List of Lithuanian monarchs

{{Short description|none}} {{About|monarchs of Lithuania, 1236–1795, and again in 1918|heads of state since 1918|List of heads of state of Lithuania}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox former monarchy | royal_title = Monarchy | realm = Lithuania | coatofarms = Coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.svg | coatofarmssize = 120px | coatofarmscaption = [[Coat of arms of Lithuania|Royal coat of arms]] | image = Mindaugas (99259281).jpg | caption = King [[Mindaugas]] | style = His Majesty or Her [[Majesty]]{{efn|Only formally held by King Mindaugas I and King-elect Mindaugas II.}} | first_monarch = [[Mindaugas I]]{{efn|Grand Duke, later King of Lithuania.}} | last_monarch = [[Stanisław II August]]{{efn|As Grand Duke of Lithuania.}} [[Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach|Mindaugas II]]{{efn|As King of Lithuania}} | residence = {{ubli| Mindaugas' Castle, [[Voruta]] (1253−1263) | [[Gediminas' Tower|Gediminas' Castle]], [[Vilnius]] (late 13th century−late 15th century) | [[Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania]], [[Vilnius]] (late 15th century−1665) | [[New Grodno Castle]], [[Grodno]] (second half of the 18th century)}} | appointer = {{ubl| Hereditary (1253–1574) | [[Szlachta]] (1574–1795) | Hereditary (1918)}} | began = 1236 | ended = 1795 | pretender = [[Prince Inigo of Urach]] (disputed) }} This is a '''list of Lithuanian monarchs''' who ruled [[Lithuania]] from its inception until the fall of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] in 1795. The Lithuanian monarch bore the title of [[Grand duke|Grand Duke]], with the exception of [[Mindaugas]], who was crowned [[king]] in 1253.<ref>Sužiedėlis, Simas, ed. (1970–1978). "Mindaugas". ''[[Encyclopedia Lituanica]]''. Vol. III. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 538–543. LCCN 74-114275.</ref><ref>Vauchez, Andre; Richard Barrie Dobson; Adrian Walford; Michael Lapidge (2000). ''Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages''. [[Routledge]]. p. 855. {{ISBN|1-57958-282-6}}.</ref> Other Lithuanian rulers, such as [[Vytautas the Great]], also attempted to secure a royal coronation, but these efforts were unsuccessful.<ref name=":3">Nadveckė, Ineta (6 July 2019) [https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1073866/trys-lietuvos-karaliai-vienas-tikras-vienas-nelabai-ir-vienas-beveik Trys Lietuvos karaliai: vienas tikras, vienas nelabai ir vienas beveik] ''[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|LRT]]''.</ref>

Until 1569, the Lithuanian monarchy was hereditary. In 1386, Grand Duke [[Jogaila]] was elected [[King of Poland]]. From that point onward, with some interruptions, the two states were united in a [[personal union]], sharing a common ruler until 1569, when they were formally merged by the [[Union of Lublin]] to form the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].{{sfn|Kiaupa|Kiaupienė|Kuncevičius|2000|pp=236–239}} The monarch of this new state was elected in a free election by the entire nobility.{{sfn|Kiaupa|Kiaupienė|Kuncevičius|2000|p=238}}

From the Christianization of Lithuania until 1569, the inauguration of the Grand Duke took place in [[Vilnius Cathedral]], where the Bishop of Vilnius placed [[Gediminas' Cap]] on the ruler’s head.<ref name="GediminoKepureVle"/> After the Union of Lublin, the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania was assumed during the coronation in [[Kraków]].{{sfn|Kiaupa|Kiaupienė|Kuncevičius|2000|p=238}}

In 1918, there was an attempt to establish the [[Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)|Kingdom of Lithuania]] under [[German Empire|German]] auspices, but the plan ultimately failed.<ref name=":3" />

== Titles == The first Lithuanian rulers did not leave behind any written documents, so we do not know their native titles, but only those given to them by their neighbors. In [[Kievan Rus']], they were called [[knyaz]] (''kniaz’'') or grand knyas (''velikii kniaz’''), while in the German sphere they were referred to as elder (''senior''), leader ({{lang|la|dux}}), and sometimes prince ({{lang|la|princeps}}).{{Sfn|Rowell|1994|p=64}}

After the coronation Mindaugas adopted royal title: "By the Grace of God, King of the Lithuania" ({{langx|la|Dei Gratia Rex Lettowiae}}).{{Sfn|Gudavičius|2006|p=835}}<ref name=":4">[https://www.lvat.lt/dalijames-sielos-dziaugsmu-tautine-didybe-ir-sveikiname-visus-bendrapiliecius-su-valstybes-diena-lietuvos-karaliaus-mindaugo-karunavimo-iskilmemis/689 "Dalijamės sielos džiaugsmu, tautine didybe ir sveikiname visus bendrapiliečius su Valstybės diena – Lietuvos karaliaus Mindaugo karūnavimo iškilmėmis!"] {{in lang|lt}}. ''Lietuvos vyriausiasis administracinis teismas''.</ref> The first mention of a Lithuanian king predates the [[Kingdom of Lithuania|establishment of the Christian kingdom]] itself: according to the [[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle]], Mindaugas' father was a great king who "had no equal in his time."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baranauskas |first=Tomas |author-link=Tomas Baranauskas |date=23 March 2003 |title=Mindaugo karūnavimo ir Lietuvos karalystės problemos |url=http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=87 |journal=[[Voruta (newspaper)|Voruta]] |language=lt |volume=6 |issue=504 |issn=1392-0677 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026174819/http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=87 |archive-date=26 October 2005 |access-date=17 September 2006}}</ref>

As the territory of Lithuania expanded eastwards, other king-titled grand dukes who ruled the country adopted similar titles for introducing themselves abroad. For instance, Grand Duke of Lithuania [[Vytenis]] was sometimes regarded as {{lang|la|Rex Lethowinorum}} ('King of Lithuanians') while his successor Gediminas was known by the title, in {{langx|la|Rex Lithuanorum et Multorum Ruthenorum}} ('King of Lithuanians and many [[Ruthenians]]').<ref>Patackas, Algirdas (2018) [https://www.lrytas.lt/kultura/istorija/2012/04/23/news/vytautas-didysis-rex-electus--5313856 "Vytautas Didysis – Rex electus?"] {{in lang|lt}}. ''[[Lrytas.lt]]''.</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.šaltiniai.info/files/literatura/LC00/Gedimino_lai%C5%A1kai.LC0600.pdf |title=Gedimino laiškai |trans-title=Letters of Gediminas |publisher=[[Vilnius University]], Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore |location=[[Vilnius]] |page=2 |language=lt |access-date=30 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Rosenwein |editor1-first=Barbara H. |title=Reading the Middle Ages: Sources from Europe, Byzantium, and the Islamic World |date=2018 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-4426-3680-4 |at=p. 404, fn. 1; pp. 405–406 |edition=Third |language=en |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BqVYDwAAQBAJ&d&pg=PA404 |chapter=New Formations in Eastern Europe – § 7.8 The Lithuanian duke flirts with Christianity: Duke Gediminas, ''Letter to Pope John XXII'' (1322) and ''Letter to the Burghers of Lübeck, Rostock, Stralsund, Griefswald, Stettin, and Gotland'' (May 26, 1323) |volume=II: ''From c.900 to c.1500'' }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mickūnaitė |first1=Giedrė |title=Making a Great Ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania |date=2022 |publisher=Central European University Press |location=Budapest; New York |isbn=9786155211072 |edition=Illustrated |page=106 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xfwOEAAAQBAJ&d&pg=PA106}}</ref> Some German sources also titled Gediminas as {{lang|la|Rex de Owsteiten}} ('King of [[Aukštaitija]]').{{sfn|Rowell|1994|p=50}} Gediminas' right to use the Latin ''rex'', which the papacy had been claiming the right to grant from the 13th century onwards, was not universally recognized in Catholic sources. Thus, he was called ''rex sive dux'' ("King or Duke") in one source; [[Pope John XXII]], in a letter to the King of France, referred to Gediminas as "the one who calls himself ''rex''". However, the Pope did call Gediminas ''rex'' when addressing him (''regem sive ducem'', "king or duke").{{sfn|Rowell|1994|p=64}}

