List of Polish monarchs

Monarchy of Poland
Royal coat of arms
Stanisław II August
Details
Style	Royal Majesty (HRM)[1] Wasza Królewska Mość Serene Reigning Majesty Jaśnie Panujący Mości[2] Grace (HG) Wasza Miłość Highness (HH) Wasza Wysokość
First monarch	Mieszko I[3]
Last monarch	Stanisław II
Formation	ca. 960
Abolition	7 January 1795
Residence	Wawel Castle Warsaw Castle Wilanów Palace
Appointer	Hereditary Elective[4]
Pretender(s)	none Ruediger, Margrave of Meissen (disputed)

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

Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes (the 9th–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.

Poland in the Early Middle Ages

See: Poland in the Early Middle Ages

Legendary rulers

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Lech I	6th century	6th century	6th century	Legendary founder of the Polish nation	Lechites (Tribe)
Krakus I Krak	8th century	8th century	8th century	Legendary founder of Kraków	Lechites (Tribe)
Krakus II Krak II	8th century	8th century	8th century	Legendary son and successor of Krakus	Lechites (Tribe)
Lech II	8th century	8th century	8th century	Legendary son of Krakus and successor of Krakus II	Lechites (Tribe)
Wanda Wąda	8th century	8th century	8th century	Legendary daughter of Krakus	Lechites (Tribe)

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

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Leszko I Leszek I Duke	7th / 8th centuries	7th / 8th centuries	7th[5] / 8th centuries	A semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans	Goplans and Polans (Tribes)
Leszko II Leszek II Duke	8th century	8th century	8th century	A semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans	Popielids
Leszko III Leszek III Duke	8th century	8th century	8th century	A semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans	Popielids
Popiel I Duke	8th century	8th century	8th century	A semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans	Popielids
Popiel II Duke	9th century	9th century	9th century	A semi-legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans	Popielids

Piast Dynasty (Dukes of the Polans)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Piast the Wheelwright Polish: Piast Kołodziej Latin: Past Ckosisconis, Pazt filius Chosisconisu Duke	9th century	9th century	9th century	A legendary ruler of the Polans Son of Chościsko, father of Siemowit Founder of the Piast dynasty	Piast
Siemowit Ziemowit Duke	9th century	9th century	9th century	Son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha	Piast
Lestek Leszek, Lestko Duke	9th / 10th centuries	9th / 10th centuries	9th / 10th centuries	Son of Siemowit	Piast
Siemomysł Ziemomysł Duke	10th century	10th century	10th century	Son of Lestek	Piast

Kingdom of Poland, 966–1569

Piast dukes and kings

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Mieszko I of Poland Duke	ca. 940 – 25 May 992	ca. 960	992	Son of Siemomysł First Christian Polish monarch Misico, dux Wandalorum	Piast
Bolesław I the Brave Bolesław I the Great Polish: Bolesław I Chrobry (Wielki) King	967 – 17 June 1025	Duke: 992 King: 18 April 1025	Duke: 18 April 1025 King: 17 June 1025	Son of Mieszko I and Dobrawa of Bohemia First to be crowned king Regnum Sclavorum, Gothorum sive Polonorum	Piast
Mieszko II Lambert King	ca. 990 – 10/11 May 1034	1025	1031	Son of Bolesław I and Emnilda of Lusatia	Piast
Bezprym Duke	ca. 986–1032	1031	1032	Son of Bolesław I and Judith of Hungary	Piast
Otto Bolesławowic Duke	1000–1033	1032	1032	Son of Bolesław I and Emnilda	Piast
Dytryk Theoderick Duke	after 992 – after 1032	1032	1032 /1033	Grandson of Mieszko I and Oda of Haldensleben	Piast
Mieszko II Lambert Duke	ca. 990 – 10/11 May 1034	1032	1034	Restored	Piast
Bolesław the Forgotten Polish: Bolesław Zapomniany Duke	before 1016 – 1038 or 1039	1034	1038 /1039	Semi-legendary, existence disputed	Piast
Casimir I the Restorer Polish: Kazimierz I Odnowiciel Duke	25 June 1016 – 28 November 1058 (aged 42)	1039	1058	Son of Mieszko II and Richeza of Lotharingia	Piast
Bolesław II the Bold Polish: Bolesław II Szczodry / Śmiały King	ca. 1041 or 1042 – 2 or 3 April 1081 or 1082	Duke: 1058 King: 1076	Duke: 1076 King: 1079	Son of Kazimierz I and Maria Dobroniega of Kiev	Piast
Władysław I Herman Duke	ca. 1044 – 4 June 1102	1079	1102	Son of Kazimierz I and Maria Dobroniega	Piast
Zbigniew Zbygniew Duke	ca. 1073 – 8 July 1113	1102	1107	Son of Władysław I and Przecława of Prawdzic coat of arms (disputed) First jointly with Władysław I 1098-1102	Piast
Bolesław III Wrymouth Polish: Bolesław III Krzywousty Duke	20 August 1086 – 28 October 1138 (aged 52)	1107	1138	Son of Władysław I and Judith of Bohemia First jointly with Władysław 1098-1102 Introduced senioral principle	Piast

