List of heads of state of Poland

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This article lists the heads of state of Poland. Currently, the president of Poland is the head of state of the country.

Poland in the Early Middle Ages[edit]

See: Poland in the Early Middle Ages

Legendary rulers[edit]

Most of these rulers appear for the first time in chronicles from the 13th century.

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Lech I6th century6th century6th centuryLegendary founder of the Polish nationLechites (tribe)
Krakus I
  • Krak
8th century8th century8th centuryLegendary founder of KrakówLechites (tribe)
Krakus II
  • Krak II
8th century8th century8th centuryAccording to the legend, he ruled in Kraków.Lechites (tribe)
Lech II8th century8th century8th centuryAccording to the legend, he ruled in Kraków.Lechites (tribe)
Wanda
  • Wąda
8th century8th century8th centuryLegendary daughter of KrakusLechites (tribe)
Leszko I
  • Leszek I
  • Duke
7th / 8th centuries7th / 8th centuries7th[1] / 8th centuriesA legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and PolansGoplans and Polans (tribes)
Leszko II
  • Leszek II
  • Duke
8th century8th century8th centuryA legendary duke of PolansPopielids
Leszko III
  • Leszek III
  • Duke
8th century8th century8th centuryA legendary duke of PolansPopielids
Popiel I
  • Duke
8th century8th century8th centuryA legendary duke of PolansPopielids
Popiel II
  • Duke
9th century9th century9th centuryA legendary ruler dethroned by Piast. He appears (without the number) in the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum from the early XII century.Popielids
Piast the Wheelwright
  • Polish: Piast Kołodziej
    Latin: Past Ckosisconis, Pazt filius Chosisconisu
  • Duke
9th century9th century9th centuryA legendary founder of the Piast dynasty. Son of Chościsko, father of Siemowit. He appears in the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum from the early XII century.Piast

Semi-legendary dukes of the Polans in Greater Poland[edit]

Several historians tend to believe that three legendary rulers of early Poland before Mieszko I might actually be historical persons. They appear in the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum from the early 12th century.

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Siemowit
  • Ziemowit
  • Duke
9th century9th century9th centurySon of Piast the Wheelwright and RzepichaPiast
Lestek
  • Leszek, Lestko
  • Duke
9th / 10th centuries9th / 10th centuries9th / 10th centuriesSon of SiemowitPiast
Siemomysł
  • Ziemomysł
  • Duke
10th century10th century10th centurySon of LestekPiast

Kingdom of Poland and Duchy of Poland, 966–1569[edit]

Piast dukes and kings[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Mieszko I
  • Duke
ca. 940 – 25 May 992ca. 960992Son of Siemomysł. First Christian Polish monarch. Misico, dux WandalorumPiast
Bolesław I the Brave
  • Bolesław I the Great
    Polish: Bolesław I Chrobry (Wielki)
967 – 17 June 1025Duke: 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 PolonorumPiast
Mieszko II Lambertca. 990 – 10/11 May 103410251031Son of Bolesław I and Emnilda of LusatiaPiast
Bezprym
  • Duke
ca. 986–103210311032Son of Bolesław I and Judith of HungaryPiast
Otto Bolesławowic
  • Duke
1000–103310321032Son of Bolesław I and EmnildaPiast
Dytryk
  • Theoderick
  • Duke
after 992 – after 103210321032 /1033Grandson of Mieszko I and Oda of HaldenslebenPiast
Mieszko II Lambert
  • Duke
ca. 990 – 10/11 May 103410321034RestoredPiast
Bolesław the Forgotten
  • Polish: Bolesław Zapomniany
  • Duke
before 1016 – 1038 or 103910341038 /1039Semi-legendary, existence disputedPiast
Casimir I the Restorer
  • Polish: Kazimierz I Odnowiciel
  • Duke
(1016-06-25)25 June 1016 – 28 November 1058(1058-11-28) (aged 42)10391058Son of Mieszko II and Richeza of LotharingiaPiast
Bolesław II the Generous
ca. 1041 or 1042 – 2 or 3 April 1081 or 1082Duke: 1058
King: 1076
Duke: 1076
King: 1079
Son of Kazimierz I and Maria Dobroniega of KievPiast
Władysław I Herman
  • Duke
ca. 1044 – 4 June 110210791102Son of Kazimierz I and Maria DobroniegaPiast
Zbigniew
  • Zbygniew
  • Duke
ca. 1073 – 8 July 111311021107Son of Władysław I and Przecława of Prawdzic coat of arms (disputed). First jointly with Władysław I, 1098-1102Piast
Bolesław III Wrymouth
  • Polish: Bolesław III Krzywousty
  • Duke
(1086-08-20)20 August 1086 – 28 October 1138(1138-10-28) (aged 52)11071138Son of Władysław I and Judith of Bohemia. First jointly with Władysław, 1098-1102. Introduced senioral principlePiast

Fragmentation of the Kingdom of Poland, 1138–1314[edit]

Piast high dukes[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Władysław II the Exile
  • Polish: Władysław II Wygnaniec
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
1105 – 30 May 115911381146Son of Bolesław III and Zbyslava of Kiev. Also Duke of Silesia. Exiled by his brothersPiast
Bolesław IV the Curly
  • Polish: Bolesław Kędzierzawy
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1125 – 5 January 117311461173Son 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 120211731177Son of Bolesław III and Salomea. Also Duke of Greater PolandPiast
Casimir II the Just
  • Polish: Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1138 – 5 May 119411771190Son of Bolesław III and Salomea. Also Duke of Wiślica and SandomierzPiast
Mieszko III the Old
  • Polish: Mieszko III Stary
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1127 – 13 March 120211901190RestoredPiast
Casimir II the Just
  • Polish: Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1138 – 5 May 119411901194RestoredPiast
Leszek I the White
  • Polish: Leszek Biały
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1186 – 24 November 122711941198Son of Casimir II and Helen of Znojmo. Also Duke of SandomierzPiast
Mieszko III the Old
  • Polish: Mieszko III Stary
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1127 – 13 March 120211981199RestoredPiast
Leszek I the White
  • Polish: Leszek Biały
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1186 – 24 November 122711991199RestoredPiast
Mieszko III the Old
  • Polish: Mieszko III Stary
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1127 – 13 March 120211991202RestoredPiast
Władysław III Spindleshanks
  • Polish: Władysław III Laskonogi
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1161/66 – 3 November 123112021202Son of Mieszko III and Eudoxia of Kiev. Also Duke of Greater PolandPiast
Leszek I the White
  • Polish: Leszek Biały
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1186 – 24 November 122712021210RestoredPiast
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot
  • Polish: Mieszko I Plątonogi
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1130 – 16 May 121112101211Son of Władysław II and Agnes of Babenberg. Also Duke of SilesiaPiast
Leszek I the White
  • Polish: Leszek Biały
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1186 – 24 November 122712111225RestoredPiast
Henryk I the Bearded
  • Polish: Henryk I Brodaty
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1165 – 19 March 123812251225Grandson of Władysław II, son of Bolesław I the Tall and Krystyna. Also Duke of SilesiaPiast
Leszek I the White
  • Polish: Leszek Biały
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1186 – 24 November 122712251227Restored. AssassinatedPiast
Władysław III Spindleshanks
  • Polish: Władysław III Laskonogi
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1161/66 – 3 November 123112271229RestoredPiast
Konrad I of Masovia
  • Polish: Konrad I Mazowiecki
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 124712291232Son of Kazimierz II and Helen of Znojmo. Also Duke of MasoviaPiast
Henryk I the Bearded
  • Polish: Henryk I Brodaty
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1165 – 19 March 123812321238RestoredPiast
Henryk II the Pious
  • Polish: Henryk II Pobożny
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1196 – 9 April 124112381241Son of Henry I and Saint Hedwig of Andechs (Saint Hedwig of Silesia). Also Duke of Wroclaw and Greater Poland. Fell at the Battle of LegnicaPiast
Bolesław II the Horned
  • Bolesław II Rogatka
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1220–127812411241Son of Henry II and Anne of Bohemia. Also Duke of SilesiaPiast
Konrad I of Masovia
  • Polish: Konrad I Mazowiecki
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 124712411243RestoredPiast
Bolesław V the Chaste
  • Polish: Bolesław Wstydliwy
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
21 June 1226 – 7 December 127912431279Son of Leszek the White and Grzymislawa of LuckPiast
Leszek II the Black
  • Polish: Leszek Czarny
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1241 – 30 September 128812791288Grandson of Konrad I of Masovia. Maternal grandson of Henry II. Son of Casimir I of Kuyavia and Constance of WrocławPiast
Bolesław II of Masovia
  • Boleslaw II of Płock
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1251 – 20 April 131312881288Grandson 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 129012881289Paternal grandson of Henryk II. Maternal grandson of Konrad I. Son of Henry III the White and Judyta of Masovia. Duke of Lower SilesiaPiast
Bolesław II of Masovia
  • Boleslaw II of Płock
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1251 – 20 April 131312891289RestoredPiast
Władysław I the Elbow-high
  • Polish: Władysław I Łokietek
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
1261 – 2 March 133312891289Grandson of Konrad I of Masovia. Son of Kazimierz I of Kujawia and Euphrosyne of OpolePiast
Henryk IV Probus
  • Polish: Henryk IV Prawy
  • High Duke
    Supreme Prince
ca. 1257/58 – 23 June 129012891290RestoredPiast