[[File:Seal of Jogaila with his title as King in Lithuania (used in 1377-1386).jpg|thumb|left|150px|Seal of [[Jogaila]] with his title (in [[Latin]]) as 'King in Lithuania', used in 1377–1386, before becoming the [[History of Poland during the Jagiellonian dynasty|King of Poland]] in 1386]] [[Teutonic knights]] referred to [[Algirdas]] and his wife [[Uliana of Tver|Uliana]] (''Julijona'') as "Grand King of Lithuania" and "Grand Queen of Lithuania".<ref name=":5">[[Savukynas, Virginijus]] (2 June 2019). [https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1059046/kas-buvo-musu-valdovai-karaliai-ar-kunigaiksciai "Kas buvo mūsų valdovai – karaliai ar kunigaikščiai?"] {{in lang|lt}}. ''Lithuanian National Radio and Television'' (''LRT'').</ref> In early 2000s a plaque with a mysterious script, dating to the 13th–14th centuries, which was nailed to a wooden base, was found during an archeological research in the Courtyard of the Old Arsenal of the [[Vilnius Castle Complex]], part of which is translatable from the [[Ancient Greek]] as ''Algirdos Basileus'' (a Greek term ''[[Basileus]]'' means a 'king' or an '[[emperor]]').<ref name="PlaqueLRT">{{cite web |title=Mysterious script found in Vilnius perplexes archeologists |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2081098/mysterious-script-found-in-vilnius-perplexes-archeologists |website=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |date=24 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="PlaqueLrytas">{{cite web |title=Gedimino kalno papėdėje rasta švininė plokštelė su XIII–XIV a. užrašais užminė begalę mįslių |url=https://www.lrytas.lt/kultura/istorija/2023/09/23/news/gedimino-kalno-papedeje-rasta-svinine-plokstele-su-xiii-xiv-a-uzrasais-uzmine-begale-misliu-28477461 |website=[[Lrytas.lt]] |date=24 September 2023 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Shea |first1=Jonathan |title=Basileus |url=https://www.doaks.org/resources/online-exhibits/gods-regents-on-earth-a-thousand-years-of-byzantine-imperial-seals/imperial-titulature/basileus |website=[[Dumbarton Oaks]]}}</ref> In 1370, Algirdas wrote a letter to the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] where he titled himself as ''Basileus'', showcasing his status as an equal sovereign ruler to the [[List of Byzantine emperors|Byzantine Emperor]].<ref name="PlaqueLRT"/><ref name="PlaqueLrytas"/>

Algirdas' son [[Jogaila]] since 1377 titled himself as 'King of Lithuania'.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |last2=Jučas |first2=Mečislovas |last3=Matulevičius |first3=Algirdas |title=Jogaila |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jogaila/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |language=lt}}</ref>

Even though it is traditionally accepted that Mindaugas was the only true king, all historical records, with the exception of Slavic annals, mention Lithuanian rulers as kings until 1386.<ref>Skirius, Juozas (January 27 2023). [https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/12/1876194/juozas-skirius-lietuvos-valdovas-gediminas-karalius "Lietuvos valdovas Gediminas – karalius?"] {{in lang|lt}}. [Lithuanian ruler Gediminas — a king?] ''[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]]'' (''LRT'').</ref>

=== Grand Duke === Officially, the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania (''Magnus Dux Lithuaniae'') was introduced after the [[Union of Horodło|Pact of Horodło]] in 1413.<ref name=":5" /> Until then, previous monarchs were called by different titles, including kings. This was because in Lithuania, unlike in the majority of other European monarchies, the Grand Duke was a sovereign monarch who was accountable to no one, thus ''de facto'' king.<ref name=":5" />

Following the [[Act of Krėva]] with [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|the Kingdom of Poland]] in 1385, the full Latin title was changed to {{lang|la|Dei Gratia Rex Poloniae Magnus Dux Lithuaniae}} ('[[By the Grace of God]], King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania').

=== Supreme Duke === The title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania mostly came into force during the reign of Grand Duke [[Vytautas the Great]], who concluded the [[Ostrów Agreement]] with his cousin Jogaila in 1392 and the agreement was confirmed in the [[Pact of Vilnius and Radom]] in 1401. Since then Jogaila was titled the Supreme Duke of Lithuania ({{langx|la|supremus dux Lithuaniae|label=none}}).<ref name="DkVle"/><ref name="AstravoSutartisVle">{{cite web |last1=Jučas |first1=Mečislovas |title=Astravos sutartis |trans-title=Ostrów Agreement |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/astravos-sutartis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="AuksciausiasisVle"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Uzdila |first1=Juozas Vytautas |title=Įspūdinga Lietuvos istorijos studija |url=https://mokslolietuva.lt/2020/01/ispudinga-lietuvos-istorijos-studija/ |website=MoksloLietuva.lt |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Vytautas the Great gained the factual rule of Lithuania, which was recognized by the treaties.<ref name="AstravoSutartisVle"/> In 1398, the [[Lithuanian nobility]] declared Vytautas the Great as the King of Lithuania and, following the [[Congress of Lutsk]] in 1429, the crowning was sanctioned by [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor]]. However, Vytautas died before the crown arrived.<ref name="InauguracijaVle"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dundulis |first1=Bronius |title=Lucko suvažiavimas |trans-title=Congress of Lutsk |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lucko-suvaziavimas/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>{{r|AuksciausiasisVle|Vytautas Didysis}}

Jogaila's son [[Władysław III of Poland|Władysław III]] also titled himself as the Supreme Duke of Lithuania.<ref name="AuksciausiasisVle"/> [[John I Albert]] unilaterally declared himself as the Supreme Duke of Lithuania in 1492, but this title was rejected by the [[Lithuanian Council of Lords]].<ref name="AuksciausiasisVle"/>

In 1544–1548, [[Sigismund I the Old]] expressed his supreme monarchical authority in Lithuania by again using the Supreme Duke of Lithuania title when his son [[Sigismund II Augustus]] was his [[vicegerent]] in Lithuania.<ref name="AuksciausiasisVle"/><ref>{{cite web |title=1544 10 22 Žygimantas Augustas kaip Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis iškilmingai įžengė į Vilnių |url=https://www.delfi.lt/archive/1544-10-22-zygimantas-augustas-kaip-lietuvos-didysis-kunigaikstis-iskilmingai-izenge-i-vilniu.d?id=24178026 |website=DELFI, Lithuanian Institute of History |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

==Inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs == {{Also|Gediminas' Cap}} [[File:Lithuanian Heraldry. The Genealogical Tree (stemming from Palemonas) of Alexander Hilarius Polubinski, Grand Marshall of the Grand Duchy Lithuania, 1675.jpg|thumb|upright|The Genealogical Tree of the Lithuanian Monarchs (stemming from [[Palemonas]]) of Alexander Hilarius Polubinski, Grand Marshall of the Grand Duchy Lithuania, 1675]] [[File:Gothic Vilnius Cathedral.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Vilnius Cathedral]], built in 1407, served as a venue for the ceremonies of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania]] [[File:Seal of Vytautas the Great.jpg|thumb|175px|left|[[Vytautas]]' majestic seal of 1407, where he is seen wearing [[Gediminas' Cap]]]] The inaugurations of the Lithuanian monarchs were held in [[Vilnius Cathedral]] and consisted of the placement of [[Gediminas' Cap]] on the Lithuanian monarch's head and the presentation of a [[sword]].<ref name="GediminoKepureVle"/><ref name="DkVle"/> The cap was placed on the head by the Bishop of Vilnius and the sword was presented by the [[Grand Marshal of Lithuania]].<ref name="InauguracijaVle"/> The regalia of Vytautas the Great consisted of Gediminas' Cap, sword, ring, flag, and seal.<ref name="InauguracijaVle"/>

The first inauguration ceremony of a Lithuanian Grand Duke about which there is reliable information is that of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]], as reported by [[Jan Długosz]].{{Sfn|Kosman|1989|p=274}} [[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Casimir IV]] was sent by his older brother King of Poland and Hungary, Supreme Duke of Lithuania [[Władysław III of Poland|Władysław III]], to Lithuania to rule in his name.{{Sfn|Frost|2015|pp=185–186}} But instead he was elected as Grand Duke upon his arrival to [[Vilnius]] on 29 June 1440, with the ringing of church bells and the singing of the ''[[Te Deum laudamus]]''.{{Sfn|Frost|2015|p=186}}{{Sfn|Kosman|1989|p=274}} This was breaching the agreements of the [[Union of Grodno (1432)]] and terminating the [[Polish–Lithuanian union]].<ref name="KazimierasJogailaitis">{{cite web |title=1440 06 29 Vilniaus katedroje atlikta Kazimiero Jogailaičio pakėlimo Lietuvos didžiuoju kunigaikščiu ceremonija |url=https://www.delfi.lt/archive/1440-06-29-vilniaus-katedroje-atlikta-kazimiero-jogailaicio-pakelimo-lietuvos-didziuoju-kunigaiksciu-ceremonija.d?id=22446442 |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=[[DELFI]], [[Lithuanian Institute of History]] |language=lt |quote=Nepaisant prie karalaičio buvusių lenkų ponų prieštaravimo, 1440 06 29 Kazimieras Jogailaitis Vilniaus katedroje buvo vainikuotas Lietuvos didžiuoju kunigaikščiu.{{nbsp}}... Šis lietuvių vienašališkai įvykdytas aktas rodė Gardine 1432 pasirašyto sąjungos akto sulaužymą.{{nbsp}}... Tuo būdu 1440 buvo nutraukta Lenkijos ir Lietuvos sąjunga.}}</ref><ref name="GenezeGudavicius"/> It manifested Lithuania as a sovereign state and its ruler Casimir IV Jagiellon stressed himself as a "free lord" (''pan – dominus'').<ref name="GenezeGudavicius" /> According to historian [[Edvardas Gudavičius]], Bishop of Vilnius put a Gediminas' Cap in the Vilnius Cathedral on his head, despite the [[Polish nobility]]'s opposition.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="GenezeGudavicius" /> [[File:Heraldic tapestry of Žygimantas Augustas with Lithuanian coat of arms Vytis, Polish eagle and coats of arms of Volhynia, Smolensk, Kyiv voivodeships, circa 1548.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jagiellonian tapestries|Tapestry]] with the coat of arms of Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus, decorated with Gediminas' Cap, circa 1548]]

Another documented inauguration is the enthronement of [[Alexander Jagiellon]] in 1492. Alexander was appointed Grand Duke by his father, nevertheless, a formal election of the ruler was held as part of a general assembly, which was attended for the first time by representatives from all the lands of the Grand Duchy.{{Sfn|Frost|2015|pp=328–330}} The course of the ceremony was documented by [[Maciej Stryjkowski]], who reported that after the election lords elevated Alexander in the cathedral. The newly elected ruler was dressed "in a ducal cap with pearls and precious stones set in it, also the usual robe that today the [[Prince-elector|princes of the Reich]] wear at the [[Coronation of the Holy Roman emperor|imperial coronation]]."<ref>{{harvnb|Kosman|1989|p=277}}: "{{nbsp}}... {{lang|pl|w czapkę książęcą z perłami i kamieńmi drogimi osadzoną, także szatę zwykłą, jaką dziś kurfistowie rzescy przy koronacjej cesarskiej noszą}}"</ref> Then Bishop of Vilnius [[Wojciech Tabor]] blessed him and held a pastoral exhortation over him. Then the Grand Marshal of Lithuania [[Petras Jonaitis Mantigirdaitis]] handed Alexander a bare sword and a sceptre.{{Sfn|Kosman|1989|pp=276–277}}{{Sfn|Frost|2015|pp=329–330}} Subsequently, the Poles considered electing Alexander Jagiellon as the King of Poland, however instead of him [[John I Albert]] was elected as the King of Poland in August 1492 and this led to another termination of the Polish–Lithuanian union.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Spečiūnas |first1=Vytautas |title=Jonas Albrechtas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jonas-albrechtas/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

Stryjkowski also relayed the election and inauguration of Sigismund I as Grand Duke of Lithuania on 20 October 1509. The ceremony was again attended by Bishop Wojciech Tabor, who this time not only blessed but also placed a cap on the ruler's head. In turn, Grand Marshal [[Michael Glinski]] presented him with a sword. Sigismund received the oath of the Lithuanian lords while sitting on the throne.{{Sfn|Kosman|1989|pp=277–278}} According to Stryjkowski, the cap was: "of red velvet with gold spheres set with precious stones".<ref>{{harvnb|Kosman|1989|p=278}}: "{{nbsp}}... {{lang|pl|aksamintu czerwonego w sfery złote kamieniami drogimi osadzoną}}"</ref>

[[File:Valdovu by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania]], where the ceremony of Sigismund II Augustus was held]] The last ceremony to elevate a grand duke took place on 18 October 1529, when [[Sigismund II Augustus|Sigismund Augustus]] was elevated to this dignity during his father's lifetime. The ceremony occurred in the great hall of the newly built [[Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania|lower castle]], as the cathedral burned down that same year.{{Sfn|Kosman|1989|p=279}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Istorinė raida |url=https://www.valdovurumai.lt/lt/rumu-istorija/i/142/istorine-raida-2/ |website=Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The young Sigismund Augustus sat on the throne between his parents, surrounded by members of the [[Lithuanian Council of Lords|council of lords]]. The cap was placed on the ruler's head by the Bishop of Vilnius, while the Grand Marshal presented him with a sword.{{Sfn|Kosman|1989|pp=279–280}} Following the [[Union of Lublin]], which formed the federative [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1569, and the death of the last Gediminid ruler [[Sigismund II Augustus]] in 1572, separate inaugurations in Vilnius Cathedral were abolished, therefore Gediminas' Cap lost its ceremonial significance.<ref name="GediminoKepureVle" /><ref name="InauguracijaVle" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kapleris |first1=Ignas |title=Iliustruota Lietuvos istorija. Nuo baltų, Lietuvos Karalystės, Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės iki Abiejų Tautų Respublikos. |date=2022 |publisher=Briedis Press |location=Vilnius |isbn=9786094940033 |page=166 |volume=1 |url= https://www.pegasas.lt/media/samples/000000000002185659/puslapiai_pavartymui/Pegasas/9789955267720-Iliustruota-Lietuvos-istorija.-I-tomas.pdf |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The insignias of the Lithuanian rulers were not preserved and following the Union of Lublin only the seal (kept by the [[Grand Chancellor of Lithuania]]) and the flag (carried near the ruler by the Grand Flag Bearer of Lithuania) remained.<ref name="InauguracijaVle" />

The demand for a separate inauguration ceremony of the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania]] was raised by the nobles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (e.g. [[Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł]], [[Eustachy Wołłowicz]], [[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz]], [[Konstanty Ostrogski]]) during negotiations for the Union of Lublin. It was not officially included in it, however.{{r|jasas}} Nevertheless, before the [[1576 Polish–Lithuanian royal election]] a congress of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania's nobles was held on 20 April 1576 in [[Grodno]] which adopted a Universal, signed by the participating Lithuanian nobles, which stipulated that if the delegates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were pressured by the Poles in the [[Election sejm]], the Lithuanians would not be obliged by any oath to the Union of Lublin and would have the right to select a separate monarch.{{r|Kiaupinienė}}

On 29 May 1580, bishop [[Merkelis Giedraitis]] in the Vilnius Cathedral presented Grand Duke [[Stephen Báthory]] (King of Poland since 1 May 1576) a [[Blessed sword and hat|luxuriously decorated sword and a hat adorned with pearl]]s (both were sanctified by [[Pope Gregory XIII]] himself), while this ceremony manifested the sovereignty of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and had the meaning of elevation of the new Grand Duke of Lithuania, this way ignoring the stipulations of the Union of Lublin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vavelio pilies lobyne – ir Lietuvos, Valdovų rūmų istorija |url=https://www.valdovurumai.lt/lt/naujienos/i/2680/vavelio-pilies-lobyne-ir-valdovu-rumu-istorija20220721/ |website=Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="Bues">{{cite journal |last1=Bues |first1=Almut |title=Politinė ceremonialo paskirtis elekcinėje monarchijoje: Lenkija–Lietuva XVI–XVIII a. |date=2005 |page=9 |url=https://www.istorija.lt/data/public/uploads/2021/02/lim-2003-2-1-a.-bues-politine-ceremonialo-paskirtis-elekcineje-monarchijoje-p.-5-20.pdf |journal=The Year-book of Lithuanian History |publisher=Lithuanian Institute of History |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>{{sfn|Stryjkowski|1846|p=432}}{{sfn|Ragauskienė|Ragauskas|2018|p=67}} Nevertheless, per the Union of Lublin, the rulers of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were elected in joint Polish–Lithuanian [[election sejm]]s until the [[Third Partition of Poland|Third Partition in 1795]] and received separate titles of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tyla |first1=Antanas |title=Elekcinis seimas |trans-title=Electoral Seimas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/elekcinis-seimas/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> During [[Coronations in Poland|the coronations]] of [[List of heads of state of Lithuania|joint Polish–Lithuanian monarchs]], the [[Polish crown jewels|Polish crown]] was also announced as a property of both the Polish and Lithuanian nobles.<ref name="InauguracijaVle"/>

== List ==

=== [[House of Mindaugas]] (1236–1267) ===

{{Sticky header}} {{Nobility table header|extra column=Claim}} |- |Grand Duke/King {{Big|'''[[Mindaugas]]'''}} 1236 – 17 July 1251 '''as Grand Duke''' <hr /> 17 July 1251 – 12 September 1263 (crowned 1253) '''as King'''|| [[File:Mindaugas (99259281).jpg|100px]] || {{Circa|1203}}<hr/>Son of mythological [[Ringaudas]] ||{{Gray|(1)}} [[Nomen nescio|NN]] 2 children <hr/>{{Gray|(2)}} [[Queen Morta of Lithuania|Morta]] 2 or 4 children <hr/>{{Gray|(3)}} [[Nomen nescio|NN]], sister of Morta|| 1263 [[Aglona]] Assassinated by [[Treniota]] and [[Daumantas]] Aged about 60 || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Son of mythological [[Ringaudas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Treniota]]'''}} 1263 – 1264|| [[File:Traniata. Транята (A. Guagnini, 1611).jpg|100px]] || ''Unknown'' <hr/>Son of [[Nomen nescio|NN]], Mindaugas' sister and [[Vykintas]] || ''Unknown'' 1 child || 1264 Murdered by servants loyal to Mindaugas' son [[Vaišvilkas]] || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Nephew of [[Mindaugas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Vaišvilkas]]'''}} '''Laurušas''' 1264 – 1267|| [[File:Vojshalk.png|100px]] || ''Unknown'' <hr/>Son of [[Mindaugas]] and [[Nomen nescio|NN]], Mindaugas' first wife || Unmarried and childless|| 1268 Was murdered by [[Leo I of Galicia]] || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Son of [[Mindaugas]] |- |}

=== [[House of Monomakh]] (1267–1269) ===

{{Nobility table header|extra column=Claim}} |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Shvarn]]'''}} {{langx|lt|Švarnas}} 1267 – 1269||[[File:Князь_Шварн.jpg|100px]]|| {{Circa|1230}} [[Halych]] <hr/>Son of [[Daniel of Galicia]] || [[Nomen nescio|NN]], daughter of Mindaugas|| {{Circa|1269}} [[Chełm|Kholm]] Aged about 39 || Offered by [[Vaišvilkas]] <hr/> Brother-in-law of [[Vaišvilkas]] |- |}

=== [[House of Mindaugas]] (1269–1285) ===

{{Nobility table header|extra column=Claim}} |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Traidenis]]'''}} 1270 – 1282||[[File:Lithuanian Grand Duke Traidenis.JPG|100px]]|| 1220 || Ona of Masovia 1 child|| 1282 [[Kernavė]] Aged 62 || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Possibly a relative of [[Mindaugas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Daumantas of Lithuania|Daumantas]]'''}} 1282 – 1285|| || ''Unknown'' ||''Unknown'' || 3 March 1285 Died in a battle by [[Tver]] || Possibly a son of [[Mindaugas]] |- |}

