Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electable position in Europe (16th to 18th centuries).

The first known Polish ruler is Duke Mieszko I, who adopted Christianity under the authority of Rome in the year 966. He was succeeded by his son, Bolesław I the Brave, who greatly expanded the boundaries of the Polish state and ruled as the first king in 1025. The following centuries gave rise to the mighty Piast dynasty, consisting of both kings such as Mieszko II Lambert, Przemysł II or Władysław I the Elbow-high and dukes like Bolesław III Wrymouth. The dynasty's rule over Poland ceased with the death of Casimir III the Great in 1370. In the same year, the Capetian House of Anjou became the ruling house with Louis I as king of both Poland and Hungary. His daughter, Jadwiga, later married Jogaila, the pagan Grand Duke of Lithuania, who in 1386 was baptized and crowned as Władysław II Jagiełło, thus creating the Jagiellonian dynasty and a personal union between Poland and Lithuania.

During the reign of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Sigismund I the Old, culture flourished and cities developed. This era of progress, also known as the Polish Renaissance, continued until the Union of Lublin under Sigismund II Augustus, which unofficially marked the end of the Polish Golden Age. After the death of the last Jagiellonian king, the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth became an elective monarchy with mostly foreigners elected as monarchs such as Henry III of France, who witnessed the introduction of the Golden Liberty system and Stephen Báthory, a capable military commander who strengthened the nation. The meaningful rule of the Vasa dynasty initially expanded the Commonwealth as the arts and crafts developed, as well as trade and commerce. King Sigismund III Vasa, a talented but somewhat despotic ruler, involved the country in many wars, which subsequently resulted in the successful capture of Moscow and the loss of Livonia to Sweden. His son, Władysław IV Vasa, fiercely defended the Commonwealth's borders and continued the policy of his father until his death, unlike John II Casimir whose tragic rule resulted in his abdication.

The election of John III Sobieski to the Polish throne proved to be beneficial for the Commonwealth. A brilliant military tactician, John III led the coalition forces to victory at Vienna in 1683 and he partially recaptured land from the Ottoman Empire. However, the years that followed were not as successful.^[4] The long and ineffective rule of the Wettin dynasty (Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III) placed the Commonwealth under the influence of Saxony and the Russian Empire. Additional feuds with rebel nobility (szlachta) and most notably Stanislaus I Leszczyński and France diminished the influence of Poland-Lithuania in the region, which led to the partitions that occurred under King Stanislaus II Augustus, yet another enlightened, but ineffective monarch. The last true sovereign of Poland was Frederick Augustus I as Duke of Warsaw, who throughout his political career attempted to rehabilitate the Polish state. Following the Napoleonic Wars, many sovereigns claimed the title of Polish king, duke or ruler, notably German, Russian and Austrian emperors. The monarchy was abolished and a parliamentary republican authority was established when Poland was re-constituted as a sovereign state in 1918.

Most of the legendary Polish rulers appear for the first time in chronicles from the 13th century and their existence has not been determined.

More information Name, Portrait ...

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death	Claim	House
Lech		Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Legendary founder of the Polish nation according to folktales, tribal leader	Lechites (Tribe)
Krakus I also Krak or Grakch c. 8th century		c. 8th century	Unknown	c. 8th century	Legendary founder of Kraków	Lechites (Tribe)
Krakus II c. 8th century		c. 8th century Son of Krakus I	Unknown	c. 8th century	Succession	Lechites (Tribe)
Lech II c. 8th century		c. 8th century Son of Krakus I, brother of Krakus II	Unknown	c. 8th century	Succession	Lechites (Tribe)
Wanda also Wąda c. 8th century		c. 8th century Daughter of Krakus, sister of Krakus II and Lech II	Unknown	c. 8th century	Succession	Lechites (Tribe)
Duke Leszko I also Leszek c. 7th centuries – c. 8th centuries		c. 7th centuries – c. 8th centuries	Unknown	c. 7th centuries[5] – c. 8th centuries	Birth name Przemysław, defeated the Hungarians and was crowned Elected	Goplans and Polans (Tribes)
Duke Leszko II c. 8th century		c. 8th centuries Presumed son of Leszko I, Alleged progenitor of the Popielids dynasty	Unknown	c. 8th centuries	Succession	Popielids
Duke Leszko III c. 8th century		c. 8th centuries Presumed son of Leszko II	Unknown	c. 8th centuries	Succession	Popielids
Duke Popiel I c. 8th century		c. 8th centuries Presumed son of Leszko III	Unknown	c. 8th centuries	Succession	Popielids
Duke Popiel II c. 9th century		c. 9th century Presumed son of Popiel I	(1) NN, A German Princess	c. 9th century	A legendary ruler dethroned by Piast. He appears (without the number) in the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum from the early 12th century Succession	Popielids
Piast the Wheelwright c. 9th century		c. 9th century Son of Chościsko	(1) Rzepicha	c. 9th century	Legendary founder of the Piast dynasty. He appears in the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum from the early 12th century	Piast

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Semi-legendary

Further information: Polans (western) and Greater Poland

The three direct predecessors of Mieszko I are known only from the account of Gallus Anonymus, who wrote the oldest Polish chronicle, Gesta principum Polonorum at the beginning of the 12th century. Though their historicity was once debatable, now historians tend to consider them actually existing rulers.^[6]

More information Name, Portrait ...

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Death	Claim	House	Ref.
Duke Siemowit also Ziemowit 9th century		9th century Presumed son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha	Unknown	9th century	Named the Duke of the Polans after his father, Piast the Wheelwright, refused to take the place of legendary Duke Popiel Elected	Piast	[7]
Duke Lestek also Leszek or Lestko 9th century – 10th century		c. 870–880 Presumed son of Siemowit	Unknown	c. 930–950	Named the Duke of the Polans after succeeding his father Succession	Piast	[8][9]
Duke Siemomysł also Ziemomysł Latin: Zemomislaus 10th century – c. 950/960		c. 900 Presumed son of Lestek	Unknown	c. 950–960	Named the Duke of the Polans after succeeding his father Succession	Piast	[10]

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• Vratislaus II of Bohemia (1085–1092)
• Rudolf I of Bohemia (1306–1307)
• Henry of Bohemia (1307–1310)
• John of Bohemia (1310–1335)
• Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria (1916–1918)
• Kiril, Prince of Preslav (1916–1918)^[11]

• Coronations in Poland
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