# List of heads of state of Lithuania

The article is a list of heads of state of Lithuania over historical Lithuanian state. The timeline includes all heads of state of Lithuania as a sovereign entity, legitimately part of a greater sovereign entity, a client state, or a constituent republic subject to an outside authority. Currently, the head of state is the President of Lithuania.
During the inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs until 1569, the Gediminas' Cap was placed on the monarch's heads by the Bishop of Vilnius in Vilnius Cathedral.

## Kingdom of Lithuania (1251–1263)

Title: King of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos karalius). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.

### House of Mindaugas (1253–1263)

| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| King Mindaugas 1236 – 1253 (as Grand Duke) 1253 – 1263 (as King) | | c. 1203Son of mythological Ringaudas | (1) NN, sister of Morta 2 children (2) Morta 2 children | 1263 Aglona Assassinated by Treniota and Daumantas Aged about 60 |

## Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1263–1569)

Title: Grand Duke (Lithuanian: didysis kunigaikštis; Belarusian: vialiki kniaź; Polish: wielki książę). Dates are approximate because of scant written sources.

### House of Mindaugas (1263–1267)

| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| Grand Duke Treniota 1263 – 1264 | | Unknown Son of NN, Mindaugas' sister and Vykintas | Unknown 1 child | 1264 Murdered by servants loyal to Mindaugas' son Vaišvilkas |
| Grand Duke Vaišvilkas 1264 – 1267 | | Unknown Son of Mindaugas and Morta | Unmarried and childless | 1268 Was murdered by Leo I of Galicia |

### House of Monomakh (1267–1269)

| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| Grand Duke Shvarn Lithuanian: Švarnas 1267 – 1269 | | c. 1230 Halych Son of Daniel of Galicia | NN, daughter of Mindaugas No children | c. 1269 Kholm Aged about 39 |

### House of Mindaugas (1269–1285)

| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| Grand Duke Traidenis 1270 – 1282 | | 1220 | Ona of Masovia 1 child | 1282 Kernavė Aged 62 |
| Grand Duke Daumantas 1282 – 1285 | | Unknown | Unknown | 3 March 1285 Died in a battle by Tver |

### House of Gediminas (1285–1440)

| Name | Arms | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| Grand Duke Butigeidis 1285 – 1291 | None known | Unknown Son of Skalmantas (?) | Unknown | 1291 |
| Grand Duke Butvydas 1291 – 1295 | None known | Unknown Son of Skalmantas (?) | Unknown | c. 1294–1295 |
| Grand Duke Vytenis 1295 – 1316 | None known | 1260 Son of Butvydas | Vikinda 1 child | 1316 Aged 56 |
| Grand Duke Gediminas 1316 – 1341 | None known | c. 1275 Son of Butvydas | Jaunė 13 children | c. 1341 Raudonė Aged about 66 |
| Grand Duke Jaunutis 1341 – 1345 | None known | c. 1306−1309 Son of Gediminas and Jaunė | Unknown 3 children | c. 1366 Aged 57−60 |
| Grand Duke (Diarchy with Kęstutis) Algirdas 1345 – 1377 | | c. 1296 Son of Gediminas and Jaunė | (1) Maria of Vitebsk 6 children (2) Uliana of Tver 8 children | c. 1377 Maišiagala Aged about 81 |
| Grand Duke (Diarchy with Kęstutis) Jogaila Algirdaitis May 1377 – August 1381 | | c. 1352−1362 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver | (1) Jadwiga of Poland No children (2) Anna of Cilli 1 child (3) Elizabeth Granowska No children (4) Sophia of Halshany 2 children | 1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński Aged 72−82 |
| Grand Duke Kęstutis 1381 – 1382 | | c. 1297 Senieji Trakai Son of Gediminas and Jaunė | Birutė 3 children | 1382 Kreva Murdered by the order of Jogaila while imprisoned Aged 84–85 |
| Grand Duke Jogaila Algirdaitis 3 August 1382 – 1 June 1434 (51 years, 302 days) | | c. 1352−1362 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver | (1) Jadwiga of Poland No children (2) Anna of Cilli 1 child (3) Elizabeth Granowska No children (4) Sophia of Halshany 2 children | 1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński Aged 72−82 |
| Act of Kreva signed in 1385 Poland and Lithuania de jure are ruled by one monarch but remain to be separate states. ||||||
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Jogaila Algirdaitis 3 August 1382 – 1 June 1434 (51 years, 302 days) | | c. 1352−1362 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver | (1) Jadwiga of Poland No children (2) Anna of Cilli 1 child (3) Elizabeth Granowska No children (4) Sophia of Halshany 2 children | 1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński Aged 72−82 |
| Grand Duke Skirgaila 1386 – 1392 | | c. 1353–1354 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver | Unmarried and childless | 11 January 1397 Kyiv Possibly poisoned by the order of the Russian Orthodox priests Aged 43−44 |
| Astrava Agreement signed in 1392 Following the Lithuanian Civil War, Skirgaila is replaced by Vytautas. The latter and his successors de jure act as regents of the King of Poland until 1440. ||||||
| Grand Duke King-elect of Lithuania Vytautas Vytautas the Great 4 August 1392 – 27 October 1430 (38 years, 84 days) | | c. 1350 Senieji Trakai Son of Kęstutis and Birutė | (1) Anna 1 child (2) Uliana Olshanska No children | 27 October 1430 Trakai Aged about 80 |
| Grand Duke Švitrigaila October 1430 – 1 August 1432 | | Before 1370 Vilnius Son of Algirdas and Uliana of Tver | Anna of Tver 1 child | 10 February 1452 Lutsk Aged about 82 |
| Grand Duke Sigismund Kęstutaitis Lithuanian: Žygimantas Kęstutaitis 1432 – 1440 | | 1365 Trakai Son of Kęstutis and Birutė | Unknown 1 child | 20 March 1440 Trakai Murdered by supporters of Švitrigaila Aged 75 |

