List of heads of state of Poland facts for kids
This article lists the heads of state of Poland. Currently, the president of Poland is the head of state of the country.
Contents
- Poland in the Early Middle Ages
- Kingdom of Poland and Duchy of Poland (966–1569)
- Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)
- Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1815)
- Republic of Poland (1918–1939)
- Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile (1939–1990)
- Polish People's Republic (1944–1989)
- Republic of Poland (1989–present)
- Timeline since 1918
- See also
Poland in the Early Middle Ages
Legendary rulers
Most of these rulers appear for the first time in chronicles from the 13th century.
| 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
|
8th century | 8th century | 8th century | Legendary founder of Kraków | Lechites (tribe) |  |
Krakus II
|
8th century | 8th century | 8th century | According to the legend, he ruled in Kraków. | Lechites (tribe) | |
| Lech II | 8th century | 8th century | 8th century | According to the legend, he ruled in Kraków. | Lechites (tribe) |  |
Wanda
|
8th century | 8th century | 8th century | Legendary daughter of Krakus | Lechites (tribe) |  |
Leszko I
|
7th / 8th centuries | 7th / 8th centuries | 7th / 8th centuries | A legendary ruler of the West Slavic ("proto-Polish") tribe of Goplans and Polans | Goplans and Polans (tribes) |  |
Leszko II
|
8th century | 8th century | 8th century | A legendary duke of Polans | Popielids |  |
Leszko III
|
8th century | 8th century | 8th century | A legendary duke of Polans | Popielids |  |
Popiel I
|
8th century | 8th century | 8th century | A legendary duke of Polans | Popielids |  |
Popiel II
|
9th century | 9th century | 9th century | A 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 | 9th century | 9th century | 9th century | A 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
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.
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Siemowit
|
9th century | 9th century | 9th century | Son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha | Piast |  |
Lestek
|
9th / 10th centuries | 9th / 10th centuries | 9th / 10th centuries | Son of Siemowit | Piast |  |
Siemomysł
|
10th century | 10th century | 10th century | Son of Lestek | Piast |  |
Kingdom of Poland and Duchy of Poland (966–1569)
Piast dukes and kings
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mieszko I
|
ca. 940 – 25 May 992 | ca. 960 | 992 | Son of Siemomysł. First Christian Polish monarch. Misico, dux Wandalorum | Piast | _(cropped).jpg) |
Bolesław I the Brave
|
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 | ca. 990 – 10/11 May 1034 | 1025 | 1031 | Son of Bolesław I and Emnilda of Lusatia | Piast |  |
Bezprym
|
ca. 986–1032 | 1031 | 1032 | Son of Bolesław I and Judith of Hungary | Piast |  |
Otto Bolesławowic
|
1000–1033 | 1032 | 1032 | Son of Bolesław I and Emnilda | Piast | |
Dytryk
|
after 992 – after 1032 | 1032 | 1032 /1033 | Grandson of Mieszko I and Oda of Haldensleben | Piast | |
Mieszko II Lambert
|
ca. 990 – 10/11 May 1034 | 1032 | 1034 | Restored | Piast | |
Bolesław the Forgotten
|
before 1016 – 1038 or 1039 | 1034 | 1038 /1039 | Semi-legendary, existence disputed | Piast | |
Casimir I the Restorer
|
25 June 1016 – 28 November 1058 (aged 42) | 1039 | 1058 | Son of Mieszko II and Richeza of Lotharingia | Piast | .jpg) |
Bolesław II the Generous
|
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
|
ca. 1044 – 4 June 1102 | 1079 | 1102 | Son of Kazimierz I and Maria Dobroniega | Piast |  |
Zbigniew
|
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
|
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
Piast high dukes
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Władysław II the Exile
|
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
|
ca. 1125 – 5 January 1173 | 1146 | 1173 | Son of Bolesław III and Salomea of Berg Also Duke of Masovia |
Piast |  |
Mieszko III the Old
|
ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202 | 1173 | 1177 | Son of Bolesław III and Salomea. Also Duke of Greater Poland | Piast |  |
Casimir II the Just
|
ca. 1138 – 5 May 1194 | 1177 | 1190 | Son of Bolesław III and Salomea. Also Duke of Wiślica and Sandomierz | Piast |  |
Mieszko III the Old
|
ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202 | 1190 | 1190 | Restored | Piast | |
Casimir II the Just
|
ca. 1138 – 5 May 1194 | 1190 | 1194 | Restored | Piast | |
Leszek I the White
|
ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227 | 1194 | 1198 | Son of Casimir II and Helen of Znojmo. Also Duke of Sandomierz | Piast |  |
Mieszko III the Old
|
ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202 | 1198 | 1199 | Restored | Piast | |
Leszek I the White
|
ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227 | 1199 | 1199 | Restored | Piast | |
Mieszko III the Old
|
ca. 1127 – 13 March 1202 | 1199 | 1202 | Restored | Piast | |
Władysław III Spindleshanks
|
ca. 1161/66 – 3 November 1231 | 1202 | 1202 | Son of Mieszko III and Eudoxia of Kiev. Also Duke of Greater Poland | Piast | _(cropped).jpg) |
Leszek I the White
|
ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227 | 1202 | 1210 | Restored | Piast | |
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot
|
ca. 1130 – 16 May 1211 | 1210 | 1211 | Son of Władysław II and Agnes of Babenberg. Also Duke of Silesia | Piast |  |
Leszek I the White
|
ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227 | 1211 | 1225 | Restored | Piast | |
Henryk I the Bearded
|
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
|
ca. 1186 – 24 November 1227 | 1225 | 1227 | Restored. Assassinated | Piast | |
