List of rulers of Belarus


History of Belarusian states can be traced far to Principality of Polotsk. From 13th century lands of modern Belarus were a major part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which later became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 19th century Belarus together with Lithuania formed the Northwestern Krai of Russian Empire. At the beginning of the 20th century there was the short-lived Belarusian People's Republic, and in 1922 Belarus became part of the USSR as Belarusian SSR except West Belarus, which was under Polish rule, which was briefly interrupted due to Soviet occupation during the Polish-Soviet War. In 1991, Belarus regained its independence.

Pre-Rurikid rulers

Non-dynastic

In 978, with the marriage of Rogneda, daughter of Ragvalod, with Vladimir I of Kiev, the Principality of Polotsk became property of the Rurik Dynasty. It was ruled by Rurikid members until the second half of the 14th century, when it was taken by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Between 978 and 1101, the Principality of Polotsk's domain was uncontested in the majority of the Belarusian territory. Polotsk possibly reached the peak of its influence with the access of Vseslav the Seer to the Kievan throne, but at the death of the latter Polotsk was split in three smaller principalities: a smaller Polotsk, the Principality of Minsk and the Principality of Vitebsk.

[Rurik Dynasty]

The Rurikids were descendants of Rurik, a Varangian pagan konung or chieftain, who supposedly was of haplogroup N1c1, which is common among Finno-Ugric peoples and not so rare in Baltic region.
PortraitNameBornReignMarriage DeathNotes
Vladimir I the Great
Vladimir Basil Sviatoslavich
'
Old Norse: Valdamarr Sveinaldsson		c.958
Budyatychi
Son of Sviatoslav I the Brave and Malusha/Malfrida		978-987Olava/Allogia
c.977
at least one son

A Greek nun

c.980
at least one son

Rogneda of Polotsk
c.978

eight children

Adela
at least two children

Malfrida
Before 1000
two children

Anna Porphyrogenita of Byzantium
988
Cherson
three children

Regelindis of Saxony
After 1011
one or two daughters

Unknown
two children		15 July 1015
Berestove, Kiev
aged 57–58		His early rule is characterized by a staunch pagan reaction but in 988 he was baptized into Orthodoxy and successfully converted Kievan Rus' to Christianity. In 987 gave Polotsk to his son Iziaslav.
Rogneda

Old Norse: Ragnheiðr Ragnvaldsdotter		c.966
Daughter of Ragvalod I		987-1000Vladimir I the Great
c.978
eight children		1000
aged 33–34		Co-ruling with her son, Iziaslav I.
Iziaslav I
Изѧславъ		c.978
Kiev
Son of Vladimir I of Kiev and Rogneda of Polotsk		987-1001Unknown
two children		1001
Polotsk
aged 22–23		Co-ruling with his mother, Rogneda.
Izgoi Vseslav I
Всеславъ сн҃ъ Изѧславль		c.990
First son of Iziaslav I		1001-1003Unmarried1003
Polotsk
aged c.12-13		An izgoi, inherited the Principality, but died still as a minor.
Izgoi Bryachislav I
Брѧчиславъ сн҃ъ Изѧславль		c.997
Second son of Iziaslav I		1003-1044Unknown
at least one son		1044
Polotsk
aged 46–47		An izgoi until his majority, inherited the Principality from his minor brother. Challenged the authority of his uncle, Yaroslav the Wise.
Izgoi Vseslav II the Seer
Vseslav Basil Bryacheslavich
'		c.1039
Polotsk
Son of Bryachislav of Polotsk		1044-1069
1071-1102		Unknown
six sons		24 April 1101
Polotsk
aged 61–62		An izgoi until his majority, followed the politic of his father, and reached, in 1068, the status of Prince of the Kievan Rus', being deposed in the following year. Was also deposed from Polotsk, which was ruled by the sons of Iziaslav I of Kiev until 1071. After his death, Polotsk was divided between his sons.
Mstislav I
Mstislav Iziaslavich
'		After 1043
First son of Iziaslav I of Kiev and Gertrude of Poland		1069Unknown
at least one son		1069
less than 25-26		Dethroned Vseslav the Seer, but died in the same year.
Sviatopolk I
Sviatopolk Michael Iziaslavich
'
Old Norse: Sveinpolk Izjasleifsson 		8 November 1050
Second son of Iziaslav I of Kiev and Gertrude of Poland		1069-1071Unknown name

c.1085
three children

Olenna of the Kipchaks
c.1094
four children		26 April 1113
Vyshhorod
aged 62		His descendants lost their rights to the Kievan throne. Kept the Polotsk throne until 1071, when Vseslav took it back.

Decline of the Principality of Polotsk

On the death of Vseslav the Seer, the Principality was divided between his sons and descendants, in three major principalities:

[Rurik Dynasty]

Lithuanian Princes of Polotsk

;Palemonid dynasty
;Gediminid dynasty
Title: Grand Duke

Leaders of Belarus since 1918

[Belarusian People's Republic] (1918–1920)

Chairmen of the Rada

Presidents

First secretaries of the Byelorussian Communist Party

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet