History of Belarusian states can be traced far to Duchy of Polacak . From 13th century it belonged to Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then to 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 a short-lived Belarusian National Republic, and in 1922 Belarus became part of the USSR as Belarusian SSR. In 1991, Belarus regained its independence.
Dukes of Duchy of Polacak
Mindoǔh line:
Hedymin line:
?
Presidents of BNR in exile:
De-facto leaders were first secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Byelorussia (CPB)
- Nikolay Patolichev (1950 - 1953)
- Mikhail Zimyanin (1953 --?)
- Nikolay Patolichev (? --- 1956)
- Kirill Mazurov
- Tikhon Kiselev
- Petr Masherov
- Efrem Sokolov