Władysław III Spindleshanks
|
ca. 1161/66 – 3 November 1231 | 1227 | 1229 | Restored | Piast | |
Konrad I of Masovia
|
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
|
ca. 1165 – 19 March 1238 | 1232 | 1238 | Restored | Piast | |
Henryk II the Pious
|
ca. 1196 – 9 April 1241 | 1238 | 1241 | Son of Henry I and Saint Hedwig of Andechs (Saint Hedwig of Silesia). Also Duke of Wroclaw and Greater Poland. Fell at the Battle of Legnica | Piast | .jpg) |
Bolesław II the Horned
|
ca. 1220–1278 | 1241 | 1241 | Son of Henry II and Anne of Bohemia. Also Duke of Silesia | Piast | |
Konrad I of Masovia
|
ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 1247 | 1241 | 1243 | Restored | Piast | |
Bolesław V the Chaste
|
21 June 1226 – 7 December 1279 | 1243 | 1279 | Son of Leszek the White and Grzymislawa of Luck | Piast | .jpg) |
Leszek II the Black
|
ca. 1241 – 30 September 1288 | 1279 | 1288 | 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
|
ca. 1251 – 20 April 1313 | 1288 | 1288 | Grandson of Konrad I of Masovia Duke of Masovia |
Piast |  |
Henryk IV Probus
|
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
|
ca. 1251 – 20 April 1313 | 1289 | 1289 | Restored | Piast | |
Władysław I the Elbow-high
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
1261 – 2 March 1333 | 1320 | 1333 | Restored. Reunited the Kingdom of Poland | Piast | |
Casimir III the Great
|
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 |  |
Anjou kings
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Louis I of Hungary
|
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 | .jpg) |
Jadwiga of Poland
|
1373/4 – 17 July 1399 | 16 October 1384 | 17 July 1399 | Daughter of Louis I and Elizabeth of Bosnia. Crowned king to emphasise her monarchical status, 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
|
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. Longest-reigning King of Poland | Jagiellonian | .jpg) |
Władysław III of Poland
|
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 the Battle of Varna, in Bulgaria, hence called "of Varna" | Jagiellonian | .PNG) |
Casimir IV Jagiellon
|
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 | .jpg) |
John I Albert
|
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
|
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 | .jpg) |
Sigismund I the Old
|
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 the Duchy of Masovia in 1526. Entered an alliance with Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor | Jagiellonian |  |
Sigismund II Augustus
|
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)
| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Henry de Valois
|
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
|
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
|
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 | _01.jpg) |
Sigismund III
|
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 the capital from Kraków to Warsaw | Vasa |  |
Władysław IV
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
12 May 1670 – 1 February 1733 (aged 62) | 8 August 1709 | 1 February 1733 | Restored | Wettin | |
Stanisław I
|
20 October 1677 – 23 February 1766 (aged 88) | 12 September 1733 | 30 June 1734 (deposed) 27 January 1736 (abdicates) |
Restored. Defeated in the War of the Polish Succession. Became Duke of Lorraine until his death | Leszczyński |  |
Augustus III
|
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 | _-_Google_Art_Project.jpg) |
Stanisław II Augustus
|
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 (a hereditary monarchy 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
|
23 December 1750 – 5 May 1827 (aged 76) | 9 June 1807 | 22 May 1815 | Son 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 1812 | Wettin | .png) |
Republic of Poland (1918–1939)
Chief of State
| 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
| 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 |
| 3 |
|
Józef Piłsudski (1867–1935) Honorary President-elect |
Honorary President-elect | Independent | May 1926 | Piłsudski was elected Honorary President-elect by the National Assembly. | |
| 4 |
|
Ignacy Mościcki (1867–1946) |
4 June 1926 | 30 September 1939 | Independent supported by Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government |
Jun 1926 1933 |
Mościcki's government was exiled to Romania after Poland's defeat in World War II on 17 September. |
.jpg)
Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile (1939–1990)
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. |
.jpg)
Polish People's Republic (1944–1989)
President of the State National Council
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 | .jpg) |
Bolesław Bierut (1892–1956) |
31 December 1944 | 4 February 1947 | Polish Workers' Party | |
President of the Republic
| 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
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 | _of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_Poland_1972-1985.jpg) |
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)
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)
President of the Republic
| 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 | ,_FORUM_2000,_Prague_(2).jpg) |
Lech Wałęsa (born 1943) |
22 December 1990 | 22 December 1995 | Solidarity Citizens' Committee | 1990 | First president elected by popular vote |
| 3 | .jpg) |
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 a 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
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Polonia para niños
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List of heads of state of Poland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.