List of rulers of Czechs

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Below is a list of rulers of Czechs.

Monarchs[]

Princes of Great Moravia[]

• Mojmír I (c.830–846)
• Rastislav (846–870)
• Slavomír (871) (interim)
• Svatopluk I (871–894)
• Mojmír II (894–906?)

Dukes of Bohemia (c. 870–1198)[]

Dukes of Bohemia
House of Přemyslid
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Bořivoj I	c. 870–888/9
	Spytihněv I	894–915	Son of Bořivoj I.
	Vratislaus I (Vratislav)	915–921	Brother of Spytihněv I.
	Wenceslaus I (Václav)	921–935	Son of Vratislaus I; known as St. Wenceslaus ("Good King Wenceslas" for English-speaking people), the patron saint of the Czech lands
	Boleslaus I the Cruel (Boleslav I. Ukrutný)	935–972	Brother of Wenceslaus I.
	Boleslaus II the Pious (Boleslav II. Pobožný)	972–999	Son of Boleslaus I.
	Boleslaus III the Redhead (Boleslav III. Ryšavý)	999–1002	Son of Boleslaus II.
	Vladivoj	1002–1003	Of the Piast dynasty (?). Said to be first cousin of Boleslav III. Polish name Władywoj
	Boleslaus III	1003	Second time
	Boleslaus the Brave (Boleslav Chrabrý)	1003–1004	Member of the Piast dynasty; brother of Vladivoj (?), grandson of Boleslaus I. Duke and later king of Poland
	Jaromír	1004–1012	Brother of Boleslaus III.
	Oldřich	1012–1033	Brother of Jaromír
	Jaromír	1033–1034	Second time
	Oldřich	1034	Second time
	Bretislaus I (Břetislav I.)	1034–1055	Son of Oldřich
	Spytihněv II	1055–1061	Son of Bretislaus I.
	Vratislaus II (Vratislav II.)	1061–1092	Brother of Spytihněv II. King 1085–1092 as Vratislaus I.
	Conrad I (Konrád I. Brněnský)	1092	Brother of Vratislavus II.
	Bretislaus II (Břetislav II.)	1092–1100	Nephew of Conrad I, son of Vratislav II.
	Bořivoj II	1101–1107	Brother of Bretislaus II.
	Svatopluk (Svatopluk Olomoucký)	1107–1109	First cousin of Bořivoj II.
	Vladislaus I (Vladislav I.)	1109–1117	Brother of Bořivoj II.
	Bořivoj II	1117–1120	Second time
	Vladislaus I	1120–1125	Second time
	Soběslav I	1125–1140	Brother of Vladislaus I.
	Vladislaus II (Vladislav II.)	1140–1172	Nephew of Sobeslaus I, son of Duke Vladislaus I. King 1158–1172 as Vladislaus I.
	Frederick (Bedřich)	1172–1173	Son of Vladislaus II.
	Soběslav II	1173–1178	First cousin once removed of Frederick, Son of Sobeslaus I.
	Frederick	1178–1189	Second time
	Conrad II Otto (Konrád II. Ota)	1189–1191	Descendant of Conrad I.
	Wenceslaus II (Václav II.)	1191–1192	Brother of Sobeslaus II.
	Ottokar I (Přemysl I. Otakar)	1192–1193	Son of Vladislaus II.
	Henry Bretislaus (Jindřich Břetislav)	1193–1197	First cousin of Ottokar I.
	Vladislaus Henry (Vladislav Jindřich)	1197	Brother of Ottokar I.
	Ottokar I	1197–1198	Second time. Became king in 1198, and his descendants retained the title.

Kings of Bohemia (1085–1092, 1158–1172, 1198–1918)[]

