Urząd interreksa w Polsce przedrozbiorowej

Abstract

The office of regent (Latin: interrex) in Poland before the partitions in 1795 originated on the basis of interregnum, the interval between the end of one monarch’s reign and the beginning of his successor’s rule. During this short period there had to be someone who would direct the election of the next king and who would care for the security of the State. The office of regent appeared and developed in the interregnum during the reign of the Jagiellonian dynasty. However, it was legally approved in the epoch of elected kings. The regent’s power was also increased. According to the law the office of regent was to be held by the Primate of Poland. He consulted a council which was summoned in 1632. The regent had the right to summon local assemblies, extraordinary sessions of Parliament as well as the elective assembly of Parliament. His duty was the concern for the defence of the State’s borders in case of enemies’ invasion — to give mobilisation orders — the consultation with the commanders-in-chief, conducting foreign affairs, announcing or nominating the elected king, preparing „pactorum conventorum”, crowning royal heads and rewarding. Taking into consideration the sources it is evident th at the regent did not have such great powers as the monarch. The ordinances of the regent had the effect of wielding power in the domain of administration.