List of Polish monarchs

This list concerns the historical monarchs of Poland, from the Middle Ages to 1795 and 19th and early 20th century claimants to the Polish throne. For presidents and other heads of state of Poland during the 20th and 21st centuries, see List of heads of state of Poland.

Poland, or at least its nucleus, was ruled at various times either by dukes (the 10th–14th century) or by kings (the 11th-18th century). The longest-reigning dynasties were the Piasts (ca. 960 – 1370) and Jagiellonians (1386–1572). Intervening and subsequent monarchs were often rulers of foreign countries or princes recruited from foreign dynasties.

During the latter period a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16th–18th centuries). Polish independence ended with the Third Partition of Poland (1795) and was restored at the end of World War I (1918) on a republican basis.

Legendary rulers

Ruler	Tribe	Reign	Notes
Lech	Lechites	6th century	legendary founder of the Polish nation
Krakus	Lechites	8th century	legendary founder of Kraków
Wanda	Lechites	8th century	legendary daughter of Krakus

Semi-legendary rulers of the western Polans (Greater Poland)

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign	Notes
Popiel І	Popielids	Duke, 9th century	a semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans
Popiel ІІ	Popielids	Duke, 9th century	a semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans
Siemowit	Piast	Duke, 9th century	semi-legendary son of Piast the Wheelwright
Lestek	Piast	Duke, 9th-10th centuries	semi-legendary son of Siemowit
Siemomysł	Piast	Duke, 10th century	semi-legendary son of Lestko

Monarchs of Poland

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign	Notes
Mieszko I of Poland	Piast	Duke 960?–992	son of Siemomysł first Christian monarch Misico, dux Wandalorum
Bolesław I the Brave	Piast	Duke 992–1025 King 1025	son of Mieszko I and Dobrawa of Bohemia first to be crowned King Regnum Sclavorum, Gothorum sive Polonorum
Mieszko II Lambert	Piast	King 1025–1031	son of Bolesław I and Emnilda of Lusatia
Bezprym	Piast	Duke 1031–1032	son of Bolesław I and Judith of Hungary (disputed)
Otto Bolesławowic	Piast	Duke 1032	son of Bolesław I and Emnilda
Theodorick (Dytryk)	Piast	Duke 1032	grandson of Mieszko I and Oda of Haldensleben
Mieszko II Lambert	Piast	Duke 1032–1034	restored
Bolesław the Forgotten	Piast	Duke 1034–1039	semi-legendary, existence disputed
Casimir I the Restorer	Piast	Duke 1039–1058	son of Mieszko II and Richeza of Lotharingia
Bolesław II the Bold	Piast	Duke 1058–1076 King 1076–1079	son of Kazimierz (Casimir) I and Maria Dobroniega of Kiev
Władysław I Herman	Piast	Duke 1079–1102	son of Kazimierz (Casimir) I and Maria Dobroniega
Zbigniew	Piast	Duke 1098–1107	son of Władysław (Ladislas) I and Przecława, Prawdzic coat of arms (disputed) first jointly with Ladislas I 1098-1102
Bolesław III Wrymouth	Piast	Duke 1107–1138	son of Władysław (Ladislas) I and Judith of Bohemia first jointly with Władysław (Ladislas)1098-1102 introduced senioral principle
Władysław II the Exile	Piast	High Duke 1138–1146	son of Bolesław III and Zbyslava of Kiev also Duke of Silesia exiled by his brothers
Bolesław IV the Curly	Piast	High Duke 1146–1173	son of Bolesław III and Salomea of Berg also Duke of Masovia
Mieszko III the Old	Piast	High Duke 1173–1177	son of Bolesław III and Salomea also Duke of Greater Poland
Casimir II the Just	Piast	High Duke 1177–1190	son of Bolesław III and Salomea also Duke of Wiślica and Sandomierz
Mieszko III the Old	Piast	High Duke 1190	restored
Casimir II the Just	Piast	High Duke 1190–1194	restored
Leszek I the White	Piast	High Duke 1194–1198	son of Casimir II and Helen of Znojmo also Duke of Sandomierz
Mieszko III the Old	Piast	High Duke 1198–1199	restored
Leszek I the White	Piast	High Duke 1199	restored
Mieszko III the Old	Piast	High Duke 1199–1202	restored
Władysław III Spindleshanks	Piast	High Duke 1202	son of Mieszko III and Eudoxia of Kiev also Duke of Greater Poland
Leszek I the White	Piast	High Duke 1202–1210	restored
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot	Piast	High Duke 1210–1211	son of Władysław (Ladislas) II and Agnes of Babenberg also Duke of Silesia
Leszek I the White	Piast	High Duke 1211–1225	restored
Henryk I the Bearded	Piast	High Duke 1225	grandson of Władysław (Ladislas) II, son of Bolesław I the Tall and Krystyna also Duke of Silesia
Leszek I the White	Piast	High Duke 1225–1227	restored assassinated
Władysław III Spindleshanks	Piast	High Duke 1227–1229	restored
Konrad I of Masovia	Piast	High Duke 1229–1232	son of Kazimierz (Casimir) II and Helen of Znojmo also Duke of Masovia
Henryk I the Bearded	Piast	High Duke 1232–1238	restored
Henryk II the Pious	Piast	High Duke 1238–1241	son of Henry I and Saint Hedwig of Andechs (Saint Hedwig of Silesia) also Duke of Wroclaw and Greater Poland fell at Battle of Legnica
Bolesław II Rogatka	Piast	High Duke 1241	son of Henry II and Anne of Bohemia also Duke of Silesia
Konrad I of Masovia	Piast	High Duke 1241–1243	restored
Bolesław V the Chaste	Piast	High Duke 1243–1279	son of Leszek the White and Grzymislawa of Luck
Leszek II the Black	Piast	High Duke 1279–1288	paternal grandson of CI maternal grandson of Henry II son of Kazimierz (Casimir) I of Kujawia (Kuyavia) and Constance of Wrocław
Bolesław II of Masovia	Piast	High Duke 1288	grandson of Konrad of Masovia Duke of Masovia
Henryk IV Probus	Piast	High Duke 1288–1289	paternal grandson of Henryk II maternal grandson of Konrad I son of Henry III the White and Judyta of Masovia Duke of Lower Silesia
Bolesław II of Masovia	Piast	High Duke 1289	restored
Władysław I the Elbow-high	Piast	High Duke 1289	grandson of Konrad I of Masovia son of Kazimierz (Casimir) I of Kujawia (Kuyavia) and Euphrosyne of Opole
Henryk IV Probus	Piast	High Duke 1289–1290	restored
Przemysł II	Piast	High Duke 1290–1291 King 1295–1296	grandson of Henryk II son of Przemysł I and Elisabeth of Wrocław also Duke of Poznań, Greater Poland and Pomerania
Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (Wacław II Czeski)	Přemyslid	High Duke 1291–1300 King 1300–1305	son of Ottokar II of Bohemia and Kunigunda of Slavonia married Premyslas II's daughter Elisabeth Richeza of Poland also King of Bohemia
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia (Wacław III Czeski)	Přemyslid	King 1305–1306	son of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Habsburg uncrowned assassinated
Władysław I the Elbow-high	Piast	High Duke 1306–1320 King 1320–1333	restored re-united the Kingdom of Poland
Kazimierz (Casimir) III Wielki (the Great)	Piast	King 1333–1370	son of Władysław (Ladislas) IV/I and Jadwiga(Hedwig) of Kalisz regarded as one of the greatest Polish monarchs
Louis I of Hungary (Ludwik Węgierski)	Anjou	King 1370–1382	son of Charles I of Hungary and Elisabeth of Poland nephew of Kazimierz (Casimir) III elected King and crowned on 17 November also King of Hungary
Jadwiga of Poland	Anjou	King 1384–1399	daughter of Louis I and Elisabeth of Bosnia crowned "king", 1384 reigned jointly with her husband Władysław II Jagiełło from 1386

Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Jagiellonian Dynasty

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila)	Jagiellonian	4 March 1386	1 June 1434	son of Algirdas of Lithuania and Uliana of Tver Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1377-1434 reigned jointly with his wife Jadwiga till 1399 the longest-reigning king of Poland
Władysław III of Varna (Władysław Warneńczyk, Vladislovas III)	Jagiellonian	25 July 1434	10 November 1444	son of Władysław II Jagiełło and Sophia of Halshany also king of Hungary, as Ulászló I fell at Battle of Varna, in Bulgaria, hence called "of Varna"
Casimir IV Jagiellon (Kazimierz Jagiellończyk, Kazimieras Jogailaitis)	Jagiellonian	25 June 1447	7 June 1492	son of Ladislas II and Sophia of Halshany also Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1440–92
John I Albert (Jan Olbracht, Jonas Albrechtas)	Jagiellonian	23 September 1492	16 June 1501	son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria
Alexander Jagiellon (Aleksander, Aleksandras)	Jagiellonian	12 December 1501	19 August 1506	son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria also Grand Duke of Lithuania 1492-1506
Sigismund I the Old (Zygmunt Stary, Žygimantas Senasis)	Jagiellonian	8 December 1506	1 April 1548	son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria also Grand Duke of Lithuania forced Prussian Homage in 1525 annexed Duchy of Masovia in 1526 entered alliance with Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund II Augustus (Zygmunt August, Žygimantas Augustas)	Jagiellonian	1 April 1548	7 July 1572	son of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza also Grand Duke of Lithuania replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) in 1569

Kings of Poland

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
Henryk Walezy (Henry III)	Valois	21 February 1574	12 May 1575	son of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici abandoned the Polish-Lithuanian throne three months after his coronation in order to become King of France
Anna	Jagiellonian	King 15 December 1575	12 December 1586	daughter of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza reigned together with her husband Stephen Báthory
Stefan Batory (Stephen I Báthory)	Báthory	15 December 1575	12 December 1586	son of Stephen VIII Báthory and Catherine Telegdi Prince of Transylvania reigned together with his wife Anna regarded as one of the greatest kings of Poland
Zygmunt III (Sigismund III )	Vasa	18 September 1587	19 April 1632	grandson of Sigismund I son of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagellon also King of Sweden 1592-1599, titular King 1599–1632
Władysław IV	Vasa	8 November 1632	20 May 1648	son of Sigismund III and Anne of Austria Titular Tsar of Russia 1610-1634, titular King of Sweden 1632-1648
Jan II Kazimierz (John II Casimir)	Vasa	20 November 1648	16 September 1668	son of Sigismund III and Constance of Austria Titular King of Sweden 1648-1660 abdicated
Michał Korybut (Michael I)	Wiśniowiecki	19 June 1669	10 November 1673	son of a successful but controversial military commander, Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, and Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska
Jan III (John III)	Sobieski	21 May 1674	17 June 1696	son of Jakub Sobieski and Zofia Teofillia Daniłowicz most famous for his brilliant victory over the Turks at the Battle of Vienna in 1683
August II Mocny (Augustus II the Strong)	Wettin	15 September 1697	16 February 1704 (deposed) 24 September 1706 (abdicates)	son of John George III and Anna Sophie of Denmark Elector of Saxony as Frederick Augustus I, 1694–1733
Stanisław I	Leszczyński	4 October 1705	8 August 1709	son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska yielded to Augustus II
August II Mocny (Augustus II the Strong)	Wettin	8 August 1709	1 February 1733	restored
Stanisław I	Leszczyński	12 September 1733	30 June 1734 (deposed) 27 January 1736 (abdicates)	restored defeated in War of the Polish Succession became Duke of Lorraine until his death
August III Sas (Augustus III)	Wettin	17 January 1734 (in opposition) 30 June 1734 (effectively)	5 October 1763	son of Augustus II and Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth
Stanisław II August	Poniatowski	25 November 1764	7 January 1795	son of Stanisław Poniatowski and Konstancja Czartoryska forced to abdicate when the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (the Polish Republic since May 3, 1791) ceased to exist

