-1392). |- valign=top | 1392-1430 || '''[[Vytautas the Great]]''' (Vytautas Didysis) || Vitaut || Witold | <small>Son of Kęstutis. Joined his father in the fight against Jogaila, then changed sides and became Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1392. Was to be crowned King of Lithuania in 1429, but the crown was stopped by the Poles. Died before the second crown arrived. |- valign=top | 1430-1432 || '''[[Švitrigaila]]''' || Svidryhajla || Świdrygiełło | <small>Son of Algirdas, brother of Jogaila. Deposed by followers of Žygimantas, son of Kęstutis. |- valign=top | 1432-1440 || '''[[Žygimantas Kęstutaitis]]''' (Sigismund Kestutatis) || Zygimont I Kejstutavicz || Zygmunt Kiejstutowicz | <small>Son of Kęstutis, brother of Vytautas. Killed by [[Švitrigaila]] supporters. |} === Personal Union with Poland under House of Jogailaičiai (1440–1572) === The [[Union of Krewo|act of personal union]] with Poland was signed as early as 1385, however, continuous line of common rulers of the two countries started only with Casimir IV (even then Polish and Lithuanians twice selected different rulers following earlier common monarch's death, but the Lithuanian one always eventually assumed Polish throne). The monarchs retained separate titles for both parts of the state, and their numbering was kept separately. The [[Jagiellon dynasty|Jogailaičiai house]] was a direct continuation of the Gediminaičiai. {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! width="8%"|Term ! width="18%"|Incumbent ! Lithuanian name ! Ruthenian name ! Polish name ! Remarks |- valign=top | 1440-1492||'''[[Casimir IV Jagiellon]]'''||Kazimieras I Jogailaitis ||Kazimir Jahelonczyk|| Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk | <small>Son of Jogaila. Elected and crowned King of Poland in 1447 after the death of king [[Wladyslaw Warnenczyk]] |- valign=top | 1492-1506 ||'''[[Alexander Jagiellon|Alexander I]]''' ||Aleksandras I ||Alaksandr ||Aleksander I | <small>Son of Casimir IV. Elected and crowned King of Poland in 1501 after the death of king [[Jan I Olbracht]] |- valign=top | 1506-1548 | '''[[Sigismund I the Old]]''' ||Žygimantas Senasis ||Žygimont II Stary ||Zygmunt I Stary ||<small>Son of Casimir IV. |- valign=top | 1548-1572 | '''[[Sigismund II Augustus]]''' ||Žygimantas Augustas ||Žygimont III August ||Zygmunt II August ||<small>Son of Sigismund I the Old. Factual ruler since 1529. |} == Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795) == The [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] was established by [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569. The elected King of Poland was automatically made the Grand Duke of Lithuania (until then Lithuanian dukedom was hereditary). The first ruler of the common country was Sigismund II Augustus. Following the partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795, the commonwealth ceased to exist and Lithuania became part of the Russian Empire for 123 years. There are some gaps in the timeline as it took a while to elect a new king. Title: King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania ({{lang-lt|Lenkijos karalius ir Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis}}; {{lang-be|karol Polščy, vialiki kniaź litoŭski}}; {{lang-pl|Król Polski, wielki książę litewski}}). {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! width="8%"|Term ! width="15%"|Incumbent ! Lithuanian name ! Ruthenian name ! Polish name ! House ! Remarks |- valign=top | 1573-1575 || '''[[Henry III of France|Henry III de Valois]]''' || Henrikas Valua || Anry Valua || Henryk Walezy || [[Valois|de Valois]]||<small>He abandoned the throne and fled to [[France]] where he was crowned as Henri III |- valign=top | 1576-1586 || '''[[Stefan Batory]]''' || Steponas Batoras || Stiapan Batura || Stefan Batory || [[Báthory]] || <small> |- valign=top | 1588-1632 | '''[[Sigismund III Vasa]]''' | Zigmantas IV Vaza ||Žyhimont III Vaza ||Zygmunt III Waza || rowspan=3 | [[House of Vasa|Vasa]] | <small>Proponent of a [[personal union]] between [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|The Republic]] and [[Sweden]], [[King of Sweden]] between 1592 and 1599 |- valign=top | 1632-1648 | '''[[Ladislaus IV of Poland|Ladislaus IV Vasa]]''' | Vladislovas II Vaza ||Uladzislaǔ I Vaza ||Władysław IV Waza | |- valign=top | 1648-1668 | '''[[John II of Poland|John II Casimir Vasa]]''' | Jonas I Kazimieras Vaza ||Jan Kazimier Vaza ||Jan Kazimierz |<small>Abdicated and became a monk, last of the Vasa dynasty in Poland-Lithuania |- valign=top | 1669-1673 | '''[[Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki]]''' | Mykolas I Kaributas Višnioveckis ||Michał Karybut Wišniaviecki || Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki || Polish [[szlachta]] ||<small> |- valign=top | 1674-1696 | '''[[John III Sobieski]]''' ||Jonas II Sobieskis || ||Jan III Sobieski ||Polish [[szlachta]] | |- valign=top | 1697-1706 | '''[[August II of Poland|Augustus II the Strong]]''' | Augustas II Saksas ||Aǔhust II Mocny ||August II Mocny || [[Wettin (dynasty)|Wettin]] | <small>also [[Elector of Saxony]] as [[Frederick Augustus I]] |- valign=top | 1706-1709 | '''[[Stanisław Leszczyński]]''' || Stanislovas I Leščinskis || ||Stanisław Leszczyński || Polish [[szlachta]] | <small>[[War of Polish Succession]] |- valign=top | 1709-1733 | '''[[Augustus II the Strong]]''' || Augustas II Saksas ||Aǔhust II Mocny || August II Mocny || [[Wettin (dynasty)|Wettin]] | <small>also [[Elector of Saxony]] as [[Frederick Augustus I]] |- valign=top | 1733-1736||'''[[Stanisław Leszczyński]]'''||Stanislovas I Leščinskis|| ||Stanisław Leszczyński||Polish [[szlachta]]||<small>[[War of Polish Succession]] |- valign=top | 1733-1763||'''[[Augustus III of Poland|August III Wettin]]'''||Augustas III Saksas||August III Sas||August III Saski||[[Wettin (dynasty)|Wettin]] ||<small> |- valign=top | 1764-1795||'''[[Stanislaus II of Poland|Stanisław August Poniatowski]]'''||Stanislovas II Augustas Poniatovskis|| ||Stanisław August Poniatowski||Polish [[szlachta]]||<small>During his reign the [[Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791|merger of the Grand Duchy with the Kingdom of Poland]] was passed in 1791; abdicated following the [[Partitions of Poland]]; died in exile in Russia |} == Within Russian Empire (1795-1917)== After Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth last Grand Duke Stanisław August Poniatowski resigned and Russian Emperors titled themselves as Lithuanian Grand Dukes ({{lang-ru|Великий Князь Литовский}}) and Samogitian Princes ({{lang-ru|Князь Самогитский}}). As Lithuania in XIX century was understood wider territory compared to modern Republic of Lithuania, containing territories in modern Poland and Belarus. {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! width="8%"|Term ! width="15%"|Incumbent ! Lithuanian name ! Belarusian name ! Polish name ! Russian name ! House ! Remarks |- valign=top | 1795-1796 | '''[[Catherine II of Russia|Catherine II]]''' | Jekaterina II || Кацярына ІІ || Katarzyna II || Екатерина II ||rowspan=7 | [[Romanov Dynasty|Romanovs]] |- valign=top | 1796-1801 | '''[[Paul I of Russia|Paul I]]''' | Pavelas I || Павел I || Paweł I || Павел I |- valign=top | 1801-1825 | '''[[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]]''' | Aleksandras I || Аляксандар I || Aleksander I || Александр I |- valign=top | 1825-1855 | '''[[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]] | Mikalojus I || Мікалай I || Mikołaj I || Николай I |- valign=top | 1855-1881 | '''[[Alexander II of Russia|Aleksander II]]''' | Aleksandras II || Аляксандар II || Aleksander II || Александр II | <small>After [[January Uprising]] Tsar forbade the usage of term Lithuania, though preserved in own title |- valign=top | 1881-1894 | '''[[Alexander III of Russia|Aleksander III]]''' | Aleksandras