=== [[House of Gediminas]] (1285–1440) ===

{{Nobility table header|arms=yes|extra column=Claim}} |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Butigeidis]]'''}} 1285 – 1291|| [[File:Budzikid._Будзікід_(M._Barvicki,_1908).jpg|frameless|100px]] || ''None known'' || ''Unknown'' <hr/> Son of [[Skalmantas]] (?) || ''Unknown'' ||1291 || Possibly a relative of [[Daumantas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Butvydas]]'''}} 1291 – 1295|| [[File:Пукувер_Будивид.jpg|frameless|100px]]|| ''None known'' || ''Unknown'' <hr/> Son of [[Skalmantas]] (?) || ''Unknown'' || {{Circa|1294–1295}} || Brother of [[Butigeidis]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Vytenis]]'''}} 1295 – 1316||[[File:Witenes.PNG|frameless|100px]]|| ''None known'' || 1260 <hr/>Son of [[Butvydas]] || Vikinda 1 child|| 1316 Aged 56 || Son of [[Butvydas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Gediminas]]'''}} 1316 – 1341||[[File:Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, painted in 1709.png|100px]]|| ''None known'' || {{Circa|1275}} <hr/>Son of [[Butvydas]] || [[Jaunė]] 13 children || {{Circa|1341}} [[Raudonė]] Aged about 66 || Son of [[Butvydas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Jaunutis]]'''}} 1341 – 1345||[[File:Князь_Евнутий.jpg|frameless|100px]]|| ''None known'' || {{Circa|1306−1309}} <hr/>Son of [[Gediminas]] and [[Jaunė]]|| ''Unknown'' 3 children || {{Circa|1366}} Aged 57−60 || Son of [[Gediminas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Algirdas]]'''}} 1345 – 1377 ||[[File:Algirdas kunigaikštis.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1296}} <hr/>Son of [[Gediminas]] and [[Jaunė]]|| {{Gray|(1)}} [[Maria of Vitebsk]] 6 children <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Uliana of Tver]] 8 children|| {{Circa|1377}} [[Maišiagala]] Aged about 81 || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Son of [[Gediminas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]'''}} May 1377 – August 1381||[[File:Jogaila (Władysław II).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1352−1362}} [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]] and [[Uliana of Tver]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Jadwiga of Poland]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Anna of Cilli]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Elizabeth Granowska|Elizabeth of Pilica]]<hr/> {{Gray|(4)}} [[Sophia of Halshany]] 3 children || 1 June 1434 [[Horodok, Lviv Oblast|Gródek Jagielloński]] Aged 72−82 || Son of [[Algirdas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Kęstutis]]'''}} probably 1345 – 1382 ''attested'': 1349 – 1351 1381 – 1382 || [[File:Kiejstut.JPG|100px]] || [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1297}} [[Senieji Trakai]] <hr/>Son of [[Gediminas]] and [[Jaunė]]|| [[Birutė]] 9 children|| 1382 [[Kreva]] Died in captivity possibly murdered by the order of Jogaila Aged 84–85 || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Son of [[Gediminas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]'''}} 3 August 1382 – 1 June 1434 ''({{Age in years and days|3 August 1382|1 June 1434}})''||[[File:Jogaila (Władysław II).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1352−1362}} [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]] and [[Uliana of Tver]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Jadwiga of Poland]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Anna of Cilli]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Elizabeth Granowska|Elizabeth of Pilica]] <hr/> {{Gray|(4)}} [[Sophia of Halshany]] 3 children || 1 June 1434 [[Horodok, Lviv Oblast|Gródek Jagielloński]] Aged 72−82 || [[Right of conquest]] <hr/> Son of [[Algirdas]] |- |- ! colspan="7" |'''[[Act of Kreva]] signed in 1385''' [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] ''de jure'' are ruled by one monarch but remain to be separate states. |- |King of Poland and Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Jogaila Algirdaitis]]'''}} 3 August 1382 – 1 June 1434 ''({{Age in years and days|3 August 1382|1 June 1434}})''||[[File:Jogaila (Władysław II).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1352−1362}} [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]] and [[Uliana of Tver]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Jadwiga of Poland]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Anna of Cilli]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Elizabeth Granowska|Elizabeth of Pilica]] <hr/> {{Gray|(4)}} [[Sophia of Halshany]] 3 children || 1 June 1434 [[Horodok, Lviv Oblast|Gródek Jagielloński]] Aged 72−82 || Son of [[Algirdas]] |- |- ! colspan="7" |'''[[Astrava Agreement]] signed in 1392''' Following the [[Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)|Lithuanian Civil War]], Vytautas acts as regent ''de jure''. He is recognized as the Grand Duke after '''[[Pact of Vilnius and Radom]] in 1401'''. His successors rule as Grand Dukes alongside Polish monarchs until 1440. |- |Grand Duke King-elect of Lithuania {{Big|'''[[Vytautas]]'''}} '''Vytautas the Great''' 1401 – 27 October 1430 ||[[File:Vitaŭt Vialiki. Вітаўт Вялікі (XVIII).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || {{Circa|1350}} [[Senieji Trakai]] <hr/>Son of [[Kęstutis]] and [[Birutė]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Anna, Grand Duchess of Lithuania|Anna]] 1 child <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Uliana Olshanska]]|| 27 October 1430 [[Trakai]] Aged about 80 || Offered by [[Jogaila]] <hr/> Son of [[Kęstutis]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Švitrigaila]]'''}} October 1430 – 1 August 1432||[[File:Svitrigaila (118503655).jpg|frameless|100x100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || Before 1370 [[Vilnius]] <hr/>Son of [[Algirdas]] and [[Uliana of Tver]] || Anna of Tver 1 child || 10 February 1452 [[Lutsk]] Aged about 82 || Son of [[Algirdas]] |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Sigismund Kęstutaitis]]'''}} {{langx|lt|Žygimantas Kęstutaitis}} 1432 – 1440 ||[[File:Žygimont Kiejstutavič. Жыгімонт Кейстутавіч (XIX).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA of Gediminaičiai dynasty Lithuania.svg|100px]] || 1365 [[Trakai]] <hr/>Son of [[Kęstutis]] and [[Birutė]]|| ''Unknown'' 1 child|| 20 March 1440 [[Trakai]] Murdered by supporters of Švitrigaila Aged 75 || Son of [[Kęstutis]] |- |}

=== [[House of Jagiellon]] (1440–1569) ===

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Władysław III of Poland|Władysław]]'''}} 1 June 1434 – 10 November 1444 ''({{Age in years and days|1 June 1434|10 November 1444}})''|||| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 31 October 1424 [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Jogaila Algirdaitis]] and [[Sophia of Halshany]] || Unmarried and childless|| 10 November 1444 (presumed) [[Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]] Aged 20 || Son of [[Jogaila]] |- |- |King of Poland and Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Casimir Andrew]]'''}} {{langx|lt|Kazimieras Jogailaitis}} 29 June 1440 – 7 June 1492 ''({{Age in years and days|29 June 1440|7 June 1492}})''||[[File:Kazimier Jagajłavič. Казімер Ягайлавіч (1645).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 30 November 1427 [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Jogaila Algirdaitis]] and [[Sophia of Halshany]] || [[Elizabeth of Austria (1436–1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]] 13 children || 7 June 1492 [[Old Grodno Castle]] Aged 64 || Son of [[Jogaila]] |- |King of Poland and Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Alexander Jagiellon]]'''}} {{langx|lt|Aleksandras Jogailaitis}} 30 July 1492 – 19 August 1506 ''({{Age in years and days|30 July 1492|19 August 1506}})''||[[File:Aleksander Jagiellonczyk (275208).jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 5 August 1461 [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Kazimieras Jogailaitis]] and [[Elizabeth of Austria (1436–1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]] || [[Helena of Moscow]]|| 19 August 1506 [[Vilnius]] Aged 45 || Son of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]] |- |King of Poland and Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Sigismund I the Old|Sigismund the Old]]'''}} '''Sigismund I the Old''' {{langx|lt|Žygimantas Senasis}} 20 October December 1506 – 1 April 1548 ''({{Age in years and days|20 October 1506|1 April 1548}})''||[[File:Kulmbach Sigismund I the Old.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 1 January 1467 [[Kozienice]] <hr/>Son of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Kazimieras Jogailaitis]] and [[Elizabeth of Austria (1436–1505)|Elisabeth of Austria]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Barbara Zápolya]] 2 children <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Bona Sforza]] 6 children|| 1 April 1548 [[Kraków]] Aged 81 || Son of [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]] |- |King of Poland and Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Sigismund II Augustus|Sigismund Augusus]]'''}} {{langx|lt|Žygimantas Augustas}} 18 October 1529 – 7 July 1572 ''({{Age in years and days|18 October 1529|7 July 1572}})'' ||[[File:Cranach the Younger Sigismund II Augustus.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] || 1 August 1520 [[Kraków]] <hr/>Son of [[Sigismund I the Old|Žygimantas the Old]] and [[Bona Sforza]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Elizabeth of Austria (1526–1545)|Elisabeth of Austria]]<hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} [[Barbara Radziwiłł]]<hr/> {{Gray|(3)}} [[Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland|Catherine of Austria]]|| 7 July 1572 [[Knyszyn]] Aged 51 || Son of [[Sigismund I the Old|Sigismund I]] |- ! colspan="7" |'''[[Union of Lublin]] signed in 1569''' [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] are united into a single [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Commonwealth]]. |- |}