Claim made by foreign states after Partitions of Poland

Kings and Tsars of the Kingdom of Poland

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
Alexander I (Aleksander I)	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov	9 June 1815	1 December 1825	The Kingdom of Poland created at the Congress of Vienna and therefore dubbed "Congress Poland".
Nicholas I (Mikołaj I)	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov	1 December 1825	2 March 1855	deposed by the Polish Parliament (Sejm) on 25 January 1831 during November Uprising (1830–1831), autonomy abolished in 1832.
Alexander II (Aleksander II)	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov	2 March 1855	13 March 1881	The Kingdom of Poland annexed into the Russian Empire after January Uprising (1863–1864), and the name of the kingdom was changed to Vistula Land (1867–1915)
Alexander III (Aleksander III)	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov	13 March 1881	1 November 1894
Nicholas II (Mikołaj II)	Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov	1 November 1894	15 March 1917	during World War I "Vistula Land" was looted and abandoned by the retreating Russian army in 1915; abdicated in 1917

Kings and Queens of Galicia and Lodomeria (Galicja)

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
Maria Theresa (Maria Teresa)	Habsburg	22 September 1772	29 November 1780	the area annexed by the Habsburg Monarchy in the First Partition of Poland (the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth); Empress Maria Theresa of Austria (who was also Queen of Hungary, Queen of Bohemia, etc.) recalled the old Hungarian claims to the Regnum Galiciæ et Lodomeriæ, and Czech claims to the Duchies of Auschwitz and Zator
Joseph II (Józef II)	Habsburg-Lorraine	29 November 1780	20 February 1790
Leopold II (Leopold II)	Habsburg-Lorraine	20 February 1790	1 March 1792
Francis II (Franciszek II)	Habsburg-Lorraine	1 March 1792	2 March 1835	the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he abdicated and the Empire was formally dissolved. In 1804, he had founded the Austrian Empire and became Francis I, the first Emperor of Austria (Kaiser von Österreich)
Ferdinand I (Ferdynand I)	Habsburg-Lorraine	2 March 1835	2 December 1848	after the unsuccessful Cracow Uprising of 1846, the Free City of Cracow was annexed by Austria on 16 November 1846 as the Grand Duchy of Cracow; the full official name of the province was extended to Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, and the Grand Duchy of Cracow with the Duchies of Auschwitz and Zator
Francis Joseph I (Franciszek Józef I)	Habsburg-Lorraine	2 December 1848	21 November 1916	after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, and the reorganization of the Empire as the Dual Monarchy, a broad autonomy was granted to Galicia and Lodomeria within Cisleithania, the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary
Charles I (Karol I)	Habsburg-Lorraine	21 November 1916	11 November 1918	renounced all participation in affairs of state but did not abdicate

Dukes of Warsaw (Warszawa)

Ruler		Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
Frederick Augustus I (Fryderyk August)		Wettin	9 July 1807	14 March 1813	grandson of Augustus III King of Saxony 1805–1827 Duchy of Warsaw established by Napoleon I in 1807 as a protectorate of the French Empire, dissolved at the Congress of Vienna and divided into the Kingdom of Poland, protectorate of the Russian Empire, and the Grand Duchy of Posen, protectorate of the Kingdom of Prussia

Dukes of Danzig (Gdańsk)

Ruler		Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
François Joseph Lefebvre (Franciszek Józef Lefebvre)		Lefebvre	9 September 1807	2 January 1814	Free City of Danzig, a semi-independent state established by Napoleon I in 1807, dissolved at the Congress of Vienna and reincorporated into Prussia

Grand Dukes of Posen (Poznań)

Ruler	Dynasty	Reign Began	Reign Ended	Notes
Frederick William III (Fryderyk Wilhelm III)	Hohenzollern	9 June 1815	7 June 1840	The Grand Duchy of Posen created at the Congress of Vienna; represented by Duke-Governor Antoni Radziwiłł until 1831.
Frederick William IV (Fryderyk Wilhelm IV)	Hohenzollern	7 June 1840	2 January 1861	autonomy abolished on June 28, 1848; the Grand Duchy was formally replaced by the Province of Posen in the Prussian constitution of 5 December 1848.
William I (Wilhelm I)	Hohenzollern	2 January 1861	9 March 1888	The Province of Posen, within the Kingdom of Prussia, became a part of the German Empire (1871–1918)
Frederick III (Fryderyk III)	Hohenzollern	9 March 1888	15 June 1888
William II (Wilhelm II)	Hohenzollern	15 June 1888	9 November 1918	abdicated in 1918

External links

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