særegent

Særegent is a term used in Scandinavian constitutional discourse to describe a form of regent appointed to exercise certain state powers for a limited purpose within a regency. The word combines a sense of “special” or “particular” with “regent,” indicating that the holder acts as ruler’s representative under restricted conditions rather than possessing broad governing authority.

Usage and scope: A særegent’s mandate is typically restricted in duration or in the range of powers. It may cover a transitional period, such as until the monarch reaches majority, or limit the regent’s duties to specific acts, like routine administration or non-controversial decisions. The exact powers and limits are defined by constitutional provisions, royal charters, or parliamentary acts, and they vary between jurisdictions and historical contexts.

Relation to regency: In constitutional practice, a regent governs in the name of a monarch who cannot rule. A særegent is distinguished by its temporary and constrained authority rather than by a fundamentally different role. Some texts treat særegent as a formal subclass of regent with explicit limits, while other sources may use the term more loosely in historical descriptions.

Examples: Throughout monarchic history, temporary regencies have occurred during minority or incapacity. When the term særegent appears, it is usually in legal-historical or scholarly descriptions rather than as a contemporary official title.

See also: Regent, Regency, Constitutional law, Monarchy.