Fragmentation of the Kingdom of Poland, 1138–1314

See also: Fragmentation of the realm and Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth

Piast high dukes

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Władysław II the Exile Polish: Władysław II Wygnaniec High Duke Supreme Prince	1105 – 30 May 1159	1138	1146	Son of Bolesław III and Zbyslava of Kiev Also Duke of Silesia Exiled by his brothers	Piast
Bolesław IV the Curly Polish: Bolesław Kędzierzawy High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1125 – 5 January 1173	1146	1173	Son of Bolesław III and Salomea of Berg Also Duke of Masovia	Piast
Mieszko III the Old Polish: Mieszko III Stary High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202	1173	1177	Son of Bolesław III and Salomea Also Duke of Greater Poland	Piast
Casimir II the Just Polish: Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1138 – 5 May 1194	1177	1190	Son of Bolesław III and Salomea Also Duke of Wiślica and Sandomierz	Piast
Mieszko III the Old Polish: Mieszko III Stary High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202	1190	1190	Restored	Piast
Casimir II the Just Polish: Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1138 – 5 May 1194	1190	1194	Restored	Piast
Leszek I the White Polish: Leszek Biały High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227	1194	1198	Son of Casimir II and Helen of Znojmo Also Duke of Sandomierz	Piast
Mieszko III the Old Polish: Mieszko III Stary High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202	1198	1199	Restored	Piast
Leszek I the White Polish: Leszek Biały High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227	1199	1199	Restored	Piast
Mieszko III the Old Polish: Mieszko III Stary High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202	1199	1202	Restored	Piast
Władysław III Spindleshanks Polish: Władysław III Laskonogi High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1161/66 – 3 November 1231	1202	1202	Son of Mieszko III and Eudoxia of Kiev Also Duke of Greater Poland	Piast
Leszek I the White Polish: Leszek Biały High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227	1202	1210	Restored	Piast
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot Polish: Mieszko I Plątonogi High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1130 – 16 May 1211	1210	1211	Son of Władysław II and Agnes of Babenberg Also Duke of Silesia	Piast
Leszek I the White Polish: Leszek Biały High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227	1211	1225	Restored	Piast
Henryk I the Bearded Polish: Henryk I Brodaty High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1165 – 19 March 1238	1225	1225	Grandson of Władysław II, son of Bolesław I the Tall and Krystyna Also Duke of Silesia	Piast
Leszek I the White Polish: Leszek Biały High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227	1225	1227	Restored Assassinated	Piast
Władysław III Spindleshanks Polish: Władysław III Laskonogi High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1161/66 – 3 November 1231	1227	1229	Restored	Piast
Konrad I of Masovia Polish: Konrad I Mazowiecki High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 1247	1229	1232	Son of Kazimierz II and Helen of Znojmo Also Duke of Masovia	Piast
Henryk I the Bearded Polish: Henryk I Brodaty High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1165 – 19 March 1238	1232	1238	Restored	Piast
Henryk II the Pious Polish: Henryk II Pobożny High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1196 – 9 April 1241	1238	1241	Son of Henry I and Saint Hedwig of Andechs (Saint Hedwig of Silesia) Slso Duke of Wroclaw and Greater Poland Fell at Battle of Legnica	Piast
Bolesław II Rogatka Bolesław II the Horned High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1220–1225	1241	1241	Son of Henry II and Anne of Bohemia Also Duke of Silesia	Piast
Konrad I of Masovia Polish: Konrad I Mazowiecki High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 1247	1241	1243	Restored	Piast
Bolesław V the Chaste Polish: Bolesław Wstydliwy High Duke Supreme Prince	21 June 1226 – 7 December 1279	1243	1279	Son of Leszek the White and Grzymislawa of Luck	Piast
Leszek II the Black Polish: Leszek Czarny High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1241 – 30 September 1288	1279	1288	Paternal grandson of Konrad I of Masovia Maternal grandson of Henry II Son of Casimir I of Kuyavia and Constance of Wrocław	Piast
Bolesław II of Masovia Boleslaw II of Płock High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1251 – 20 April 1313	1288	1288	Grandson of Konrad I of Masovia Duke of Masovia	Piast
Henryk IV Probus Polish: Henryk IV Prawy High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1257/58 – 23 June 1290	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	Piast
Bolesław II of Masovia Boleslaw II of Płock High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1251 – 20 April 1313	1289	1289	Restored	Piast
Władysław I the Elbow-high Polish: Władysław I Łokietek High Duke Supreme Prince	1261 – 2 March 1333	1289	1289	Grandson of Konrad I of Masovia Son of Kazimierz I of Kujawia and Euphrosyne of Opole	Piast
Henryk IV Probus Polish: Henryk IV Prawy High Duke Supreme Prince	ca. 1257/58 – 23 June 1290	1289	1290	Restored	Piast