### House of Jagiellon (1440–1569)

The act of personal union with Poland was signed as early as 1385; however, the continuous line of common rulers of the two countries started only with Casimir IV (even then, Polish and Lithuanians twice selected different rulers following the death of an earlier common monarch, but the Lithuanian one always eventually assumed the Polish throne). The monarchs retained separate titles for both parts of the state, and their numbering was kept separate. The Jagiellon dynasty was a direct continuation of the Gediminids.
| Name | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Casimir IV Jagiellon Lithuanian: Kazimieras Jogailaitis 29 June 1440 – 7 June 1492 (51 years, 344 days) | 30 November 1427 Kraków Son of Jogaila Algirdaitis and Sophia of Halshany | Elisabeth of Austria 12 children | 7 June 1492 Old Grodno Castle Aged 64 |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon Lithuanian: Aleksandras Jogailaitis 30 July 1492 – 19 August 1506 (14 years, 20 days) | 5 August 1461 Kraków Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and Elisabeth of Austria | Helena of Moscow No children | 19 August 1506 Vilnius Aged 45 |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund I Sigismund I the Old Lithuanian: Žygimantas Senasis 8 December 1506 – 1 April 1548 (41 years, 115 days) | 1 January 1467 Kozienice Son of Kazimieras Jogailaitis and Elisabeth of Austria | (1) Barbara Zápolya 2 children (2) Bona Sforza 6 children | 1 April 1548 Kraków Aged 81 |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus Lithuanian: Žygimantas Augustas 1 April 1548 – 7 July 1572 (24 years, 97 days) | 1 August 1520 Kraków Son of Žygimantas the Old and Bona Sforza | (1) Elisabeth of Austria No children (2) Barbara Radziwiłł No children (3) Catherine of Austria No children | 7 July 1572 Knyszyn Aged 51 |
| Union of Lublin signed in 1569 Poland and Lithuania are united into a single Commonwealth. ||||||

## Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was established by the Union of Lublin in 1569. The elected King of Poland was automatically a Grand Duke of Lithuania (until then the Lithuanian dukedom was hereditary). The first common ruler of both countries was Sigismund II Augustus.
During the Deluge of the Second Northern War, Lithuania signed the Union of Kėdainiai with the Swedish Empire in 1655, thus de jure ending its union with Poland. However, due to Sweden's losses, the agreement soon fell out of favor and was not properly enforced, leading to the further continuation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Following the partitions in 1772, 1793, and 1795, the commonwealth ceased to exist and Lithuania proper became part of the Russian Empire for 123 years. There are some gaps in the timeline as it took a while to elect a new king. The first Grand Duke elected after the Gediminid line became extinct and after the Valois fled back to France was Stephen Báthory, who had made an effort to be recognized as Grand Duke of Lithuania by establishing Vilnius University.
Title: King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania
Lithuanian: Lenkijos karalius ir Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis
Polish: Król Polski, wielki książę litewski
Latin: Rex Poloniae et Magnus Dux Lituaniae
| Name | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death | Claim | House |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus Lithuanian: Žygimantas Augustas 1 July 1569 – 7 July 1572 (24 years, 98 days) | 1 August 1520 KrakówSon of Žygimantas the Old and Bona Sforza | (3) Elisabeth of Austria Barbara Radziwiłł Catherine of Austria | 7 July 1572 Knyszyn Aged 51 | Hereditary First monarch to introduce elective monarchy | Jagiellon |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Henry Lithuanian: Henrikas Valua 16 May 1573 – 12 May 1575 (1 year, 362 days) | 19 September 1551 FontainebleauSon of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici | (1) Louise of Lorraine, no children | 2 August 1589 Saint-Cloud Aged 37 | ElectedLeft Poland in June 1574 to succeed his brother in FranceInterregnum until 1575 | Valois |
| Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess Anna Lithuanian: Ona Jogailaitė 15 December 1575 – 19 August 1587 (de facto) (11 years, 248 days) – 9 September 1596 (de jure) (20 years, 270 days) | 18 October 1523 KrakówDaughter of Sigismund I and Bona Sforza | (1) Stephen Báthory, no children | 9 September 1596 Warsaw Aged 72 | Elected co-monarch with Stephen BáthorySole ruler until Báthory's arrival and coronation in May 1576Ruled after husband's death until her nephew was elected | Jagiellon |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Stephen Báthory Lithuanian: Steponas Batoras 1 May 1576 – 12 December 1586 (10 years, 226 days) | 27 September 1533 Szilágysomlyó (Șimleu Silvaniei)Son of Stephen Báthory of Somlyó and Catherine Telegdi | (1) Anna Jagiellon, no children | 12 December 1586 Grodno Aged 53 | Elected as co-monarch with Anna JagiellonPreviously Prince of Transylvania | Báthory |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Sigismund III Lithuanian: Zigmantas Vaza 19 August 1587 – 30 April 1632 (44 years, 256 days) | 20 June 1566 GripsholmSon of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagiellon | (1) Anne of Austria(2) Constance of Austria | 30 April 1632 Warsaw Aged 65 | Elected, nephew of Anna JagiellonTransferred capital from Kraków to WarsawHereditary King of Sweden until deposition in 1599 | Vasa |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Władysław IV also Ladislaus IV Lithuanian: Vladislovas Vaza 8 November 1632 – 20 May 1648 (15 years, 195 days) | 9 June 1595 ŁobzówSon of Sigismund III and Anne of Austria | (1) Cecilia Renata of Austria(2) Marie Louise Gonzaga | 20 May 1648 Merkinė Aged 52 | Elective successionAlso titular King of Sweden and elected Tsar of Russia (1610–1613) when the Polish army captured Moscow | Vasa |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke John II Casimir Lithuanian: Jonas Kazimieras Vaza 20 November 1648 – 16 September 1668 (19 years, 302 days) | 22 March 1609 KrakówSon of Sigismund III and Constance of Austria | (1) Marie Louise Gonzaga(2) Claudine Françoise Mignot (morganatic marriage) | 16 December 1672 Nevers Aged 63 | Elective succession, succeeded half-brotherPreviously a cardinalDisputed with Charles X Gustav between 1655–1657Titular King of SwedenAbdicated | Vasa |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Michael I Lithuanian: Mykolas Kaributas Višnioveckis 19 June 1669 – 10 November 1673 (4 years, 145 days) | 31 May 1640 Biały KamieńSon of Jeremi Wiśniowiecki and Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska | (1) Eleonora Maria of Austria, no children | 10 November 1673 Lwów Aged 33 | ElectedBorn into nobility of mixed heritage, the son of a military commander and governor | Wiśniowiecki |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke John III Sobieski Lithuanian: Jonas Sobieskis 19 May 1674 – 17 June 1696 (22 years, 30 days) | 17 August 1629 OleskoSon of Jakub Sobieski and Teofila Zofia | (1) Marie Casimire d'Arquien, 13 children | 17 June 1696 Wilanów Aged 66 | ElectedBorn into nobilityA successful military commander | Sobieski |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Augustus II Lithuanian: Augustas II Stiprusis 15 September 1697 – 1706 (1st reign, 9 years) | 12 May 1670 DresdenSon of John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | (1) Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife | 1 February 1733 Warsaw Aged 62 | ElectedPreviously Elector and ruler of SaxonyDethroned by Stanislaus I in 1706 during the Great Northern War | Wettin |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Stanislaus I Lithuanian: Stanislovas I Leščinskis 12 July 1704 – 8 July 1709 (1st reign, 4 years, 362 days) | 20 October 1677 LwówSon of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska | (1) Catherine Opalińska, 2 children | 23 February 1766 Lunéville Aged 88 | UsurpedNominated as ruler in 1704, crowned in 1705 and deposed predecessor in 1706Exiled in 1709 | Leszczyński |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Augustus II Lithuanian: Augustas II Stiprusis 8 July 1709 – 1 February 1733 (2nd reign, 23 years, 209 days) | 12 May 1670 DresdenSon of John George III and Princess Anna Sophie of Denmark | (1) Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, 1 son by wife | 1 February 1733 Warsaw Aged 62 | Restored | Wettin |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Stanislaus I Lithuanian: Stanislovas I Leščinskis 12 September 1733 – 26 January 1736 (2nd reign, 2 years, 137 days) | 20 October 1677 LwówSon of Rafał Leszczyński and Anna Jabłonowska | (1) Catherine Opalińska, 2 children | 23 February 1766 Lunéville Aged 88 | ElectedHis election sparked the War of the Polish SuccessionDeposed by Augustus III in 1736 | Leszczyński |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Augustus III Lithuanian: Augustas III Saksas 5 October 1733 – 5 October 1763 (30 years) | 17 October 1696 DresdenSon of Augustus II the Strong and Christiane Eberhardine | (1) Maria Josepha of Austria, 16 children | 5 October 1763 Dresden Aged 66 | UsurpedProclaimed King of Poland in 1733, crowned in 1734Dethroned elected predecessor in 1736 | Wettin |
| King of Poland and Grand Duke Stanislaus II Augustus Lithuanian: Stanislovas Augustas II Poniatovskis 7 September 1764 – 25 November 1795 (31 years, 80 days) | 17 January 1732 WołczynSon of Stanisław Poniatowski and Konstancja Czartoryska | Unmarried | 1 February 1798 Saint Petersburg Aged 66 | ElectedBorn into nobilityLast King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, his reign ended in the Partitions of Poland | Poniatowski |

## Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)

The Council of Lithuania declared independence on 16 February 1918 and invited Wilhelm of Urach to become king of Lithuania. The name of the state was the Kingdom of Lithuania. On 9 July 1918, Duke Wilhelm accepted the offer and took the name Mindaugas II. However, on 2 November the council revoked this decision as it was likely Germany would lose the war.

### House of Urach (1918)

| Name | Portrait | Arms | Birth | Marriage(s) | Death |
| King Mindaugas II 11 July 1918 – 2 November 1918 (115 days) | | | 30 May 1864 Son of Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach and Princess Florestine of Monaco | Duchess Amalie in Bavaria Princess Wiltrud of Bavaria | 24 March 1928 |

## Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940)
### Presidents of the Presidium of the Council of Lithuania

The state of Lithuania was ruled by the Presidium of the State Council of Lithuania, its chairman was de facto Head of State. The institution of President was established on 4 April 1919. Chairman of the Presidium Antanas Smetona was elected as First President of the State of Lithuania by the State Council of Lithuania and was the only one in under whose rule this position has been considered the office of the head of state.
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) | Term | Party | Election | Prime Minister |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 2 November 1918 – 4 April 1919 | Party of National Progress | 1917 By the Council | Position officially established on November 11, 1918 |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 2 November 1918 – 4 April 1919 | Party of National Progress | 1917 By the Council | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 2 November 1918 – 4 April 1919 | Party of National Progress | 1917 By the Council | Mykolas Sleževičius |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 2 November 1918 – 4 April 1919 | Party of National Progress | 1917 By the Council | Pranas Dovydaitis |

### Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania

The institution of President (Lithuanian: Prezidentas) was created on 4 April 1919. Antanas Smetona was elected as the first President of Lithuania.
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) | Term | Party | Election | Prime Minister |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 4 April 1919 – 19 June 1920 | Party of National Progress | 4 April 1919 By the Council | Pranas Dovydaitis |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 4 April 1919 – 19 June 1920 | Party of National Progress | 4 April 1919 By the Council | Mykolas Sleževičius |
| 1 | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) Acting | 19 June 1919 – 21 December 1922 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | Acting President as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania | Mykolas Sleževičius |
| – | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) Acting | 19 June 1919 – 21 December 1922 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | Acting President as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania | Mykolas Sleževičius |
| – | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) Acting | 19 June 1919 – 21 December 1922 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | Acting President as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania | Ernestas Galvanauskas |
| – | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) Acting | 19 June 1919 – 21 December 1922 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | Acting President as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania | Kazys Grinius |
| – | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) | 21 December 1922 – 7 June 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 21 December 1922 By the Seimas | Kazys Grinius |
| 2 | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) | 21 December 1922 – 7 June 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 21 December 1922 By the Seimas | Kazys Grinius |
| 2 | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) | 21 December 1922 – 7 June 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 21 December 1922 By the Seimas | Ernestas Galvanauskas |
| 2 | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) | 21 December 1922 – 7 June 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 21 December 1922 By the Seimas | Antanas Tumėnas |
| 2 | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) | 21 December 1922 – 7 June 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 21 December 1922 By the Seimas | Vytautas Petrulis |
| 2 | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) | 21 December 1922 – 7 June 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | 21 December 1922 By the Seimas | Leonas Bistras |
| 2 | Kazys Grinius (1866–1950) | 7 June 1926 – 18 December 1926 | Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union | 7 June 1926 By the Seimas | Leonas Bistras |
| 3 | Kazys Grinius (1866–1950) | 7 June 1926 – 18 December 1926 | Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union | 7 June 1926 By the Seimas | Leonas Bistras |
| 3 | Kazys Grinius (1866–1950) | 7 June 1926 – 18 December 1926 | Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union | 7 June 1926 By the Seimas | Mykolas Sleževičius |
| 3 | Kazys Grinius (1866–1950) | 7 June 1926 – 18 December 1926 | Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union | 7 June 1926 By the Seimas | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| 1926 Lithuanian coup d'état ||||||||
| – | Jonas Staugaitis (1866–1950) Acting | 18 December 1926 – 19 December 1926 | Lithuanian Popular Peasants' Union | Unelected — acting President following coup d'état | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| – | Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969) Acting | 19 December 1926 | Lithuanian Christian Democratic Party | Unelected — acting President following coup d'état | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| – | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 19 December 1926 In illegitimate elections | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 19 December 1926 In illegitimate elections | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 19 December 1926 In illegitimate elections | Juozas Tūbelis |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 19 December 1926 In illegitimate elections | Juozas Tūbelis |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 19 December 1926 In illegitimate elections | Juozas Tūbelis |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 11 December 1931 In illegitimate elections | Juozas Tūbelis |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 11 December 1931 In illegitimate elections | Vladas Mironas |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 14 October 1938 In illegitimate elections | Vladas Mironas |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 14 October 1938 In illegitimate elections | Vladas Mironas |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 14 October 1938 In illegitimate elections | Jonas Černius |
| 1 | Antanas Smetona (1874–1944) | 19 December 1926 – 15 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | 14 October 1938 In illegitimate elections | Antanas Merkys |
| 15 June 1940 — 1st Soviet occupation of Lithuania ||||||||
| – | Antanas Merkys (1877–1955) Acting | 15 June 1940 – 17 June 1940 | Lithuanian Nationalist Union | Unelected — de jure acting President | Antanas Merkys |
| – | Justas Paleckis (1899–1980) Acting | 17 June 1940 – 15 August 1940 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Unelected — nominal acting President placed by the Soviet leadership | Justas Paleckis Acting |
| – | Justas Paleckis (1899–1980) Acting | 17 June 1940 – 15 August 1940 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Unelected — nominal acting President placed by the Soviet leadership | Position officially abolished on June 24, 1940 |

