Aninterregnum (pluralinterregna orinterregnums) is a period ofdiscontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, orsocial order. Archetypally, it was the period of time between the reign of one monarch and the next (coming from Latininter-, "between" andrēgnum, "reign" [fromrex, rēgis, "king"]), and the concepts of interregnum andregency therefore overlap. Historically, longer and heavier interregna have been typically accompanied by widespread unrest,civil andsuccession wars betweenwarlords, andpower vacuums filled by foreign invasions or the emergence of a new power.[1]
The term also refers to the periods between the election of a new parliament and the establishment of a new government from that parliament in parliamentary democracies, usually ones that employ some form of proportional representation that allows small parties to elect significant numbers, requiring time for negotiations to form a government. In the UK, Canada and other electoral systems withsingle-member districts, this period is usually very brief, except in the rare occurrence of ahung parliament as occurred bothin the UK in 2017 andin Australia in 2010. In parliamentary interregnums, the previous government usually stands as acaretaker government until the new government is established. Additionally, the term has been applied to theUnited States presidential transition, the period of time between the election of a newU.S. president and their inauguration, during which the outgoing president remains in power, but as alame duck.[1]
Similarly, in someChristian denominations, "interregnum" (interim) describes the time between vacancy and appointment ofpriest orpastors to various roles.
First Interregnum in Scotland, which lasted from either 19 March 1286 or 26 September 1290 until 17 November 1292. The exact dating of the interregnum depends on whether the uncrownedMargaret, Maid of Norway was officially queen before her death in 1290. It lasted untilJohn Balliol was crowned King of Scots.
TheOttoman Interregnum, from 20 July 1402 until 1413, a result of the capture of SultanBayezid I at the hands of Central Asian warlordTimur (Tamerlane) in theBattle of Ankara. A period of civil war ensued as none of Bayezid's sons could establish primacy. The crisis was resolved when one of his sons,Mehmed, defeated and killed his brothers and reestablished the Empire.
From 20 January 1410 to 1412 in theCrown of Aragon. The death of KingMartin without heir led to a succession crisis and a period of civil war, resolved ultimately by theCompromise of Caspe.
From 1481 until 1483 in theKingdom of Norway, during a conflict over the succession ofJohn, during the period of theKalmar Union. TheNorwegian Council of the Realm initially refused to accept the hereditary succession of John; as they asserted that Norway was an elective monarchy. When no serious opposition candidate emerged, the Council relented and elected John. There was also an interregnum from 1533 to 1537, after the death ofFrederick I and the interregnum ended with acoup d'état by his sonChristian III.
A brief interregnum occurred in Thailand between 13 October and 1 December 2016 upon the death of KingBhumibol Adulyadej. The crown princeVajiralongkorn, in an unprecedented move, did not assume the throne immediately after the death of the previous monarch, as he asked for time to mourn while he continued functioning in his role as the crown prince. During this period,Prem Tinsulanonda served as theregent pro tempore.
In some monarchies, such as the United Kingdom, aninterregnum is usually avoided due to a rule described as "The King is dead. Long live the King", i.e. theheir to the throne becomes a new monarch immediately on his predecessor's death orabdication. This famous phrase signifies the continuity ofsovereignty, attached to a personal form of power namedAuctoritas. This is not so in other monarchies where the new monarch's reign begins only withcoronation or some other formal or traditional event. In thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth for instance, kings were elected, which often led to relatively long interregna. During that time it was the Polishprimate who served as aninterrex (ruler between kings). InBelgium the heir only becomes king upon swearing anoath of office before theparliament.
Apapal interregnum occurs upon the death or resignation of thepope of theCatholic Church, though this particular form is calledsede vacante (literally "when the seat is vacant"). The interregnum ends immediately upon theelection of a new pope by theCollege of Cardinals.
"Interregnum" is the term used in theAnglican Communion to describe the period before a newparish priest is appointed to fill a vacancy. During an interregnum, the administration of theparish is the responsibility of thechurchwardens.[2]
The events ofIsaac Asimov'sFoundation Trilogy take place during the galactic interregnum in his Foundation Universe, taking place in the 25th millennium.Foundation begins at the end of the Galactic Empire and notes in the novels from theEncyclopedia Galactica imply that a Second Galactic Empire follows the 1000-year interregnum.
The Old Kingdom Trilogy takes place after 200 years of interregnum, where the reigning Queen and her two daughters were murdered byKerrigor, 180 years of regency first and 20 years of anarchy following the death of the last Regent.
TheVlad Taltos series is set in a fantastical world of magic, at a time directly following a 250-year interregnum wherein traditional sorcery was impossible due to the orb being destroyed.
In theElder Scrolls video games, there was an Interregnum in the Second Era when the Second Cyrodillic Empire collapsed. It led to just over four centuries of bickering between small kingdoms and petty states. The Interregnum ended when Tiber Septim, or Talos, formed the Third Empire after a decade of war. Similarly, with the sacrifice of Martin Septim during the Oblivion Crisis in the Third Era, the Septim dynasty came to an end, and a seven-year interregnum occurred before Titus Mede I restored the throne and ushered in the Fourth Era.
InPoland byJames A. Michener, 1983, interregnum is mentioned numerous times in the ever-shifting power struggles that plagued that country, even up to the 1980s.
In the filmA Christmas Prince, the Kingdom of Aldovia limits interregna to a maximum of one year. This becomes a central plot point when it appears Crown Prince Richard may not accept the throne prior to the Christmas deadline.
The television game showJeopardy! has been regarded as being in Interregnum from Season 37 after the death ofAlex Trebek following the taping of Episode 75 (aired January 8, 2021), and lasting until Episode 71 of Season 40 (aired December 15, 2023), the first broadcast day after the showofficially namedKen Jennings as permanent full-time host. The interregnum featured guest hosts from Trebek's death, then during Season 38 a one-week hosting session ofMike Richards that ended following the taping of Episode 5 (aired September 17, 2021), and the official naming ofMayim Bialik as host with Jennings as her substitute. Due to the split duties, it was considered interregnum until Sony released Bialik on December 15, 2023, even though Jennings has hosted full-time since May 1, 2023 (shows aired July 3, 2023).
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