Kings of Bohemia
House of Přemyslid
Image	Name	Date	Notes
	Vratislaus II (Vratislav II.)	1085–1092	First King of Bohemia as of 15 June 1085. He ruled as Vratislaus I. under non-hereditary royal title.
	Vladislaus II (Vladislav II.)	1158–1172	Nephew of Sobeslaus I, son of Duke Vladislaus I. King 1158–1172 as Vladislaus I. Father of king Ottokar I
	Ottokar I (Přemysl I. Otakar)	1198–1230	First king of hereditary royal title, confirmed by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1212 by issuing Golden Bull of Sicily
	Wenceslaus I (Václav I.)	1230–1253	Son of Ottokar I.
	Ottokar II (Přemysl II. Otakar)	1253–1278	Son of Wenceslaus I. Also Duke of Austria, Duke of Styria, Duke of Carinthia and Duke of Carniola.
	Wenceslaus II (Václav II.)	1278–1305	Son of Ottokar II. Also Duke of Cracow (from 1291) and King of Poland (1300–1305).
	Wenceslaus III (Václav III.)	1305–1306	Son of Wenceslaus II. Uncrowned (as Bohemian king). Also King of Hungary (1301–1305) and King of Poland.
Non-Dynastic
	Henry the Carinthian (Jindřich Korutanský)	1306	Meinhardiner. Son-in-law of Wenceslaus II. Non-crowned.
	Rudolph I (Rudolf I.)	1306–1307	Habsburg. Second husband of Elisabeth Richeza of Poland, widow of Wenceslaus II. Non-crowned.
	Henry the Carinthian	1307–1310	Second time
House of Luxembourg
	John the Blind (Jan Lucemburský)	1310–1346	Son-in-law of Wenceslaus II.
	Charles I (Karel I.)	1346–1378	Son of John. Also Holy Roman Emperor as Charles IV.
	Wenceslaus IV (Václav IV.)	1378–1419	Son of Charles I. Also King of the Romans until 1400.
	Sigismund (Zikmund)	1419–1437	Brother of Wenceslaus IV. Ruled effective 1436–1437 only (because of the Hussite Revolution). Also Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary.
House of Habsburg
	Albert (Albrecht Habsburský)	1437–1439	Son-in-law of Sigismund. Also King of the Romans and of Hungary.
	Interregnum	1440–1453	The succession of Albert's son was not recognized by the Czech nobility for most of this era; the land was administered by the Landfrieden (provincial and territorial).
	Ladislaus the Posthumous (Ladislav Pohrobek)	1453–1457	Son of Albert born after his father's death. Also King of Hungary.
Non-Dynastic
	George of Podebrady (Jiří z Poděbrad)	1457–1471	Elected king from the Czech noble family . Although he had descendants, the succession devolved to the prince from Polish kingdom.
	Matthias Corvinus (Matyáš Korvín)	1469–1490	King of Hungary, elected by the insurgent Catholic Czech aristocrats as anti-king in 1469, but never crowned. In 1479, he agreed to limit his rule to Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia, while retaining his title.
House of Jagiellon
	Vladislaus II the Jagiellonian (Vladislav II. Jagellonský)	1471–1516	Nephew of Ladislaus the Posthumous; elected on request of his predecessor George. Also King of Hungary after 1490.
	Louis the Jagiellonian (Ludvík Jagellonský)	1516–1526	Son of Vladislaus II. Also King of Hungary.
House of Habsburg
	Ferdinand I	1526–1564	Brother-in-law of Louis; elected king. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor-elect from 1558.
	Maximilian I (Maxmilián I.)	1564–1576	Son of Ferdinand I, grandson of Vladislaus II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Rudolph II (Rudolf II.)	1576–1611	Son of Maximilian I. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Mathias (Matyáš)	1611–1619	Brother of Rudolph II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Ferdinand II	1619–1637	Cousin of Matthias. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
House of Wittelsbach
	Frederick I (Fridrich I.)	1619–1620	Elected by the Crown's Estates at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, but after losing the Battle of White Mountain, he fled the country.
House of Habsburg
	Ferdinand III	1637–1657	Son of Ferdinand II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor. From this time on, Bohemia no longer had an elective monarchy, with the Habsburgs having imposed their exclusive rule at the Battle of the White Mountain.
	Ferdinand IV	1646–1654	Son of Ferdinand III. Junior co-monarch during his father's reign. Also King of Hungary and King of the Romans.
	Leopold I	1657–1705	Brother of Ferdinand IV. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Joseph I (Josef I.)	1705–1711	Son of Leopold I. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Charles II (Karel II.)	1711–1740	Brother of Joseph I. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor as Charles VI.
	Maria Theresa (Marie Terezie)	1740–1780	Daughter of Charles II. Also Queen of Hungary.
House of Wittelsbach
	Charles Albert (Karel Albrecht)	1741–1743	Son-in-law of Joseph I. Anti-king to Maria Theresa during the War of the Austrian Succession. Also Holy Roman Emperor as Charles VII.
House of Habsburg-Lorraine
	Joseph II (Josef II.)	1780–1790	Son of Maria Theresa. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Leopold II	1790–1792	Brother of Joseph II. Also King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor.
	Francis I (František I.)	1792–1835	Son of Leopold II. Also King of Hungary, Holy Roman Emperor to 1806, Emperor of Austria from 1804.
	Ferdinand V	1835–1848	Son of Francis I. Also Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Last crowned King of Bohemia. Forced to abdicate during the Revolution of 1848.
	Francis Joseph I (František Josef I.)	1848–1916	Nephew of Ferdinand V. Also Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
	Charles III (Karel III.)	1916–1918	Grandnephew of Francis Joseph I. Also Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. Ruled briefly during World War I; in November 1918 renounced participation in state affairs but did not abdicate.

