Jadwiga of Poland reigned over the Kingdom of Poland as its first female monarch from 1384 until her death in 1399. Regarded as one of Poland's greatest rulers, Jadwiga is often compared to Casimir the Great and Bolesław the Brave. Also remembered for her charitable activities, Jadwiga of Poland established new schools, hospitals, and churches.
![Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/augusta-victoria-of-schleswig-holstein-1.jpg)
![Sigismund III Vasa Sigismund III Vasa](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sigismund-iii-vasa-1.jpg)
Sigismund III Vasa was the elder son of Swedish king John III Vasa. As the king of Poland and Sweden, he not only enjoyed prosperity but also tried to unite the two states, although he ended up creating conflicts between them. His lust for power also resulted in the Zebrzydowski Rebellion.
![Stanisław August Poniatowski Stanisław August Poniatowski](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/stanisaw-august-poniatowski-39073-1.jpg)
Stanisław August Poniatowski reigned as the King of Poland from 1764 to 1795. He is best remembered as the last ruler of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Poniatowski made several attempts to reform and strengthen the ailing Commonwealth, which proved to be difficult due to several external and internal oppositions. He is often criticized for his failure to prevent the partitions.
![Władysław IV Vasa Władysław IV Vasa](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wadysaw-iv-vasa-1.jpg)
![Marie Leszczyńska Marie Leszczyńska](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/marie-leszczyska-1.jpg)
![Casimir III the Great Casimir III the Great](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/casimir-iii-of-poland-1.jpg)
![Jogaila Jogaila](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/jogaila-1.jpg)
![Sigismund II Augustus Sigismund II Augustus](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sigismund-ii-augustus-1.jpg)
![Stephen Báthory Stephen Báthory](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/stephen-bthory-1.jpg)
Stephen Báthory reigned as the King of Poland from 1 May 1576 to 12 December 1586. A member of the Báthory noble family of Hungary, Stephen ruled Transylvania during the 1570s before becoming the third elected king of Poland. Stephen Báthory is counted among the most successful kings in the history of Poland.
![Augustus III of Poland Augustus III of Poland](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/augustus-iii-of-poland-1.jpg)
![Sigismund I the Old Sigismund I the Old](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sigismund-i-the-old-37304-1.jpg)
![Stanisław I Leszczyński Stanisław I Leszczyński](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/stanisaw-i-leszczyski-1.jpg)
![Bona Sforza Bona Sforza](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bona-sforza-1.jpg)
An ideal elite Renaissance woman, Bona Sforza was the queen of Poland and the wife of Sigismund I the Old. She is remembered for her fiery resistance to the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, when he suggested Bona be planted as a Habsburg spy to counter the Jagiellonian dynasty.
![Władysław III of Poland Władysław III of Poland](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wadysaw-iii-of-poland-1.jpeg)
Władysław III was 10 when he succeeded his father, Władysław II Jagiełło, to the throne of Poland. However, he spent most of his rule guided and dominated by Polish noble Oleśnicki. He also ruled as the king of Hungary and Croatia and the duke of Lithuania.
![Casimir IV Jagiellon Casimir IV Jagiellon](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/casimir-iv-jagiellon-1.jpg)
![Anna Jagiellon Anna Jagiellon](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/anna-jagiellon.jpg)
![John II Casimir Vasa John II Casimir Vasa](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-ii-casimir-vasa-1.jpg)
![Bolesław I the Brave Bolesław I the Brave](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bolesaw-i-the-brave-1.jpg)
![Wenceslaus III of Bohemia Wenceslaus III of Bohemia](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wenceslaus-iii-of-bohemia-1.jpg)
Wenceslaus III became King of Hungary following the death of Andrew III whose only daughter, Elizabeth, was engaged to Wenceslaus. Wenceslaus renounced his hereditary rights to Austria and claim to Hungary before succeeding his father as King of Bohemia and Poland. His reign in Bohemia was however cut-short as he was assassinated before he could invade his rival's territories in Poland.
![Maria Clementina Sobieska Maria Clementina Sobieska](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/maria-clementina-sobieska-1.jpg)
![Mieszko I of Poland Mieszko I of Poland](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mieszko-i-of-poland-1.jpg)
![Vladislaus II of Hungary Vladislaus II of Hungary](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/vladislaus-ii-of-hungary-75672-1.jpg)
The eldest son of Polish king Casimir IV Jagiełło, Vladislaus II reigned over both Hungary and Bohemia and is remembered for uniting the two kingdoms. He had significant conflicts with rulers such as Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus and Holy Roman emperor Maximilian I. He was also known by his nickname Dobzse László.
![Mieszko II Lambert Mieszko II Lambert](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mieszko-ii-lambert-1.jpg)
![Barbara Radziwill Barbara Radziwill](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/barbara-radziwill-1.jpg)
![Bolesław II the Generous Bolesław II the Generous](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/bolesaw-ii-the-generous-1.jpg)
![Casimir I the Restorer Casimir I the Restorer](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/casimir-i-of-poland-1.jpg)
![Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/micha-korybut-winiowiecki-1.jpg)
![Marie Louise Gonzaga Marie Louise Gonzaga](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/marie-louise-gonzaga-98152-1.jpg)
![Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/anne-of-austria-queen-of-poland-1.jpg)
![Constance of Austria Constance of Austria](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/constance-of-austria-1.jpg)
![Sophia of Halshany Sophia of Halshany](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sophia-of-halshany-1.jpg)
![Catherine Jagiellon Catherine Jagiellon](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/catherine-jagiellon-1.jpg)
![Cymburgis of Masovia Cymburgis of Masovia](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/cymburgis-of-masovia-2.jpg)
Part of the Piast dynasty, Cymburgis of Masovia was a Polish princess who became the duchess of Austria by virtue of her marriage to Ernest the Iron of the Habsburg dynasty. Though the marriage was initially not approved by the Habsburg House, it was a happy one.
![Władysław I Łokietek Władysław I Łokietek](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wadysaw-i-okietek-1.jpg)
![John I Albert John I Albert](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-i-albert-1.jpg)
![Casimir II the Just Casimir II the Just](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/casimir-ii-the-just-1.jpg)
![Zbyslava of Kiev Zbyslava of Kiev](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/no-profile-img.jpg)
![Barbara Zápolya Barbara Zápolya](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/barbara-zpolya-128157-1.jpg)
![Grzymislawa of Luck Grzymislawa of Luck](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/grzymislawa-of-luck-1.jpg)