=== Grand Dukes of Lithuania within the Commonwealth (1569–1795) ===

{{Nobility table header|arms=yes|extra column=Claim !! House}} |- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Sigismund II Augustus|Sigismund Augustus]]</big> {{langx|lt|Žygimantas Augustas}} 1 July 1569 {{ndash}} 7 July 1572 ''({{age in years and days|1 July 1569|7 July 1572|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Cranach the Younger Sigismund II Augustus.jpg|100px]] | [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] | 1 August 1520 [[Kraków]]<hr />Son of [[Sigismund I the Old|Žygimantas the Old]] and [[Bona Sforza]] | {{grey|(3)}} [[Elizabeth of Austria (1526–1545)|Elisabeth of Austria]] [[Barbara Radziwiłł]] [[Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland|Catherine of Austria]] | 7 July 1572 [[Knyszyn]] Aged 51 | Hereditary<hr /> First monarch to introduce elective monarchy | [[House of Jagiellon|Jagiellon]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Henry III of France|Henry]]</big> {{langx|lt|Henrikas Valua}} 16 May 1573 {{ndash}} 12 May 1575 ''({{age in years and days|16 May 1573|12 May 1575|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Henri III - portrait after Jean Decourt - Musée Condé.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Henri de Valois as lifelong king of Poland.svg|100px]] | 19 September 1551 [[Château de Fontainebleau|Fontainebleau]]<hr />Son of [[Henry II of France|Henry II]] and [[Catherine de' Medici]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Louise of Lorraine, Queen of France|Louise of Lorraine]] | 2 August 1589 [[Château de Saint-Cloud|Saint-Cloud]] Aged 37 | Elected<hr />Left Poland in June 1574 to succeed his [[Charles IX of France|brother]] in France<hr />Interregnum until 1575 | [[House of Valois|Valois]]

|- |Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess <big>[[Anna Jagiellon|Anna]]</big> {{langx|lt|Ona Jogailaitė}} 15 December 1575 {{ndash}} 19 August 1587 ''(de facto)'' ''({{Age in years and days|15 December 1575|19 August 1587|duration=yes}})'' {{Ndash}} 9 September 1596 ''(de jure)'' ''({{age in years and days|15 December 1575|9 September 1596|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Kober Anna Jagiellon as a widow.jpg|100px]] | [[File:COA Jagiellon.svg|100px]] | 18 October 1523 [[Kraków]]<hr />Daughter of [[Sigismund I the Old|Sigismund I]] and [[Bona Sforza]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Stephen Báthory]] | 9 September 1596 [[Warsaw]] Aged 72 | Elected co-monarch with [[Stephen Báthory]]<hr />Sole ruler until Báthory's arrival and coronation in May 1576<hr />Ruled after husband's death until her nephew was elected | [[Jagiellonian Dynasty|Jagiellon]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Stephen Báthory]]</big> {{langx|lt|Steponas Batoras}} 1 May 1576 {{ndash}} 12 December 1586 ''({{age in years and days|1 May 1576|12 December 1586|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Riehl Portrait of Stephen Bathory.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Bathory coat of arms.svg|100px]] | 27 September 1533 [[Șimleu Silvaniei|Szilágysomlyó (Șimleu Silvaniei)]]<hr />Son of [[Stephen Báthory of Somlyó]] and [[Catherine Telegdi]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Anna Jagiellon]] | 12 December 1586 [[Grodno]] Aged 53 | Elected as co-monarch with [[Anna Jagiellon]]<hr />Previously Prince of [[Transylvania]] | [[Báthory family|Báthory]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund Vasa]]</big> {{langx|lt|Zigmantas Vaza}} 19 August 1587 {{ndash}} 30 April 1632 ''({{age in years and days|19 August 1587|30 April 1632|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Rubens Sigismund III Vasa.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Polish House of Vasa Coa.svg|100px]] | 20 June 1566 [[Gripsholm Castle|Gripsholm]]<hr />Son of [[John III of Sweden]] and [[Catherine Jagiellon]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland|Anne of Austria]] 5 children<hr />{{grey|(2)}} [[Constance of Austria]] 7 children | 30 April 1632 [[Warsaw]] Aged 65 | Elected, nephew of Anna Jagiellon<hr />Transferred capital from [[Kraków]] to Warsaw<hr />Hereditary King of [[Sweden]] until deposition in 1599 | [[House of Vasa|Vasa]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Władysław IV|Władysław]]</big> also '''Ladislaus IV''' {{langx|lt|Vladislovas Vaza}} 8 November 1632 {{ndash}} 20 May 1648 ''({{age in years and days|8 November 1632|20 May 1648|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Rubens Wladyslaw Vasa.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Polish House of Vasa Coa.svg|100px]] | 9 June 1595 [[Łobzów]]<hr />Son of [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund Vasa]] and [[Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland|Anne of Austria]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Cecilia Renata of Austria]] 3 children<hr />{{grey|(2)}} [[Marie Louise Gonzaga]] | 20 May 1648 [[Merkinė]] Aged 52 | Elective succession<hr />Also titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610–1613) when the Polish army captured [[Moscow]] | [[House of Vasa|Vasa]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[John II Casimir|John Casmimir]]</big> {{langx|lt|Jonas Kazimieras Vaza}} 20 November 1648 {{ndash}} 16 September 1668 ''({{age in years and days|20 November 1648|16 September 1668|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Schultz John II Casimir Vasa.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Polish House of Vasa Coa.svg|100px]] | 22 March 1609 [[Kraków]]<hr />Son of [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund Vasa]] and [[Constance of Austria]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Marie Louise Gonzaga]] 2 children<hr />{{grey|(2)}} [[Claudine Françoise Mignot]] (allegedly) 1 child? | 16 December 1672 [[Nevers]] Aged 63 | Elective succession, succeeded half-brother<hr />Previously a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]]<hr />Disputed with [[Charles X Gustav]] between 1655–1657<hr />Titular King of Sweden<hr />[[Abdication|Abdicated]] | [[House of Vasa|Vasa]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki|Michael]]</big> {{langx|lt|Mykolas Kaributas Višnioveckis}} 19 June 1669 {{ndash}} 10 November 1673 ''({{age in years and days|19 June 1669|10 November 1673|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:King Michael Korybut Wisniowiecki.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Michal Korybut Wisniowiecki as king of Poland.svg|100px]] | 31 May 1640 [[Bilyi Kamin|Biały Kamień]]<hr />Son of [[Jeremi Wiśniowiecki]] and [[Gryzelda Konstancja Wiśniowiecka|Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Eleonora Maria of Austria]], 1 child | 10 November 1673 [[Lwów]] Aged 33 | Elected<hr />Born into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor | [[Wiśniowiecki]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[John III Sobieski|John Sobieski]]</big> {{langx|lt|Jonas Sobieskis}} 19 May 1674 {{ndash}} 17 June 1696 ''({{age in years and days|19 May 1674|17 June 1696|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Schultz John III Sobieski.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Jan Sobieski as king of Poland.svg|100px]] | 17 August 1629 [[Olesko Castle|Olesko]]<hr />Son of [[Jakub Sobieski]] and [[Teofila Zofia Sobieska|Teofila Zofia]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien|Marie Casimire d'Arquien]] 13 children | 17 June 1696 [[Wilanów Palace|Wilanów]] Aged 66 | Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />A successful military commander | [[House of Sobieski|Sobieski]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Augustus the Strong|Augustus II]]</big> {{langx|lt|Augustas II Stiprusis}} 15 September 1697 {{ndash}} 1706 ''(1st reign, 9 years)'' | [[File:August II the Strong.PNG|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|100px]] | 12 May 1670 [[Dresden]]<hr />Son of [[John George III, Elector of Saxony|John George III]] and [[Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth]] 1 child | 1 February 1733 [[Warsaw]] Aged 62 | Elected<hr />Previously Elector and ruler of [[Saxony]]<hr />Dethroned by [[Stanislaus I]] in 1706 during the [[Great Northern War]] | [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Stanislaus I]]</big> {{langx|lt|Stanislovas I Leščinskis}} 12 July 1704 {{ndash}} 8 July 1709 ''(1st reign, {{age in years and days|12 July 1704|8 July 1709|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Mányoki Stanislaus Leszczyński.png|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Leszczynski as king of Poland.svg|100px]] | 20 October 1677 [[Lwów]]<hr />Son of [[Rafał Leszczyński (1650–1703)|Rafał Leszczyński]] and [[Anna Leszczyńska (1660–1727)|Anna Jabłonowska]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Catherine Opalińska]] 2 children | 23 February 1766 [[Lunéville]] Aged 88 | Usurped<hr />Nominated as ruler in 1704, crowned in 1705 and deposed predecessor in 1706<hr />Exiled in 1709 | [[House of Leszczyński|Leszczyński]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Augustus the Strong|Augustus II]]</big> {{langx|lt|Augustas II Stiprusis}} 8 July 1709 {{ndash}} 1 February 1733 ''(2nd reign, {{age in years and days|8 July 1709|1 February 1733|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:August II (1670-1733).jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|100px]] | 12 May 1670 [[Dresden]]<hr />Son of [[John George III, Elector of Saxony|John George III]] and [[Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth]] 1 child | 1 February 1733 [[Warsaw]] Aged 62 | Restored | [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Stanislaus I]]</big> {{langx|lt|Stanislovas I Leščinskis}} 12 September 1733 {{ndash}} 26 January 1736 ''(2nd reign, {{age in years and days|12 September 1733|26 January 1736|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Portrait of Stanisław I Leszczyński.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Leszczynski as king of Poland.svg|100px]] | 20 October 1677 [[Lwów]]<hr />Son of [[Rafał Leszczyński (1650–1703)|Rafał Leszczyński]] and [[Anna Leszczyńska (1660–1727)|Anna Jabłonowska]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Catherine Opalińska]] 2 children | 23 February 1766 [[Lunéville]] Aged 88 | Elected<hr />His election sparked the [[War of the Polish Succession]]<hr />Deposed by [[Augustus III of Poland|Augustus III]] in 1736 | [[House of Leszczyński|Leszczyński]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Augustus III]]</big> {{langx|lt|Augustas III Saksas}} 5 October 1733 {{ndash}} 5 October 1763 ''(30 years)'' | [[File:Louis de Silvestre - Portrait of Augustus III of Poland (after 1733) - Google Art Project.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Wettin kings of Poland.svg|100px]] | 17 October 1696 [[Dresden]]<hr />Son of [[Augustus II the Strong]] and [[Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Christiane Eberhardine]] | {{grey|(1)}} [[Maria Josepha of Austria]] 16 children | 5 October 1763 [[Dresden]] Aged 66 | Usurped<hr />Proclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734<hr />Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736 | [[House of Wettin|Wettin]]