III || Аляксандар III || Aleksander III || Александр III | |- valign=top | 1894-1917 | '''[[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]]''' | Mikalojus II || Мікалай II || Mikołaj II || Николай II |} == Kingdom of Lithuania (1918) == The [[Council of Lithuania]] declared independence on February 16, 1918 when Lithuania was occupied by the [[Reichswehr]]. The name of the state was the ''Kingdom of Lithuania''. On July 9, 1918, the council declared that the Duke of Urach is to become King [[Mindaugas II of Lithuania]]. However, on November 2, the council revoked this decision and declared that Lithuania is to be a democratic republic. == Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940) == The institution of [[President]] ({{lang-lt|Prezidentas}}) was created on April 4, 1919. {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! Term ! President ! width="54%" | Remarks |- valign=top | [[April 4]], [[1919]] – [[June 19]], [[1920]] ||'''[[Antanas Smetona]]''' || <small>Elected by the Council of Lithuania |- valign=top | [[June 19]], [[1920]] – [[June 7]], [[1926]] ||'''[[Aleksandras Stulginskis]]''' || <small>Acting President (as [[Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania|Constituent Assembly]]). Re-elected by the [[Seimas]] on [[December 21]], [[1922]] and in June 1923. |- valign=top | [[June 7]] - [[December 18]] [[1926]] |'''[[Kazys Grinius]]''' |<small>Elected by parliament, but overthrown by a [[1926 Lithuanian coup d'état‎|military coup d'état]] |- valign=top | [[December 18]] – [[December 19]] [[1926]] | '''[[Jonas Staugaitis]]''' | <small>Formally, for one day, as the head of [[Seimas]] (renounced the office after the coup d'état) |- valign=top | [[December 19]], [[1926]] | '''[[Aleksandras Stulginskis]]''' | <small>Formally, as the new head of [[Seimas]], only for several hours |- valign=top | [[December 19]], [[1926]] – [[June 15]] [[1940]] | '''[[Antanas Smetona]]''' | <small>Second term, elected president after a military coup d'état; after the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] ultimatum of 1940 he fled to [[Germany]] and then to the [[United States|USA]] |- valign=top | [[June 15]] – [[June 17]] [[1940]] | '''[[Antanas Merkys]]''' | <small>The Prime Minister, ''de facto'' acting president after Smetona's defection. Not recognised by Lithuanian diplomats abroad; he assumed the role of president illegally, as Smetona neither resigned nor died. |- valign=top | [[June 17]] – [[August 3]] [[1940]] | '''[[Justas Paleckis]]''' | <small>Chosen unconstitutionally by leaders of the Lithuanian communists under pressure from the [[Soviet Union]], not recognized internationally or by the Lithuanian diplomatic service |} == Lithuanian SSR (1940-1941 and 1944-1990)== The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and established [[Lithuanian SSR]] in July 1940. As [[Nazi Germany]] attacked the Soviet Union, Lithuania was occupied by the Germans. Few days before the German occupation, Lithuania was ruled by pro-German rebel government of [[Juozas Ambrazevicius|J. Ambrazevicius]]. Under Germans, the General District of Lithuania was governed by the administration of general [[Petras Kubiliunas|P. Kubiliunas]]. As Nazi Germany retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied the country and reestablished Lithuanian SSR in 1944. Title: First Secretary of the [[Central Committee]] of the [[Communist Party of Lithuania]] ({{Lang-lt|Lietuvos komunistų partijos Centro komiteto pirmasis sekretorius}}; {{Lang-ru|Первый секретарь Центрального Комитета Коммунистической партии Литвы}}). {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! Term ! First Secretary ! width="40%"| Remarks |- | [[July 21]], [[1940]] – [[June 24]], [[1941]]<br> [[July 13]], [[1944]] – [[January 22]], [[1974]] || '''[[Antanas Sniečkus]]''' || |- | [[February 18]], [[1974]] – [[November 14]], [[1987]] || '''[[Petras