The following is a
list of rulers over Lithuania — grand dukes, kings, and presidents — the heads of authority over historical Lithuanian territory. The timeline includes Lithuania as a sovereign entity or legitimately part of a greater sovereign entity as well as Lithuania under control or occupation of an outside authority (i.e.,
Lithuanian SSR). The incumbents and office-holders are listed by names most commonly used in English language. Where appropriate, the alternations in
Lithuanian,
Ruthenian (later
Belarusian) and
Polish are included.
The state of Lithuania formed in 1230s, when threatened by the
Livonian Order in the north and the
Teutonic Knights in the west,
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—the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth—emerged. The
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
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 restored 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 (; ; ) except for Mindaugas, who became king of Lithuania ().
Early Grand Dukes (1236–1291)
Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.
Gediminids (1291–1440)
Some dates are approximate.
Jagiellons (1440–1572)
The
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 was a direct continuation of the
Gediminids.
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 (; ; ).
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 () was created on April 4, 1919.
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
J. Ambrazevicius. Under Germans, the General District of Lithuania was governed by the administration of general
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 (; ).
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet acted as a collective head of state from August 25, 1940 to March 11, 1990.
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) ().
Title from 1992 onwards: President ().
See also