Reunification attempts in the Kingdom of Poland 1232–1305

Piast kings

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Przemysł II Premyslas, Premislaus King	14 October 1257 – 8 February 1296 (aged 38)	High Duke: 1290 King: 1295	High Duke: 1291 King: 1296	Grandson of Henryk II Son of Przemysł I and Elisabeth of Wrocław Also Duke of Poznań, Greater Poland and Pomerania	Piast

Přemyslid kings

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Wenceslaus II of Bohemia Polish: Wacław II Czeski King	27 September 1271 – 21 June 1305 (aged 33)	High Duke: 1291 King: 1300	High Duke: 1300 King: 1305	Son of Ottokar II of Bohemia and Kunigunda of Slavonia Married Przemysł II's daughter Elisabeth Richeza of Poland Also King of Bohemia	Přemyslid
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia Polish: Wacław III Czeski King[6]	6 October 1289 – 4 August 1306 (aged 16)	1305	1306	Son of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Habsburg Uncrowned Assassinated	Přemyslid

Reunited Kingdom of Poland, 1314–1569

Piast kings

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Władysław I the Elbow-high Polish: Władysław I Łokietek King	1261 – 2 March 1333	1320	1333	Restored Re-united the Kingdom of Poland	Piast
Casimir III the Great Polish: Kazimierz III Wielki King	30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370 (aged 60)	1333	1370	Son of Władysław I the Elbow-high and Jadwiga of Kalisz Regarded as one of the greatest Polish monarchs	Piast

Angevin kings

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Louis I of Hungary Polish: Ludwik Węgierski King	5 March 1326 – 10 September 1382 (aged 56)	1370	1382	Son of Charles I of Hungary and Elizabeth of Poland Nephew of Casimir III Elected king and crowned on 17 November Also King of Hungary	Anjou
Jadwiga of Poland Polish: Jadwiga Andegaweńska King[7]	1373/4 – 17 July 1399	16 October 1384	17 July 1399	Daughter of Louis I and Elizabeth of Bosnia Crowned "king", 1384 Reigned jointly with her husband Władysław II Jagiełło from 1386	Anjou

Jagiellonian kings

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Władysław II Jagiełło King	ca. 1351/1362 – 1 June 1434	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	Jagiellonian
Władysław III of Poland Władysław III of Varna, Władysław Warneńczyk King	31 October 1424 - 10 November 1444 (aged 20)	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"	Jagiellonian
Casimir IV Jagiellon Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk King	30 November 1427 - 7 June 1492 (aged 64)	25 June 1447	7 June 1492	Son of Władysław II and Sophia of Halshany Also Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1440–92 His successful reign ended in the final destruction of the Teutonic Knights	Jagiellonian
John I Albert Jan I Olbracht King	27 December 1459 - 17 June 1501 (aged 41)	23 September 1492	16 June 1501	Son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria	Jagiellonian
Alexander I Jagiellon Aleksander I Jagiellończyk King	5 August 1461 - 19 August 1506 (aged 45)	12 December 1501	19 August 1506	Son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria Also Grand Duke of Lithuania 1492-1506	Jagiellonian
Sigismund I the Old Zygmunt I Stary King	1 January 1467 – 1 April 1548 (aged 81)	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	Jagiellonian
Sigismund II Augustus Zygmunt II August King	1 August 1520 – 7 July 1572 (aged 51)	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	Jagiellonian

