Aninterregnum is a period betweenmonarchs, betweenpopes of theRoman Catholic Church,Papal States, andVatican City,emperors ofHoly Roman Empire, Polish kings (elective monarchy) or betweenconsuls of theRoman Republic. It can also refer anygap in thecontinuity of agovernment, organization, orsocial order. The period of interregnum may be peaceful, or it may collapse intochaos andanarchy.
In somemonarchies, such as theUnited Kingdom, aninterregnum is usually avoided due to a rule described as "the king is dead, long live the King", i.e. the heir to the throne becomes a new monarch immediately on his predecessor's death orabdication. This famous phrase signifies the continuity ofsovereignty. This is not so in other monarchies where the new monarch's reign begins only withcoronation or some other formal or traditional event.
Aninterregnum occurs also upon the death of the Roman Catholic Pope, though this is generally known as asede vacante (vacant seat). The interregnum ends immediately upon election of the new Pope by theCollege of Cardinals.