Presidents of Czechoslovakia (1918–1992)[]

•   Czechoslovak National Social Party (ČSNS)
•   Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ)
•   Civic Forum (OF)
•   Independent

No.	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Ethnicity	Elected	Took office	Left office	Political affiliation(s)
First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)
1		Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk	1850–1937	Czech	1918 1920 1927 1934	14 November 1918	14 December 1935	Independent
—		Milan Hodža	1878–1944	Slovak	Acting	14 December 1935	18 December 1935	RSZML
2		Edvard Beneš	1884–1948	Czech	1935	18 December 1935	5 October 1938	ČSNS
—		Jan Syrový	1888–1970	Czech	Acting	5 October 1938	30 November 1938	Independent
Second Czechoslovak Republic (1938–1939)
3		Emil Hácha	1872–1945	Czech	1938	30 November 1938	15 March 1939	Independent
Occupation (1939–1945) Emil Hácha became State President of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, a de jure autonomous region incorporated into Nazi Germany.[1][2] Jozef Tiso became President of the pseudo-independent, pro-Nazi and clero-fascist Slovak Republic. Avgustyn Voloshyn became President of the Carpatho-Ukraine few days before occupation by the Kingdom of Hungary.
Czechoslovak government-in-exile (1940–1945)
—		Edvard Beneš	1884–1948	Czech	1940	21 July 1940	4 April 1945	ČSNS
Third Czechoslovak Republic (1945–1948)
4		Edvard Beneš	1884–1948	Czech	1946	4 April 1945	7 June 1948	ČSNS
Communist Era (1948–1989) Official names: Czechoslovak Republic (1948–1960), Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1960–1989)
5		Klement Gottwald	1896–1953	Czech	1948	7 June 1948 acting to 14 June 1948	14 March 1953 (died in office)	KSČ
6		Antonín Zápotocký	1884–1957	Czech	1953	14 March 1953 acting to 21 March 1953	13 November 1957 (died in office)	KSČ
—		Viliam Široký	1902–1971	Hungarian	Acting	13 November 1957	19 November 1957	KSČ
7		Antonín Novotný	1904–1975	Czech	1957 1964	19 November 1957	22 March 1968	KSČ
—		Jozef Lenárt	1923–2004	Slovak	Acting	22 March 1968	30 March 1968	KSČ
8		Ludvík Svoboda	1895–1979	Czech	1968 1973	30 March 1968	28 October 1975	KSČ
9		Gustáv Husák	1913–1991	Slovak	1975 1980 1985	29 October 1975	10 December 1989	KSČ
—		Marián Čalfa	1946-	Slovak	Acting	10 December 1989	29 December 1989	KSČ
Post–Communist Era (1989–1992) Official names: Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1989–1990), Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (1990–1992)
10		Václav Havel	1936–2011	Czech	1989 1990 1992 (failed)	29 December 1989	20 July 1992	OF
—		Jan Stráský	1940–2019	Czech	Acting	20 July 1992	31 December 1992 (dissolution of the country)	ODS

General Secretaries of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (1948–1989)[]

Except for the final office-holder, they each held a strong executive power in the country de facto.

Title: Chairman (1948–1953) and First Secretary (1953–1971).

No.	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Ethnicity	Took office	Left office
1		Klement Gottwald	1896–1953	Czech	February 1948	14 March 1953
2		Antonín Novotný	1904–1975	Czech	14 March 1953	5 January 1968
3		Alexander Dubček	1921–1992	Slovak	5 January 1968	17 April 1969
4		Gustáv Husák	1913–1991	Slovak	17 April 1969	17 December 1987
5		Miloš Jakeš	1922–2020	Czech	17 December 1987	24 November 1989
6		Karel Urbánek	born 1941	Czech	24 November 1989	20 December 1989

Presidents of the Czech Republic (1993–present)[]

Parties

  Independent   ODS   SPO

	President (Birth–Death)		Took office	Left office	Party	Term	Previous office(s)
1		Václav Havel (1936–2011)	2 February 1993	2 February 2003	Independent	1 (1993)	President of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (1989–1992)
						2 (1998)
2		Václav Klaus (born 1941)	7 March 2003	7 March 2013	Civic Democratic Party (ODS)	3 (2003)	Minister of Finance of Czechoslovakia (1989–1992),[3] Prime Minister (1992–1998), Chairman of the Lower House of Parliament (1998–2002)[4]
						4 (2008)
3		Miloš Zeman (born 1944)	8 March 2013	Incumbent (Term ends on 8 March 2023)	Party of Civic Rights (SPO)	5 (2013)	Chairman of the Lower House of Parliament (1996–1998),[5] Prime Minister (1998–2002)
						6 (2018)

See also[]

• List of rulers of Bohemia
• List of Presidents of Czechoslovakia
• List of Prime Ministers of Czechoslovakia
• List of Prime Ministers of the Czech Socialist Republic
• List of rulers of the Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia
• List of Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic
• Lists of incumbents

References[]

External links[]

• The Czech constitution. Articles 54-66 are particularly relevant to the presidency.
• The official site of Prague Castle