Until 1919, the title was called the Provisional Chief of State (Polish: Tymczasowy Naczelnik Państwa).

The office of Chief of State was created by a Regency Council decree of 22 November 1918, which established a system of governance for Poland pending its revision by a democratically elected Sejm (parliament).

The Chief of State remained Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, named the government (subject to confirmation by the Sejm) and held the highest executive power.

He was a member of the Council of National Defence (Rada Obrony Państwa), created during the Polish–Soviet War which had threatened the survival of the newly recreated Polish state.

Piłsudski relinquished his powers to the newly elected President of Poland, Gabriel Narutowicz, on 14 December 1922.