Reunification attempts in the Kingdom of Poland 1232–1305[edit]

Piast kings[edit]
NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Przemysł II
  • Premyslas, Premislaus
(1257-10-14)14 October 1257 – 8 February 1296(1296-02-08) (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 PomeraniaPiast
Přemyslid kings[edit]
NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Wenceslaus II of Bohemia
(1271-09-27)27 September 1271 – 21 June 1305(1305-06-21) (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 BohemiaPřemyslid
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia
(1289-10-06)6 October 1289 – 4 August 1306(1306-08-04) (aged 16)13051306Son of Wenceslaus II and Judith of Habsburg. Uncrowned. AssassinatedPřemyslid

Reunited Kingdom of Poland, 1314–1569[edit]

Piast kings[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Władysław I the Elbow-high
  • Polish: Władysław I Łokietek
1261 – 2 March 133313201333Restored. Reunited the Kingdom of PolandPiast
Casimir III the Great
(1310-04-30)30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370(1370-11-05) (aged 60)13331370Son of Władysław I the Elbow-high and Jadwiga of Kalisz. Regarded as one of the greatest Polish monarchsPiast

Anjou kings[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Louis I of Hungary
(1326-03-05)5 March 1326 – 10 September 1382(1382-09-10) (aged 56)13701382Son of Charles I of Hungary and Elizabeth of Poland. Nephew of Casimir III. Elected king and crowned on 17 November. Also King of HungaryAnjou
Jadwiga of Poland
1373/4 – 17 July 139916 October 138417 July 1399Daughter of Louis I and Elizabeth of Bosnia. Crowned king to emphasise her monarchical status, 1384. Reigned jointly with her husband Władysław II Jagiełło from 1386Anjou

Jagiellonian kings[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Władysław II Jagiełło
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
ca. 1351/1362 – (1434-06-01)1 June 14344 March 13861 June 1434Son of Algirdas of Lithuania and Uliana of Tver. Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1377-1434. Reigned jointly with his wife Jadwiga till 1399. Longest-reigning King of PolandJagiellonian
Władysław III of Poland
  • Władysław III of Varna, Władysław Warneńczyk
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1424-10-31)31 October 1424 – 10 November 1444(1444-11-10) (aged 20)25 July 143410 November 1444Son of Władysław II Jagiełło and Sophia of Halshany. Also king of Hungary, as Ulászló I. Fell at the Battle of Varna, in Bulgaria, hence called "of Varna"Jagiellonian
Casimir IV Jagiellon
  • Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1427-11-30)30 November 1427 - 7 June 1492(1492-06-07) (aged 64)25 June 14477 June 1492Son 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 of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1459-12-27)27 December 1459 – 17 June 1501(1501-06-17) (aged 41)23 September 149216 June 1501Son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of AustriaJagiellonian
Alexander I Jagiellon
  • Aleksander I Jagiellończyk
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1461-08-05)5 August 1461 – 19 August 1506(1506-08-19) (aged 45)12 December 150119 August 1506Son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria. Also Grand Duke of Lithuania, 1492-1506Jagiellonian
Sigismund I the Old
  • Zygmunt I Stary
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1467-01-01)1 January 1467 – 1 April 1548(1548-04-01) (aged 81)8 December 15061 April 1548Son of Casimir IV and Elisabeth of Austria. Also Grand Duke of Lithuania. Forced Prussian Homage in 1525. Annexed the Duchy of Masovia in 1526. Entered an alliance with Maximilian I, Holy Roman EmperorJagiellonian
Sigismund II Augustus
  • Zygmunt II August
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1520-08-01)1 August 1520 – 7 July 1572(1572-07-07) (aged 51)1 April 15487 July 1572Son 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 1569Jagiellonian

