Interrex (Poland)
Heir to Roman Empire traditions.
- Interrex (Poland)29 related topics
Royal elections in Poland
Royal elections in Poland (Polish: wolna elekcja, lit. free election) were the elections of individual kings, rather than dynasties, to the Polish throne.
During the ensuing interregnum, anxiety for the safety of the Commonwealth eventually led to agreements among the political classes that pending election of a new king, the Roman Catholic Primate of Poland would exercise supreme authority, acting as interrex (from the Latin); and that special "hooded" confederations (Polish: konfederacje kapturowe, named after the hoods traditionally worn by their members) of nobility would assume power in each the country's regions.
List of archbishops of Gniezno and primates of Poland
List of archbishops of the Archdiocese of Gniezno, who are simultaneously primates of Poland since 1418.
They also served as interrex in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Bishops of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Bishops of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were one of the highest ranking officials who could sit in the Senate of Poland.
From 1572, the first time that Poland had been without a king (the Jagiellon Dynasty having died out with King Zygmunt II August), the Archbishop of Gniezno served as interrex — interim head of state until a new king could be elected.
Elective monarchy
Monarchy ruled by an elected monarch, in contrast to a hereditary monarchy in which the office is automatically passed down as a family inheritance.
During the election period, the function of the king was performed by an interrex (usually in the person of the primate of Poland).
Potocki family
Prominent Polish noble family in the Kingdom of Poland and magnates of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Teodor Potocki (1664–1738), Primate of Poland and interrex in 1733
Teodor Andrzej Potocki
Teodor Andrzej Potocki (13 February 1664 – 12 December 1738) was a Polish nobleman (szlachcic), Primate of Poland, interrex in 1733.
Battle of Byczyna
The deciding battle of the 1587–1588 War of the Polish Succession, which erupted after two rival candidates were elected to the Polish throne.
Sigismund, supported by Zamoyski and the former king's wife, Anna Jagiellon, was elected King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth on 19 August 1587 and recognized as such by the interrex, the Primate Karnkowski.
Anna Jagiellon
Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania from 1575 to 1587.
During the second interregnum, Anna assumed the unprecedented but politically important title of Infanta, mirroring the Spanish custom and highlighting her dynastic status.
Jan Wężyk
Polish noble and Roman Catholic bishop and Primate of Poland.
He served as interrex (for 9 months) after the death of king Sigismund III Vasa in 1632, before the royal election of Władysław IV Waza.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gniezno
Oldest Latin Catholic archdiocese in Poland, located in the city of Gniezno.
From 1572, they acted as interrex regents of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.