|- |King of Poland and Grand Duke <big>[[Stanisław II Augustus|Stanislaus II Augustus]]</big> {{langx|lt|Stanislovas Augustas II Poniatovskis}} 7 September 1764 {{ndash}} 25 November 1795 ''({{age in years and days|7 September 1764|25 November 1795|duration=yes}})'' | [[File:Vigee Stanislaw Augustus.jpg|100px]] | [[File:Coat of Arms of Stanislaus Augustus as king of Poland.svg|100px]] | 17 January 1732 [[Wołczyn]]<hr />Son of [[Stanisław Poniatowski (1676–1762)|Stanisław Poniatowski]] and [[Konstancja Czartoryska (1700–1759)|Konstancja Czartoryska]] | Officially unmarried; {{grey|(1)}} [[Elżbieta Szydłowska]] (allegedly) presumably several unacknowledged children | 1 February 1798 [[Saint Petersburg]] Aged 66 | Elected<hr />Born into nobility<hr />Last King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, his reign ended in the [[Partitions of Poland]] | [[House of Poniatowski|Poniatowski]] |}

=== [[General Confederation of the Kingdom of Poland]] (1812) === {{Nobility table header|arms=yes|extra column=Claim}} |- |Grand Duke {{Big|'''[[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony|Frederick Augustus I]]'''}} [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian:]] ''Frydrichas Augustas I'' {{dts|1 July 1812}} – {{dts|14 December 1812}} ''({{age in years and days|1 July 1812|14 December 1812|duration=yes}})''||[[File:Frederick_Augustus_I_of_Saxony_by_Marcello_Bacciarelli_(ca_1808-1809).png|100px]]|| [[File:COA_Wettin.svg|100px]] || 23 December 1750 [[Dresden]] <hr/>Grandson of [[Augustus III of Poland]] and [[Maria Josepha of Austria]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[ Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld]] [[Princess Maria Augusta of Saxony]] <hr/> || 5 May 1827 [[Dresden]] Aged 76 || ''De jure'' restoration <hr/> Offered by the [[Lithuanian Provisional Governing Commission]] |- |} === [[House of Urach]] (1918) ===

{{Nobility table header|arms=yes|extra column=Claim}} |- |King-elect {{Big|'''[[Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach|Mindaugas II]]'''}} {{dts|11 July 1918}} – {{dts|2 November 1918}} ''({{age in years and days|11 July 1918|2 November 1918|duration=yes}})''||[[File:WilhelofUrach.jpg|100px]]|| [[File:Wappen des Herzogs von Urach.svg|100px]] || 30 May 1864 [[Monaco]] <hr/>Son of [[Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach]] and [[Princess Florestine of Monaco]] || {{Gray|(1)}} [[Duchess Amalie in Bavaria]] 9 children <hr/> {{Gray|(2)}} Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria No children|| 24 March 1928 [[Rapallo]] Aged 63 || ''De jure'' restoration <hr/> Offered by the [[Lithuanian Council]] <hr/> Offer withdrawn |- |}

== Timeline == {| class="wikitable" ! Comparative reigns of Lithuanian monarchs |- | {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize=width:1250 height:auto barincrement:12 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:30 right:50 left:20 AlignBars = justify

DateFormat=yyyy Period=from:1251 till:1572 TimeAxis=orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor=unit:year increment:100 start:1300 ScaleMinor=unit:year increment:25 start:1255

Colors= id:canvas value:rgb(1,1,1) id:min value:blue id:mon value:orange id:gd value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) id:jg value:red id:eon value:black

Backgroundcolors=canvas:canvas

BarData= bar:eon barset:Dynasties barset:Rulers

PlotData= align:center textcolor:black fontsize:8 mark:(line,black) width:25

bar:eon color:eon from:1251 till:1572 text:Grand Dukes of Lithuania

barset:Dynasties from:1251 till:1267 color:min text:[[House of Mindaugas|Mindaugas]] from:1267 till:1269 color:mon text:[[House of Monomakh|Monomakh]] from:1269 till:1285 color:min text:[[House of Mindaugas|Mindaugas]] from:1285 till:1440 color:gd text:[[House of Gediminas|Gediminas]] from:1440 till:1569 color:jg text:[[House of Jagiellon|Jagiellon]]

width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:Rulers

from:1251 till:1263 color:min text:[[Mindaugas]] from:1263 till:1264 color:min text:[[Treniota]] from:1264 till:1267 color:min text:[[Vaišvilkas]] from:1267 till:1269 color:mon text:[[Shvarn]] from:1270 till:1282 color:min text:[[Traidenis]] from:1285 till:1291 color:gd text:[[Butigeidis]] from:1291 till:1295 color:gd text:[[Butvydas]] from:1295 till:1316 color:gd text:[[Vytenis]] from:1316 till:1341 color:gd text:[[Gediminas]] from:1341 till:1345 color:gd text:[[Jaunutis]] from:1345 till:1377 color:gd text:[[Algirdas]] from:1377 till:1381 color:jg text:[[Jogaila]] from:1381 till:1382 color:gd text:[[Kęstutis]] from:1382 till:1434 color:jg text:[[Jogaila]] (restored) from:1434 till:1444 color:jg text:[[Władysław III of Poland|Władysław]] from:1401 till:1430 color:gd text:[[Vytautas]] from:1430 till:1432 color:gd text:[[Švitrigaila]] from:1432 till:1440 color:gd text:[[Sigismund Kęstutaitis]] from:1440 till:1492 color:jg text:[[Casimir IV Jagiellon|Casimir]] from:1492 till:1506 color:jg text:[[Alexander Jagiellon]] from:1506 till:1548 color:jg text:[[Sigismund I the Old|Sigismund the Old]] from:1529 till:1569 color:jg text:[[Sigismund II Augustus|Sigismund Augustus]] }} |}

== Union of Lublin == {{main|Union of Lublin}}

In 1564, [[List of Polish monarchs|King of Poland]] and Grand Duke of Lithuania [[Sigismund II Augustus]] renounced his rights to the hereditary Lithuanian throne—the separate [[inauguration]] ceremony and [[insignia]] for Grand Duke of Lithuania were abolished. On 1 July 1569, [[Sigismund II Augustus]] united both of the countries into a single bi-[[federation]], known as the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], which existed for the next 226 years. The Union included constitutional changes such as creating a formal [[elective monarchy]], to simultaneously reign over both parties.<ref name="DavN 3">Norman Davies, ''God's Playground: A History of Poland in Two Volumes'', Oxford University Press, p. 153. Two [[Podlachia|Podlasian]] officers were deprived of their lands and offices.</ref>

Following the death of Sigismund II in 1572, a joint Polish–Lithuanian monarch was to be elected as in the Union of Lublin it was agreed that the title "Grand Duke of Lithuania" was to be held by a jointly elected monarch in the [[Election sejm]] on his accession to the throne, thus losing its former institutional significance. However the Union of Lublin guaranteed that the institution and the title "Grand Duke of Lithuania" would be preserved.{{r|GediminoKepureVle|DkVle}} The demand for a separate inauguration ceremony of the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania]] was raised by the nobles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (e.g. [[Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł]], [[Eustachy Wołłowicz]], [[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz]], [[Konstanty Ostrogski]]) during negotiations. It was not officially included in it, however.<ref name="jasas">{{cite web |last1=Jasas |first1=Rimantas |title=Liublino unija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/liublino-unija/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |access-date=6 November 2023 |language=lt}}</ref> Nevertheless, before the [[1576 Polish–Lithuanian royal election]] a congress of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania's nobles was held on 20 April 1576 in [[Grodno]] which adopted a Universal, signed by the participating Lithuanian nobles, which announced that if the delegates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were pressured by the Poles in the [[Election sejm]], the Lithuanians would not be obliged by any oath to the Union of Lublin and would have the right to select a separate monarch.<ref name="Kiaupinienė">{{cite journal |last1=Kiaupinienė |first1=Jūratė |title=Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės Seimas – valstybės modernizacijos grandis (1572–1587 metai) |pages=31–32 |url=https://journals.lnb.lt/parliamentary-studies/article/download/725/720/1097 |journal=Parlamento Studijos |publisher=Lithuanian Institute of History |language=lt |access-date=4 November 2023}}</ref>