### Posthumously recognized acting Presidents

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | In office | Cause of death | Date of recognition |
| – | | General Jonas Žemaitis (1909–1954) Acting | 16 February 1949 – 26 November 1954 | In 1954, executed by shooting in Butyrka prison, Moscow, Russian SFSR. | March, 2009 By the Seimas |
| – | | Colonel Adolfas Ramanauskas (1918–1957) Acting | 26 November 1954 – 29 November 1957 | In 1957, executed by shooting in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR. | November, 2018 By the Seimas |

### Heads of the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service

Following Lithuania's occupation by the Soviet Union on 15 June 1940, in his telegram dated 31 May 1940, the last Foreign Minister Juozas Urbšys provisioned that, in the event of occupation, Stasys Lozoraitis, minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Rome, be appointed the head of the Lithuanian diplomatic service. The Lithuanian diplomatic service became a Government in exile that was a critical piece to ensuring the recognition of the continuity of Lithuanian legal statehood until independence after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.
| No. | Name | Term | Notes |
| 1 | Stasys Lozoraitis | 15 June 1940 – 24 December 1983 | Assumed office after the Soviet invasion of Lithuania in 1940. |
| 2 | Stasys Bačkis | 24 December 1983 – 15 November 1987 | Assumed office after the death of Stasys Lozoraitis in 1983. |
| – | Stasys Lozoraitis Jr. | 15 November 1987 – 6 September 1991 | Became de facto Head of the Diplomat Service after Stasys Bačkis left Washington, D.C. in 1988. |

## Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1941)

The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and established the Lithuanian SSR in July 1940.

### First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

Lithuanian: Lietuvos komunistų partijos Centro komiteto pirmasis sekretorius; Russian: Первый секретарь Центрального Комитета Коммунистической партии Литвы.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | In office | Party | Party | Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet | General Secretary of the CPSU |
| 1 | | Antanas Sniečkus (1903–1974) | 21 July 1940 – 24 June 1941 | | Communist Party of Lithuania | Justas Paleckis (1899–1980) | Joseph Stalin |
| 22 June 1941 — Nazi occupation of Lithuania ||||||||

## Generalbezirk Litauen (1941–1944)

As Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, Lithuania liberated itself with the anti-Soviet June Uprising and re-declared Lithuanian Independence. Lithuania was ruled for some time by the Provisional Government of Lithuania, whose prime minister was Juozas Ambrazevičius. The Provisional Government was formed on 23 June 1941, but was dissolved on 5 August of the same year.
Lithuania was occupied by the Germans, who formed Generalbezirk Litauen on 25 July 1941, which was governed by the administration of general commissioner Adrian von Renteln and was a part of Reichskommissariat Ostland.

### General Commissioners of Generalbezirk Litauen

Lithuanian: Lietuvos generalinės srities generalinis komisaras; German: Generalkommissar des Generalbezirks Litauen.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | In office | Party | Party | General Counselor | Reichskommissar of the Ostland |
| 1 | | Adrian von Renteln (1897–1946) | August 1941 – August 1944 | | Nazi Party | General Petras Kubiliūnas (1894–1946) | Hinrich Lohse |
| 1944 — 2nd Soviet occupation of Lithuania ||||||||

## Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (1944–1990)

As Nazi Germany retreated, the Soviet Union reoccupied the country and reestablished the Lithuanian SSR in 1944. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet de jure acted as a collective head of state from 25 August 1940 to 11 March 1990. However, the Supreme Soviet de facto was controlled by the Communist Party of Lithuania led by the First Secretary.