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1569–1795[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Henry de Valois
  • Henryk Walezy
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1551-09-19)19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589(1589-08-02) (aged 37)21 February 157412 May 1575Son of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. Abandoned the Polish throne three months after his coronation in order to become King of FranceValois
Anna
  • Anna Jagiellonka
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King[2]
(1523-10-18)18 October 1523 – 9 September 1596(1596-09-09) (aged 72)15 December 157512 December 1586Daughter of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza. Reigned together with her husband Stephen BáthoryJagiellonian
Stephen Báthory
  • Stefan Batory
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1533-09-27)27 September 1533 – 12 December 1586(1586-12-12) (aged 53)15 December 157512 December 1586Son of Stephen VIII Báthory and Catherine Telegdi. Prince of Transylvania. Reigned together with his wife AnnaBáthory
Sigismund III
  • Zygmunt III Waza
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632(1632-04-30) (aged 65)18 September 158719 April 1632Grandson 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 the capital from Kraków to WarsawVasa
Władysław IV
  • Władysław IV Waza
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648(1648-05-20) (aged 52)8 November 163220 May 1648Son of Sigismund III and Anne of Austria. Titular Tsar of Russia 1610–1634, titular King of Sweden 1632–1648Vasa
John II Casimir
  • Jan II Kazimierz
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1609-03-22)22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672(1672-12-16) (aged 63)20 November 164816 September 1668Son of Sigismund III and Constance of Austria. Titular King of Sweden 1648-1660. AbdicatedVasa
Michael I
  • Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1640-05-31)May 31, 1640 – November 10, 1673(1673-11-10) (aged 33)19 June 166910 November 1673Son of a successful but controversial military commander, Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, and Gryzelda Konstancja ZamoyskaWiśniowiecki
John III
  • Jan III Sobieski
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1629-08-17)17 August 1629 – 17 June 1696(1696-06-17) (aged 66)21 May 167417 June 1696Son of Jakub Sobieski and Zofia Teofillia Daniłowicz. Most famous for his brilliant victory over the Turks at the Battle of Vienna in 1683Sobieski
Augustus II the Strong
  • August II Mocny
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1670-05-12)12 May 1670 – 1 February 1733(1733-02-01) (aged 62)15 September 169716 February 1704 (deposed)
24 September 1706 (abdicates)
Son of John George III and Anna Sophie of Denmark. Elector of Saxony as Frederick Augustus I, 1694–1733Wettin
Stanisław I
  • Stanisław I Leszczyński
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1677-10-20)20 October 1677 – 23 February 1766(1766-02-23) (aged 88)4 October 17058 August 1709Son of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska. Yielded to Augustus IILeszczyński
Augustus II the Strong
  • August II Mocny
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1670-05-12)12 May 1670 – 1 February 1733(1733-02-01) (aged 62)8 August 17091 February 1733RestoredWettin
Stanisław I
  • Stanisław I Leszczyński
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1677-10-20)20 October 1677 – 23 February 1766(1766-02-23) (aged 88)12 September 173330 June 1734
(deposed)
27 January 1736
(abdicates)
Restored. Defeated in the War of the Polish Succession. Became Duke of Lorraine until his deathLeszczyński
Augustus III
  • August III Sas
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
17 October 1696 – 5 October 1763(1763-10-05) (aged 66)17 January 1734
(in opposition)
30 June 1734
(effectively)
5 October 1763Son of Augustus II and Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-BayreuthWettin
Stanisław II Augustus
  • Stanisław August Poniatowski
  • King of Poland
    King of Poland
    King
(1732-01-17)17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798(1798-02-12) (aged 66)25 November 17647 January 1795Son of Stanisław Poniatowski and Konstancja Czartoryska. Forced to abdicate when the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (a hereditary monarchy since May 3, 1791) ceased to existPoniatowski

Duchy of Warsaw, 1807–1815[edit]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Frederick Augustus I
  • Fryderyk August I
  • Duke
(1750-12-23)23 December 1750 – (1827-05-05)5 May 1827 (aged 76)9 June 180722 May 1815Son of Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony and Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria. Duke of Warsaw. Designated as King of Poland by the General Confederation of the Kingdom of Poland in 1812Wettin

Republic of Poland (1918–1939)[edit]

Chief of State[edit]

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Notes
Józef Piłsudski
(1867–1935)
14 November 1918 11 December 1922 Independent Provisional Chief of State until 1918

President of the Republic[edit]