On 29 May 1580, a ceremony was held in the [[Vilnius Cathedral]] during which bishop [[Merkelis Giedraitis]] presented [[Stephen Báthory]] (King of Poland since 1 May 1576) a [[Blessed sword and hat|luxuriously decorated sword and a hat adorned with pearl]]s (both were sanctified by [[Pope Gregory XIII]] himself). While this ceremony manifested the sovereignty of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and had the meaning of [[Gediminas%27 Cap#Inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs|elevation of the new Grand Duke]] of Lithuania, this ignored the stipulations of the Union of Lublin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vavelio pilies lobyne – ir Lietuvos, Valdovų rūmų istorija |url=https://www.valdovurumai.lt/lt/naujienos/i/2680/vavelio-pilies-lobyne-ir-valdovu-rumu-istorija20220721/ |website=Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania |access-date=6 November 2023 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="Bues"/>{{sfn|Stryjkowski|1846|p=432}}{{sfn|Ragauskienė|Ragauskas|2018|p=67}}

During the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]] of the [[Second Northern War]], the Commonwealth temporarily disintegrated in 1655 when the magnates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania signed the [[Union of Kėdainiai]] with the [[Swedish Empire]]{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=168}} and became its protectorate ([[Swedish Lithuania]]), with [[Charles X Gustav]] serving as Grand Duke of Lithuania.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=González |first1=Joseph M. |title=Review of ''In the Shadows of Poland and Russia: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden in the European Crisis of the Mid-17th Century'' |journal=Journal of Baltic Studies |date=2008 |volume=39 |issue=2 |pages=222–224 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43212825 |issn=0162-9778 |url-access=subscription}} * {{cite book |last1=Kotljarchuk |first1=Andrej |title=In the Shadows of Poland and Russia: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden in the European Crisis of the mid-17th Century |date=2006 |publisher=Södertörns högskola |location=Huddinge |isbn=91-89315-63-4 |ref=none}}</ref>{{pn|date=June 2025}} It was short-lived because Sweden lost the war.{{sfn|Frost|2015|p=168}} The Commonwealth permanently ceased to exist in 1795, following its [[Third Partition of Poland|third partition]] by the neighbouring powers, Prussia, [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Austrian Empire|Austria]]. Following the partitions, the lands of ethnic Lithuania were divided—[[Lithuania proper]] became a part of the [[Russian Empire]] while [[Suvalkija|Sudovia]] became a part of the [[Kingdom of Prussia]].{{History of Lithuania}}

== History ==

=== Kingdom of Lithuania under Mindaugas I === {{main|Kingdom of Lithuania}}

As the conquests of [[Prussia (region)|Prussia]] by the [[Teutonic Order]] and of [[Livonia]] by the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Livonian Brothers]] were coming to an end, both Catholic religious orders began posing an existential threat to then-pagan Lithuania. In response, Duke Mindaugas, who by then had managed to strengthen his grip in various Baltic and Slavic lands, sought to consolidate power and unite Lithuania into one political entity, [[Conversion to Christianity|convert to Christianity]], and become king.{{sfn|Kiaupa|Kiaupienė|Kuncevičius|2000|pp=43–127}} In 1250 or 1251, he was baptised as a Roman Catholic. On 17 July 1251 Pope oficially recognized Mindaugas as the King, thus establishing [[Kingdom of Lithuania|Christian Kingdom of Lithuania]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baranauskas |first1=Tomas |title=Mindaugo karūnavimo ir Lietuvos karalystės problemos |journal=Voruta |date=23 March 2002 |issue=54 |url=http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=87 |access-date=4 January 2026 |archive-date=26 October 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026174819/http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=87 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> and in 1253 probably in Vilnius or [[Novogrudok]],<ref name=":3" /> he and his wife [[Morta (queen)|Morta]] were crowned King and Queen. Those events established a short-lived alliance with the [[Livonian Order]] and laid the basis for the international recognition of the newly created Kingdom of Lithuania as a Western country.

=== Attempts of coronation in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania === {{main|Grand Duchy of Lithuania}}

Some historical documents suggest that at the time of signing the [[Treaty of Salynas]] in 1398, Lithuanian nobles had acknowledged Vytautas as their King as a symbolic declaration of allegiance.<ref>Cibulskis, Gediminas (8 September 2010) [https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/nekarunuotas-lietuvos-karalius-vytautas-56-114618 "Nekarūnuotas Lietuvos karalius Vytautas"] {{in lang|lt}}. ''[[15min]]''.</ref> Vytautas himself sought to officially establish his reign by coronation at least three times.<ref name=":3" /> All three attempts were unsuccessful because the political situation was much more complicated—by this point the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] and the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385-1569)|Kingdom of Poland]] were under a joint rule of Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland [[Władysław II Jagiełło|Jogaila]] (''Władysław II Jagiełło'') with the Crown being in [[Kraków]], Poland. As a consequence, the idea of a fully-fledged Lithuanian monarchy as well as Poland losing its influence over its neighbour was met with fierce resistance from the Polish nobles.<ref name=":3" /> The first time coronation was planned on 8 September 1430, but after one of the delegations that transported the crown learned that the first delegation was robbed on its way to Lithuania, they returned to [[Nuremberg]]. In the same year of October, Vytautas up until his death had planned his coronation at least two more times but with no success.<ref name=":3" />

In 1526, the [[Lithuanian Council of Lords]] suggested King [[Sigismund I the Old]] to grant the Grand Duchy of Lithuania the status of a kingdom, but such a proposal was rejected by the ruling Jagiellonian dynasty.<ref>Petrauskas, R. [https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-karalyste/ "Lietuvos karalystė"] [Kingdom of Lithuania]. {{in lang|lt}}. ''[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]]''. [Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia].</ref>

[[File:Herzog Wilhelm II von Urach.png|thumb|Wilhelm Karl von Urach (Mindaugas II)]]

=== Kingdom of Lithuania (1918) ''de jure'' under Mindaugas II === {{main|Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)}}

During the [[First World War]], the [[German Empire]] wanted [[Lithuania proper]] to be annexed and become a part of either [[Prussia]] or [[Saxony]],<ref>[https://www.istorija.lt/data/public/uploads/2021/03/lim-1989-3-a.-gaigalaite.-lietuvos-taryba-ir-vokieciu-okupacine-valdzia-1918-m.-p.-34-48.pdf Lietuvos Taryba ir vokiečių okupacinė valdžia 1918 m.] p. 11</ref> which for 123 years remained a part of the [[Russian Empire]] following the [[Third Partition of Poland|Third Partition of the Polish−Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1795.

In an attempt to avoid becoming a province but remain on good terms with Germany, the [[Council of Lithuania]] decided to establish a separate constitutional monarchy with [[Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach|Wilhelm von Urach]] as king, with his residence in [[Verkiai Palace]]. According to the twelve-point document resembling the rudiments of a Constitution, the Kingdom of Lithuania was supposed to have a [[bicameral legislature]] with a representative role for the monarch. Wilhelm von Urach was also presented with conditions such as: adopting the title of Mindaugas II; letting his children attend a Lithuanian school; only appointing [[courtier]]s, ministers and other high-ranking public officials who were Lithuanian citizens and speakers of [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]], the country's official language; and who would not leave the state for more than two months per year without the permission of the government.

As the war ended, it became clear that Germany was losing. On 5 October 1918, in the [[Reichstag building|Reichstag]], the new [[Chancellor of Germany]] [[Maximilian of Baden]] announced that his state acknowledged the right of nations to [[self-determination]] and supported their efforts to become independent countries.<ref name=":6">Skirius, Juozas. [http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/index.php?id=1173 "Gimtoji istorija"]{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} [Native History] {{in lang|lt}}. ''Emokykla''. Retrieved 10 May 2022.</ref> Soon afterwards, Germany expressed its official support for the independence of Lithuania.<ref name=":6" /> Diplomats [[French Third Republic|of France]] had also unambiguously proclaimed to the Council of Lithuania and the [[Seimas|Parliament]] that having a monarch of German descent would be seen as unacceptable.<ref>Bukaitė, Vilma (October 2, 2019). [https://www.lrytas.lt/kultura/istorija/2019/10/02/news/svaigi-antano-smetonos-karjera-nuo-banko-darbuotojo-iki-prezidento-12040589 ''Svaigi Antano Smetonos karjera: nuo banko darbuotojo iki prezidento''] {{in lang|lt}}. [[Lrytas.lt]].</ref> On 2 November 1918, as it became apparent that King-elect Mindaugas himself was hesitant to arrive in Lithuania for his coronation due to political unrest, the Council decided to abandon the idea of being a [[Satellite state|satellite]] monarchy and establish a fully independent [[republic]] instead.