### First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania

| No. | Name (Birth–Death) | In office | Party | Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet | General Secretary of the CPSU |
| 1 | Antanas Sniečkus (1903–1974) | 13 July 1944 – 22 January 1974 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Justas Paleckis (1899–1980) | Joseph Stalin |
| 1 | Antanas Sniečkus (1903–1974) | 13 July 1944 – 22 January 1974 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Justas Paleckis (1899–1980) | Nikita Khruschev |
| 1 | Antanas Sniečkus (1903–1974) | 13 July 1944 – 22 January 1974 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Justas Paleckis (1899–1980) | Leonid Brezhnev |
| 1 | Antanas Sniečkus (1903–1974) | 13 July 1944 – 22 January 1974 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Motiejus Šumauskas (1905–1982) | Leonid Brezhnev |
| – | Valery Khazarov (1918–2013) Acting | 22 January 1974 – 18 February 1974 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Motiejus Šumauskas (1905–1982) | Leonid Brezhnev |
| – | Petras Griškevičius (1924–1987) | 18 February 1974 – 14 November 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Motiejus Šumauskas (1905–1982) | Leonid Brezhnev |
| 2 | Petras Griškevičius (1924–1987) | 18 February 1974 – 14 November 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Motiejus Šumauskas (1905–1982) | Leonid Brezhnev |
| 2 | Petras Griškevičius (1924–1987) | 18 February 1974 – 14 November 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Antanas Barkauskas (1899–1980) | Leonid Brezhnev |
| 2 | Petras Griškevičius (1924–1987) | 18 February 1974 – 14 November 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Antanas Barkauskas (1899–1980) | Yuri Andropov |
| 2 | Petras Griškevičius (1924–1987) | 18 February 1974 – 14 November 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Antanas Barkauskas (1899–1980) | Konstantin Chernenko |
| 2 | Petras Griškevičius (1924–1987) | 18 February 1974 – 14 November 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Antanas Barkauskas (1899–1980) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| 2 | Nikolay Mitkin (1929–1998) Acting | 14 November 1987 – 1 December 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Antanas Barkauskas (1899–1980) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| – | Nikolay Mitkin (1929–1998) Acting | 14 November 1987 – 1 December 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Antanas Barkauskas (1899–1980) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| – | Nikolay Mitkin (1929–1998) Acting | 14 November 1987 – 1 December 1987 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Ringaudas Songaila (1929–2019) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| 3 | Ringaudas Songaila (1929–2019) | 1 December 1987 – 19 October 1988 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Vytautas Astrauskas (1930–2017) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| 3 | Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010) | 19 October 1988 – 11 March 1990 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Vytautas Astrauskas (1930–2017) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| 4 | Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010) | 19 October 1988 – 11 March 1990 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Vytautas Astrauskas (1930–2017) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| 4 | Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010) | 19 October 1988 – 11 March 1990 | Communist Party of Lithuania | Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010) | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| 7 December 1989 — "Leading role" of the Communist Party removed from the constitution ||||||||
| 11 March 1990 — Restoration of Independence ||||||||

## Republic of Lithuania (1990–present)

The leader of the Supreme Council was the official head of state from the declaration of independence on 11 March 1990 until the new Constitution came into effect in 1992 establishing the office of President and the institution of Seimas. The state and its leadership were not recognized internationally until September 1991 [NB: Iceland was the first country to recognise the regained independence of Lithuania in February 1991. Title from 1990 to 1992: Chairman of the Supreme Council (Parliament; Lithuanian: Aukščiausiosios Tarybos pirmininkas). Title from 1992 onwards: President (Lithuanian: prezidentas).
| No | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Took office | Left office | Political party | Affiliation/Notes |
| - | Vytautas Landsbergis (born 1932) | – | 11 March 1990 | 25 November 1992 | Sąjūdis | As Chairman of the Supreme Council. |
| Speaker of the Seimas Algirdas Brazauskas served as acting President from 25 November 1992 to 25 February 1993. ||||||||
| 1 | Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010) | 1993 | 25 February 1993 | 25 February 1998 | Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania | First president of the Republic of Lithuania |
| 2 | Valdas Adamkus (born 1926) | 1997–98 | 26 February 1998 | 26 February 2003 | Independent | |
| 3 | Rolandas Paksas (born 1956) | 2002–03 | 26 February 2003 | 6 April 2004 | Order and Justice | Impeached and removed from office. |
| Speaker of the Seimas Artūras Paulauskas served as acting President from 6 April to 12 July 2004. ||||||||
| (2) | Valdas Adamkus (born 1926) | 2004 | 12 July 2004 | 12 July 2009 | Independent | |
| 4 | Dalia Grybauskaitė (born 1956) | 2009 2014 | 12 July 2009 | 12 July 2019 | Independent | First female President of Lithuania. Became the first President to be reelected. |
| 5 | Gitanas Nausėda (born 1964) | 2019 2024 | 12 July 2019 | Incumbent | Independent | |