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1569–1795

See also: History of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1648) and History of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1648–1764) and History of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1764–95)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Henry de Valois Henryk Walezy King	19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589 (aged 37)	21 February 1574	12 May 1575	Son of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici Abandoned the Polish throne three months after his coronation in order to become King of France	Valois
Anna Anna Jagiellonka King[8]	18 October 1523 – 9 September 1596 (aged 72)	15 December 1575	12 December 1586	Daughter of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza Reigned together with her husband Stephen Báthory	Jagiellonian
Stephen Báthory Stefan Batory King	27 September 1533 – 12 December 1586 (aged 53)	15 December 1575	12 December 1586	Son of Stephen VIII Báthory and Catherine Telegdi Prince of Transylvania Reigned together with his wife Anna	Báthory
Sigismund III Zygmunt III Waza King	20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632 (aged 65)	18 September 1587	19 April 1632	Grandson of Sigismund I Son of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagiellon Also King of Sweden 1592-1599, titular King 1599–1632 During his reign Polish troops captured Moscow Moved capital from Kraków to Warsaw	Vasa
Władysław IV Władysław IV Waza King	9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648 (aged 52)	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	Vasa
John II Casimir Jan II Kazimierz King	22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672 (aged 63)	20 November 1648	16 September 1668	Son of Sigismund III and Constance of Austria Titular King of Sweden 1648-1660 Abdicated	Vasa
Michael I Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki King	May 31, 1640 – November 10, 1673 (aged 33)	19 June 1669	10 November 1673	Son of a successful but controversial military commander, Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, and Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska	Wiśniowiecki
John III Jan III Sobieski King	17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696 (aged 66)	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	Sobieski
Augustus II the Strong August II Mocny King	12 May 1670 – 1 February 1733 (aged 62)	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	Wettin
Stanisław I Stanisław I Leszczyński King	20 October 1677 – 23 February 1766 (aged 88)	4 October 1705	8 August 1709	Son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska Yielded to Augustus II	Leszczyński
Augustus II the Strong August II Mocny King	12 May 1670 – 1 February 1733 (aged 62)	8 August 1709	1 February 1733	Restored	Wettin
Stanisław I Stanisław I Leszczyński King	20 October 1677 – 23 February 1766 (aged 88)	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	Leszczyński
Augustus III August III Sas King	17 October 1696 – 5 October 1763 (aged 66)	17 January 1734 (in opposition) 30 June 1734 (effectively)	5 October 1763	Son of Augustus II and Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth	Wettin
Stanisław II August Stanisław August Poniatowski King	17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798 (aged 66)	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	Poniatowski

Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Frederick Augustus I Fryderyk August I Duke	23 December 1750 – 5 May 1827	9 June 1807	22 May 1815	Son of Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony and Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria Duke of Warsaw	Wettin

Pretenders to the Polish throne

• Vratislaus II of Bohemia (1085–1092)
• Henry of Bohemia (1306)
• Rudolf I of Bohemia (1306–1307)
• Henry of Bohemia (1307–1310)
• John of Bohemia (1310–1335)

Not recognized Royal elections

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

See also

• Kings of Poland family tree
• Royal coronations in Poland
• Princely Houses of Poland
• Dukes of Greater Poland
• Dukes of Masovia
• Dukes of Pomerania
• Dukes of Sieradz-Łęczyca
• Dukes of Silesia
• List of rulers of Partitioned Poland
• List of Galician rulers
• List of heads of state of Poland
• List of Prime Ministers of Poland
• List of Poles

External links

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

Bibliography

• Duczmal M., Jagiellonowie. Leksykon biograficzny, Kraków 1996.
• Dybkowska A., Żaryn J., Żaryn M., Polskie dzieje. Od czasów najdawniejszych po współczesność, wyd. 2, Warszawa 1995. ISBN 83-01-11870-9
• Gierowski J.A., Rzeczpospolita w dobie złotej wolności (1648–1763), Kraków 2001. ISBN 83-85719-56-3
• Grodziski S., Polska w czasach przełomu (1764–1815), Kraków 2001. ISBN 83-85719-45-8
• Grodziski S., Porównawcza historia ustrojów państwowych, Kraków 1998. ISBN 83-7052-840-6
• Grzybowski S., Dzieje Polski i Litwy (1506–1648), Kraków 2000. ISBN 83-85719-48-2
• Morby J.E., Dynastie świata. Przewodnik chronologiczny i genealogiczny, Kraków 1995, s. 261-263. ISBN 83-7006-263-6
• Wyrozumski J., Dzieje Polski piastowskiej (VIII w.-1370), Kraków 1999. ISBN 83-85719-38-5
• Zientara B., Henryk Brodaty i jego czasy, wyd. 2, Warszawa 1997.

References

1. It was not allowed to use abbreviations and acronyms
2. In the 17th century and later Poland was usually known as the Most Serene Republic of Poland (Polish: Najjaśniejsza Rzeczpospolita Polska, Latin: Serenissima Res Publica Poloniae).
3. first Christian monarch
4. Since 1574
5. dated around 700 by Marcin Bielski
6. Uncrowned - also considered titular King of Poland
7. Jadwiga was crowned King of Poland — Hedvig Rex Poloniæ, not Hedvig Regina Poloniæ. Polish law had no provision for a female ruler (queen regnant), but did not specify that the monarch had to be male. The masculine gender of her title was also meant to emphasize that she was monarch in her own right, not a queen consort.
8. Anna was crowned King of Poland