=== Modernity === Although there are no [[monarchist]] parties in modern Lithuania, there is a monarchist movement, which is in favor of re-establishing the short-lived monarchy of 1918.<ref name=":0">Jakilaitis, E. (2018) [https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/paskelbtojo-karaliaus-mindaugo-ii-anukas-monarchija-lietuvai-butu-pigiau-ir-naudingiau.d?id=77402291 "Paskelbtojo karaliaus Mindaugo II anūkas: monarchija Lietuvai būtų pigiau ir naudingiau"] {{in lang|lt}}. ''[[Delfi (web portal)|Delfi.]]''</ref> The movement alongside the Lithuanian Royal Union of Nobility believe that the current Lithuanian state did not undergo all of the complicated and necessary procedures to truly abolish the Lithuanian monarchy.<ref name=":1">Giedraitis, Rimantas (7 July 2012). [https://www.15min.lt/ikrauk/naujiena/as-manau/turetume-savo-karaliu-nereiketu-varvinti-seiles-i-svetimus-516-251535 "Turėtume savo karalių, nereikėtų varvinti seilės į svetimus?"] {{in lang|lt}}. ''[[15min]]''.</ref> According to the senate marshal of the organization "Palace of the Kingdom of Lithuania", Stanislovas Švedarauskas:<ref name=":1" /> {{bq|Can we present the specific date when the Kingdom of Lithuania of the [[Middle Ages]] ceased to exist and when did the Lithuanian 20th-century constitutional monarchy end? In the words of historians, when Mindaugas I died in 1263, the Kingdom had disappeared as well. However, after almost 100 years, in the 14th century, Gediminas would send his letters proclaiming to be "King of Lithuanians and many Ruthenians." In November 1918, the State Council left the question of Mindaugas II to the [[Constituent Assembly of Lithuania|Constituent Assembly]]. And while it is true that the latter declared Lithuania to be a democratic republic on 15 May 1920, I have never heard of the Constituent Assembly officially denouncing the State Council's declaration of 11 July 1918, which called to create a constitutional monarchy in Lithuania and invite Mindaugas II to take his throne.}}

Political commentator Česlovas Iškauskas responded:<ref name=":8">Kontrimavičiūtė, Inga (September 19, 2012). [https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/lietuvos-karalyste-ne-tuscia-fantazija.d?id=64312066 "Lietuvos karalystė – ne tuščia fantazija?"] {{in lang|lt}}. [[Delfi (web portal)|''Delfi'']].</ref> {{bq|In 1918, [[German Empire|Germany]] exerted great influence. But now the idea of re-establishing the constitutional monarchy as well as the activities of the "Palace of the Kingdom of Lithuania" to me seems like a game when you have nothing better to do. At the moment Lithuania has much more important issues—it needs to think how to withstand current threats, not about a new monarchy.}}

[[File:Main entrance to the National Museum of Lithuania, King Mindaugas Monument and Gediminas' Tower in 2023.jpg|thumb|King Mindaugas Monument in front of the [[National Museum of Lithuania]] and [[Gediminas' Tower]] in [[Vilnius]]]] [[Prince Inigo of Urach|Prince Inigo von Urach]], the grandson of [[Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach|Wilhelm von Urach]] (Mindaugas II), claims that according to ''[[Almanach de Gotha]]'' he remains to be the rightful claimant to the Lithuanian throne<ref>Salvatore Ferdinando Antonio Caputo. [https://www.nobledynasty.com/Booklets/The%20Monarchy%20in%20Lithuania.pdf ''The Monarchy in Lithuania'']</ref> and is willing to become King of Lithuania, if the nation wants him to. To quote him from an interview for [[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]] (LRT), "It's not my thing to decide it [the idea of officially being crowned King], that's the thing of the population here, of the citizens of Lithuania. It's not my thing [to decide]. But I promise—if they want me, I would be ready for this job."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">[https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/1013686863/demesio-centre-karaliaus-anukas-inigo-von-urachas "Dėmesio centre. Karaliaus anūkas Inigo von Urachas"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921231701/https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/1013686863/demesio-centre-karaliaus-anukas-inigo-von-urachas |date=21 September 2022 }}. ''Lithuanian National Radio and Television'' (''LRT''). Archived from the original on 3 March 2018.</ref> He also mentioned that Wilhelm von Urach expressed his will in his Testament of "keeping the claim of the throne" of Lithuania as well as [[Monaco]].<ref name=":2" />

== See also == [[List of Lithuanian royal consorts]]

[[List of heads of state of Lithuania]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="GediminoKepureVle">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |author-link=Edvardas Gudavičius |title=Gedimino kepurė |trans-title=Gediminas' Cap |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/gedimino-kepure/ |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |language=lt}}</ref> <ref name="DkVle">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |title=Didysis kunigaikštis |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/didysis-kunigaikstis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=4 November 2023 |language=lt}}</ref> <ref name="GenezeGudavicius">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |title=Lietuvos feodalinės visuomenės ir jos valdymo sistemos genezė: 2 dalis |url=https://vrm.lrv.lt/uploads/vrm/documents/files/LT_versija/Veikla/Vidaus%20reikal%C5%B3%20istorija/2dalis.pdf |website=[[Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania)]] |language=lt |page=8 |access-date=1 January 2024 |quote=Kazimiero vainikavimas didžiuoju kunigaikščiu, Vilniaus vyskupui uždedant vadinamąją „Gedimino kepurę“, manifestavo suverenią Lietuvos valstybė; tas pats Kazimieras vėliau pabrėždavo esąsas „laisvas ponas“ (pan – dominus).}}</ref> <ref name="AuksciausiasisVle">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |title=Aukščiausiasis kunigaikštis |trans-title=Supreme Duke |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/auksciausiasis-kunigaikstis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> <ref name="Vytautas Didysis">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |last2=Matulevičius |first2=Algirdas |title=Vytautas Didysis |trans-title=Vytautas the Great |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/vytautas-didysis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> <ref name="InauguracijaVle">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |title=Inauguracija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/inauguracija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> }}

===Works cited===

* {{cite book |last=Frost |first=Robert |title=The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania. The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385–1569 |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-19-820869-3 |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |author-link=Robert Frost}} * {{Cite encyclopedia |title=Władca |url=https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/3632 |language=pl |encyclopedia=Kultura Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego. Analizy i obrazy |location=Kraków |publisher= Towarzystwo Autorów i Wydawców Prac Naukowych Universitas|last=Gudavičius |first=Edvardas |author-link=Edvardas Gudavičius |editor1-last=Ališauskas |editor1-first=Vytautas |date=2006 |pages=834–854 |trans-title=Ruler |editor2-last=Jovaiša |editor2-first=Liudas |editor3-last=Paknys |editor3-first=Mindaugas |editor4-last=Petrauskas |editor4-first=Rimvydas |editor5-last=Raila |editor5-first=Eligijus |isbn=8324205497}} * {{Cite book |last1=Kiaupa |first1=Zigmantas |title=The history of Lithuania before 1795 |last2=Kiaupienė |first2=Jūratė |last3=Kuncevičius |first3=Albinas |year=2000 |isbn=9789986810131 |publisher=Lithuanian Institute of History |location=Vilnius |orig-date=1995}} {{ISBN|9986-810-13-2}}. * {{Cite book |last=Kosman |first=Marceli |title=Litwa pierwotna. Mity, legendy, fakty |year=1989 |pages=244–282 |chapter='Podniesienie' książąt litewskich |trans-chapter='Elevation' of the Lithuanian princes |author-link=Marceli Kosman}} * {{cite book |last1=Ragauskienė |first1=Raimonda |last2=Ragauskas |first2=Aivas |others=Noémi Erzsébet Bulla |title=Tolimos bet artimos: Lietuvos ir Vengrijos istoriniai ryšiai |date=2018 |publisher = Faculty of Philology, Vilnius University |location=Vilnius |page=67 |access-date=6 November 2023 |url=https://www.flf.vu.lt/dokumentai/TOLIMOS_BET_ARTIMOS_LIETUVOS_IR_VENGRIJOS_ISTORINIAI_RY%C5%A0IAI_LIT_2019.12.pdf |language=lt }} * {{cite book |last=Rowell |first=Stephen Christopher |author-link=Stephen Christopher Rowell |title=[[Lithuania Ascending]]: A Pagan Empire within East-Central Europe, 1295–1345 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-1-107-65876-9 |series=Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series}} * {{cite book |author1-link=Maciej Stryjkowski |last1=Stryjkowski |first1=Maciej |title=Kronika polska, litewska, żmódzka i wszystkiéj Rusi ''Macieja Stryjkowskiego'' |volume=2 |date=1846 |id=Warsaw |url=https://polona.pl/preview/e45e12f2-4de5-4c17-b150-d7704ac29662 |access-date=1 January 2024 |language=pl |trans-title=The Polish, Lithuanian, Samogitian and all Ruthenian Chronicle ''by Maciej Stryjkowski'' |orig-date=First published 1574; Kraków: Macyeya Wirzbięty}}

== Further reading==

* {{Cite journal |last=Adamus |first=Jan |date=1930 |title=O tytule panującego i państwa litewskiego parę spostrzeżeń |journal= Kwartalnik Historyczny |trans-title=A few observations on the title of the ruler and the Lithuanian state |volume=44 |pages=313–332 |language=pl |ref=none}} * {{cite book |editor1-last=Rosenwein |editor1-first=Barbara H. |title=Reading the Middle Ages: Sources from Europe, Byzantium, and the Islamic World |date=2013 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=978-1-4426-0602-9 |pages=377–396 |edition=Second |url-access = registration |url=https://archive.org/details/readingmiddleage0000barb/page/388/mode/2up |language=en |chapter=East Central Europe in Flux |ref=none }}

{{Monarchs of Lithuania}} {{Europe topic|Monarchy of}} [[Category:Monarchs of Lithuania]]