interregna

Interregna, the plural of interregnum, denote a period between rulers or chief executives during which a state lacks a functioning sovereign or government. The term comes from the Latin inter regnum, meaning between reigns. In historical and political writing it describes a temporary vacuum of authority that is typically resolved by the accession of a new ruler or by the formation of a new governing body.

Interregna arise when a monarch dies without an heir, is deposed, a dynasty goes extinct, or a constitutional impasse prevents the selection of a successor. During such intervals a regent, a council, or a caretaker administration may govern, often with limited powers and under legal or customary restraints. In republics, the term is also used for transitional governments that manage state affairs after elections, terminations, or constitutional deadlocks.

The outcomes of interregna vary. Some conclude with a smooth transition, while others provoke conflict, civil strife, or prolonged bargaining among elites. The presence of temporary institutions—such as regencies, caretaker cabinets, or military or parliamentary authorities—often aims to preserve continuity and prevent a complete loss of legitimacy.

Notable examples include the Great Interregnum of the Holy Roman Empire (1250–1273), following broad imperial vacuum and contested elections, and the English Interregnum (1649–1660), when Parliament and the Protectorate governed between the execution of Charles I and the Restoration. The concept also appears in wider historical and international contexts to describe periods during which political authority is contested or in flux.