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Election Notes
1 Gabriel Narutowicz
(1865–1922)
11 December 1922 16 December 1922
(Died in office)
Independent
supported by
Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"
Dec 1922 (I) First President of Poland. Assassinated after only 5 days in office
Maciej Rataj
(1884–1940)
Acting President
16 December 1922 22 December 1922 Polish People's Party "Piast" Marshal of the Sejm
2 Stanisław Wojciechowski
(1869–1953)
22 December 1922 14 May 1926
(Deposed)
Polish People's Party "Piast" Dec 1922 (II) Deposed in the May Coup by Marshal Józef Piłsudski
Maciej Rataj
(1884–1940)
Acting President
14 May 1926 4 June 1926 Polish People's Party "Piast" Marshal of the Sejm
Józef Piłsudski
(1867–1935)
President-elect
Did not take office Sanation May 1926 Piłsudski was elected President by the National Assembly but declined to take office due to minor powers vested by the constitution.
3 Ignacy Mościcki
(1867–1946)
4 June 1926 30 September 1939 Sanation Jun 1926
1933
Mościcki's government was exiled to Romania after Poland's defeat in World War II on 17 September.

Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile (1939–1990)[edit]

After the German conquest of Poland, a Polish government-in-exile was formed under the protection of France and Britain. The President of the Republic and the government-in-exile were recognised by the United Kingdom and, later, by the United States until 6 July 1945, when the Western Allies accepted the Communist-led government backed by Joseph Stalin. Despite having lost recognition by other governments, the government-in-exile continued in London until the election of Lech Wałęsa as President of the Republic of Poland in December 1990, upon which it handed over its formal powers and the insignia of the Polish Second Republic to President-elect Wałęsa in a ceremony at the Warsaw Royal Castle on 22 December 1990.

The sole internationally recognised president of the exiled government was Władysław Raczkiewicz, who took office after Ignacy Mościcki's resignation in September 1939.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Notes
1 Władysław Raczkiewicz
(1885–1947)
30 September 1939 6 June 1947
(Died in office)
Independent Raczkiewicz's government lost recognition by the Western Allies on 6 July 1945.
2 August Zaleski
(1883–1972)
9 June 1947 7 April 1972
(Died in office)
Independent From 1954 onwards, opposed by the Rada Trzech (Council of Three)
3 Stanisław Ostrowski
(1892–1982)
9 April 1972 24 March 1979 Independent
4 Edward Raczyński
(1891–1993)
8 April 1979 8 April 1986 Independent
5 Kazimierz Sabbat
(1913–1989)
8 April 1986 19 July 1989
(Died in office)
Independent
6 Ryszard Kaczorowski
(1919–2010)
19 July 1989 22 December 1990 Independent Kaczorowski resigned on 22 December 1990, upon the election of Lech Wałęsa as President of the Republic of Poland.

Polish People's Republic (1944–1989)[edit]

President of the State National Council[edit]

The Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland was founded under Soviet protection on 31 December 1944 and recognised by the United States and the United Kingdom since 6 July 1945. It evolved into the Government of National Unity on 28 June 1945, and eventually into the Polish People's Republic on 19 February 1947.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Notes
1 Bolesław Bierut
(1892–1956)
31 December 1944 4 February 1947 Polish Workers' Party

President of the Republic[edit]

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Election Notes
Franciszek Trąbalski
(1870–1964)
Acting
4 February 1947 Polish Workers' Party
Władysław Kowalski
(1894–1958)
Acting
4 February 1947 5 February 1947 Polish Workers' Party Marshal of the Sejm
1 Bolesław Bierut
(1892–1956)
5 February 1947 20 November 1952 Polish Workers' Party/
Polish United Workers' Party
1947 From December 1948, also Secretary General of the Polish United Workers' Party

Chairman of the Council of State[edit]

In 1952, the July Constitution abolished the office of president and made the Council of State the collective head of state, chairmen of which are listed below. Real power rested with the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), its Central Committee, and the secretary general/first secretary.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Notes
1 Aleksander Zawadzki
(1899–1964)
20 November 1952 7 August 1964
(Died in office)
Polish United Workers' Party Died in office (cancer)
In accordance with the constitution, the vice presidents of the Council of State, Edward Ochab, Stanisław Kulczyński, Oskar R. Lange, and Bolesław Podedworny, became collegially acting heads of state.
2 Edward Ochab
(1906–1989)
12 August 1964 10 April 1968 Polish United Workers' Party
3 Marian Spychalski
(1906–1980)
10 April 1968 23 December 1970 Polish United Workers' Party
4 Józef Cyrankiewicz
(1911–1989)
23 December 1970 28 March 1972 Polish United Workers' Party
5 Henryk Jabłoński
(1909–2003)
28 March 1972 6 November 1985 Polish United Workers' Party
6 Wojciech Jaruzelski
(1923–2014)
6 November 1985 19 July 1989 Polish United Workers' Party Also the First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party

First Secretaries of the Polish Workers' Party (PPR)/Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR)[edit]

Since 1954, the head of the party was also the Chairman of the Central Committee.