Griškevičius]]''' || |- valign=top | [[December 1]], [[1987]] – [[October 19]], [[1988]] || '''[[Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila]]''' ||<small>First leader of the party to be deposed of his power (Sniečkus and Griškevičius held office until their death) |- | [[October 19]], [[1988]] – December, 1989 || '''[[Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas]]''' ||<small>Lost power as independence was declared |} The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet acted as a collective head of state from August 25, 1940 to March 11, 1990. {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! Term ! Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet ! width="40%| Remarks |- | [[August 25]], [[1940]] - [[April 14]] [[1967]] || '''[[Justas Paleckis]] ''' ||<small>In Russian SFSR exile 1941-1944 |- | [[April 14]], [[1967]] - [[December 24]], [[1975]] || ''' [[Motejus Sumauskas]] ''' || |- valign=top | [[December 24]], [[1975]] - [[November 18]], [[1985]] || ''' [[Antanas Barkauskas]] ''' || |- | [[November 18]], [[1985]] - [[December 7]], [[1987]] || ''' [[Ringaudas Bronislavas Songaila]] ''' || |- | [[December 7]], [[1987]] - [[January 15]], [[1990]] || ''' [[Vytautas Astrauskas]] ''' || |- | [[January 15]], [[1990]] - [[March 11]], [[1990]] ||''' [[Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas]] ''' || |} == Republic of Lithuania (from 1990) == The leader of the Supreme Council was the official head of state from the declaration of independence on March 11, 1990 until the new Constitution came into effect in 1992 establishing the office of President and the institution of [[Seimas]]. The state and its leadership were not recognized internationally until September 1991. Title from 1990 to 1992: Chairman of the Supreme Council (Parliament) ({{lang-lt|Aukščiausiosios Tarybos pirmininkas}}). Title from 1992 onwards: President ({{lang-lt|Prezidentas}}). {| class=wikitable |- align=left ! Term ! Officeholder ! width="50%" | Remarks |- | [[March 11]], [[1990]] – [[November 25]], [[1992]] || '''[[Vytautas Landsbergis]]''' ||<small>As Chairman of the Supreme Council. |- valign=top | [[November 25]], [[1992]] – [[February 25]], [[1998]] || '''[[Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas]]''' ||<small>First post-Soviet President. Acting President (as [[Speaker of Seimas]]) until [[February 25]], [[1993]], when he won the first Presidential elections. Did not run for a second term. |- | [[February 26]], [[1998]] – [[February 25]], [[2003]] || '''[[Valdas Adamkus]]''' ||<small>Was not re-elected for a second term. |- | [[February 26]], [[2003]] – [[April 6]], [[2004]] || '''[[Rolandas Paksas]]''' ||<small>Impeached and removed from office. |- valign=top | [[April 6]], [[2004]] – [[July 12]], [[2004]] || '''[[Artūras Paulauskas]]''' ||<small>As leader of Seimas, temporarily performed the duties of the President until the next election. |- | [[July 12]], [[2004]] – Present|| '''[[Valdas Adamkus]]''' || |} == See also == *[[List of early Lithuanian dukes]] ==References== * [http://www.president.lt/institution/istorija History], ''Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania''. Accessed August 26, 2006. * {{lt icon}} 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] {{Heads of state of the European Union Member states}} {{Europe heads of state}} [[Category:Lithuanian rulers| ]] [[Category:Lithuania-related lists|Rulers]] [[Category:Lists of rulers|Lithuanian]] [[ca:Cap d'estat de Lituània]] [[de:Liste der Herrscher Litauens]] [[es:Lista de los Presidentes de Lituania]] [[eo:Listo de regantoj de Litovio]] [[fr:Liste des grands-ducs de Lituanie]] [[lt:Lietuvos Prezidentų sąrašas]] [[nl:Lijst van staatshoofden van Litouwen]] [[ja:リトアニアの統治者の一覧]] [[no:Litauens statsledere]] [[pl:Władcy Litwy]] [[pt:Lista de governantes da Lituânia]] [[ru:Список правителей Литвы]] [[uk:Список президентів Литви]] [[zh:立陶宛总统]]