# Józef Piłsudski takes office (1918)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1918-jozef-pilsudski-takes-office
Location: Poland
Categories: ruler-change

Józef Piłsudski became Chief of State (1918–1922). Architect of independence and Chief of State; after the 1926 coup he remained Poland's dominant figure until his death in 1935. Within the broader World War I & Independence period: The First World War destroyed the partitioning empires. Poland regained independence in November 1918 and fought for its borders in a series of wars and uprisings until 1921. At this point in the timeline (14 November 1918), the governing authority was Józef Piłsudski (Chief of State). Architect of independence and Chief of State; after the 1926 coup he remained Poland's dominant figure until his death in 1935. Józef Piłsudski takes office mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Józef Piłsudski takes office mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy.

Ruler at the time: [Józef Piłsudski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/jozef-pilsudski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Józef Piłsudski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3zef_Pi%C5%82sudski)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Józef Piłsudski takes office](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=J%C3%B3zef+Pi%C5%82sudski+takes+office)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland during World War I (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_during_World_War_I)