Name
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Entered office Left office Position
Władysław Gomułka
(1905–1982)
23 November 1943 10 August 1948 First Secretary of PPR
Bolesław Bierut
(1892–1956)
10 August 1948 12 March 1956
(Died in office)
First Secretary of PPR to 16 December 1948;

First Secretary of PZPR from 22 December 1948

Edward Ochab
(1906–1989)
20 March 1956 21 October 1956 First Secretary of PZPR
Władysław Gomułka
(1905–1982)
21 October 1956 20 December 1970
Edward Gierek
(1913–2001)
20 December 1970 6 September 1980
Stanisław Kania
(1927–2020)
6 September 1980 18 October 1981
Wojciech Jaruzelski
(1923–2014)
18 October 1981 29 July 1989
Mieczysław Rakowski*
(1926–2008)
29 July 1989 29 January 1990
  • By the second half of 1989, the office of First Secretary, occupied at the time by Mieczysław Rakowski, ceased to hold any real power.

Republic of Poland (1989–present)[edit]

President of the Republic[edit]

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Entered office Left office Political party Election Notes
Previous office
1 Wojciech Jaruzelski
(1923–2014)
19 July 1989 22 December 1990
(Resigned)
Polish United Workers' Party
(to 30 January 1990)
1989 Following the Polish Round Table Agreement between the Polish United Workers' Party and Solidarity, the Council of State was abolished. Its chairman was elected President of the People's Republic by the Parliament.
2 Lech Wałęsa
(born 1943)
22 December 1990 22 December 1995 Solidarity Citizens' Committee 1990 First president elected by popular vote
3 Aleksander Kwaśniewski
(born 1954)
23 December 1995 23 December 2005 Democratic Left Alliance 1995
2000
Member of the Sejm (1991–95). First President of the Third Republic elected twice
4 Lech Kaczyński
(1949–2010)
23 December 2005 10 April 2010
(Died in office)
Law and Justice 2005 Senator (1989–91), Member of the Sejm (1991–93 and 2001–02), Mayor of Warsaw (2002-2005). Died in an plane crash
Bronisław Komorowski
(born 1952)
Acting President
10 April 2010 8 July 2010 Civic Platform Marshal of the Sejm. Resigned as Marshal of the Sejm, and thus as Acting President, after being confirmed as the winner of the 2010 presidential election
Bogdan Borusewicz
(born 1949)
Acting President
8 July 2010 8 July 2010 Civic Platform Marshal of the Senate. Acting president for less than a day, between Komorowski's resignation as the Marshal of the Sejm and Grzegorz Schetyna being sworn in.
Grzegorz Schetyna
(born 1963)
Acting President
8 July 2010 6 August 2010 Civic Platform Marshal of the Sejm. Served as Acting President until Komorowski was sworn in as president as the result of the 2010 presidential election
5 Bronisław Komorowski
(born 1952)
6 August 2010 6 August 2015 Civic Platform 2010 Member of the Sejm (1991–2010), Marshal of the Sejm (2007–10); Acting President (2010).
6 Andrzej Duda
(born 1972)
6 August 2015 Incumbent Law and Justice 2015
2020
Member of the Sejm (2011–14), Member of the European Parliament (2014–15); Duda was the Law and Justice candidate in the 2015 election, but resigned his membership on 26 May 2015. Second President of the Third Republic elected twice

Timeline since 1918[edit]

Andrzej DudaGrzegorz SchetynaBogdan BorusewiczBronisław KomorowskiLech KaczyńskiAleksander KwaśniewskiLech WałęsaWojciech JaruzelskiHenryk JabłońskiJózef CyrankiewiczMarian SpychalskiEdward OchabAleksander ZawadzkiWładysław KowalskiFranciszek TrąbalskiBolesław BierutIgnacy MościckiStanisław WojciechowskiMaciej RatajGabriel NarutowiczJózef Piłsudski

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ dated around 700 by Marcin Bielski
  2. ^ Anna was crowned King of Poland