Regent

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Gustaf Mannerheim as regent of Finland (sitting) and his adjutants (from the left) Lt.Col. Lilius, Cap. Kekoni, Lt. Gallen-Kallela, Ensign Rosenbröijer.

A regent, from the Latin regens "that who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state (ruling or not) because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated.^[1]

In a monarchy, a regent usually governs due to one of these reasons, but may also be elected to rule during the interregnum when the royal line has died out. This was the case in Finland and Hungary, where the royal line was considered extinct in the aftermath of World War I. In Iceland, the regent represented the King of Denmark as sovereign of Iceland until the country became a republic in 1944.

In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795), kings were elective, which often led to a fairly long interregnum. In the interim, it was the Polish Roman Catholic Primate who served as the regent, termed the "interrex" (Latin: ruler "between kings" as in ancient Rome).

Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu (see below).

1 Regents in various current monarchies
2 Regents in various former Monarchies
3 Other uses
4 See also
5 Sources and references

Regents in various current monarchies

It should be noted that those who held a regency briefly, for example during surgery, are not necessarily listed, particularly if they performed no official acts; this list is also not complete, presumably not even for all monarchies included. The list includes some figures who acted as regent, even if they did not themselves hold the title of regent.

Belgium

Baron Erasme Louis Surlet de Chokier, Regent of Belgium in 1831
Prince Charles of Belgium, Prince Regent of Belgium from 1944 to 1950

Japan

Regent Empress Dowager Jingū for her son, the future Emperor Ōjin
Prince Regent Shōtoku for his aunt, Empress Suiko
Fujiwara Regents as Sesshō or Kampaku

Jordan

Prince Nayeff bin Abdullah from the 20th July to 5 September 1951, due to the schizophrenia of King Talal, who was in a Swiss mental hospital.
- A regency council (Ibrahim Hashim, Suleiman Toukan, Abdul Rahman Rusheidat and chairing Queen-mother Zein al-Sharaf) took over after the king's forced abdication (on 11 August) and remained in office from 4 June 1952 to 2 May 1953, until King Hussein came of age.
Crown Prince Hassan, from 4 July 1998 to 19 January 1999 while his brother King Hussein was undergoing cancer treatments.

Liechtenstein

Hereditary Prince Alois has been Regent since 15 August 2004.

Luxembourg

Duke Adolph of Nassau was Regent from 8 April 1889 to 3 May 1889 and from 4 November 1890 to 23 November 1890, during the terminal illness of Grand Duke William III.
Grand Duchess Marie Anne was Regent to her husband, Grand Duke William IV, during his terminal illness from 19 November 1908 to 25 February 1912, and then Regent to her daughter, Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde, during her minority from 25 February 1912 to 18 June 1912.

Malaysia and its constitutive monarchies

Terengganu

Tengku Muhammad Ismail (eight-years of age) co-reigns with the three-member Regency Advisory Council (Majlis Penasihat Pemangku Raja). His father, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin the Sultan of Terengganu was elected as 13^th King of Malaysia. The Malaysian constitution does not allow a simultaneous reign as both the King of Malaysia and as Monarch of the King's native state (deemed absent on the State throne). Sultan Mizan was crowned as King on 13 December 2006 and the prince as the Regent (Pemangku Raja) of Terengganu effective on the same date.

Monaco

Prince Albert was Regent from 31 March 2005 to 6 April 2005, when he succeeded his father as Albert II of Monaco

Netherlands

Queen Emma (1890–1898), during the minority of her daughter Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Juliana of the Netherlands (1947, 1948), during illness of her mother Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

Norway

King Magnus Eriksson (1343–1355) after stepping down from the throne in favour of his son Haakon Magnusson
Crown Prince Haakon was Regent from 25 November 2003 to 12 April 2004 and again on 29 March to 7 June 2005 during the illness of his father King Harald V

Oman

for the minor Hami Sa`id (II) ibn Sultan (b. 1790 – succeeded 20 November 1804 – d. 19 Oct 1856) : 20 November 1804 – 31 July 1806 Badr ibn Sayf (d. 1806)
for Sultan Turki ibn Sa`id (b. 1832 – succeeded 30 January 1871 – died 4 Jun 1888) : August – December 1875 Abdul-Aziz ibn Said – (b. 1850 – d. 1907)

Qatar

H.E. Shaikh 'Abdu'llah bin Jasim Al-Thani was proclaimed as regent when his father Sheikh Qasim ibn Muhammad Al Thani became incapacitated, 13 May 1913; succeeded on his death, 17 July 1913

Saudi Arabia

30 March 1964 – 2 November 1964 Faysal of Saudi Arabia (b. 1906 – d. 1975) –Regent for king Sa`ud of Saudi Arabia and later his successor
1 January 1996 – 21 February 1996 formally and de facto till 1 August 2005 Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (b. 1924) –Regent for king Fahd of Saudi Arabia and later his successor

Spain

Cardinal Cisneros, twice regent of Castile (1506–1507 and 1516–1517) for Queen Juana and her son Charles I
Mariana of Austria, regent of Spain for her disabled son Charles II from 1665 to 1677 and again, unofficially, from 1679 to 1696.
A Supreme Central and Governmental Junta of Spain and the Indies from 25 September 1808 to 29 January 1810 and a Regency Council from 29 January 1810 to 24 March 1814 during the imprisonment/abdication of Ferdinand VII.
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies during the minority of her daughter Isabella II from 1833 to 1840.
Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara during the minority of Isabella II from 1840 to 1843.
Maria Christina of Austria, regent during her pregnancy after her husband's death and then for her son Alfonso XIII from 25 November 1885 – 7 May 1902.
the Caudillo general Francisco Franco, became de facto regent for life in 1947 to 1975, after reinstating the monarchy with a vacant royal throne ultimately filled by Juan Carlos.

Sweden

Mats Kettilmundsson (1318–1319), between the deposition of king Birger Magnusson and the election of three-year-old Magnus Eriksson as king.
Ingeborg of Norway (1319–1326) president of the council of regents for he runder age son, king Magnus Eriksson, in both Sweden and Norway.
Karl Knutsson (Bonde) (1438–1440), during the interrgnum following the deposition of king Eric XIII; later became king as Charles VIII
Bengt Jönsson Oxenstierna (1448; together with his brother Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna), during the interregnum between the death of Christopher of Bavaria and the election of Karl Knutsson (Bonde) as king.
Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna (1448; together with his brother Bengt Jönsson Oxenstierna), during the interregnum between the death of Christopher of Bavaria and the election of Karl Knutsson (Bonde) as king.
Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1457; together with Erik Axelsson Tott), during the interregnum following the first deposition of King Charles VIII, and again (1465–1466), following his second deposition.
Kettil Karlsson Vasa (1464), during the interregnum following the first deposition of King Christian I; and again (1465), following the second deposition of Charles VIII
Erik Axelsson Tott (1457; together with Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna) (1466–1467), following the end of Jöns Oxenstierna's second regency.
Sten Sture the Elder (1470–1497, 1501–1503) the longest serving regent during the Kalmar Union
Svante Nilsson (1503–1512), succeeding Sten Sture the Elder.
Erik Trolle 1512.
Sten Sture the Younger (1512–1520), succeeding Svante Sture.
Gustav Eriksson Vasa was firstly Regent (1521–1523) after the final dissolution of Kalmar Union, but soon was proclaimed King.
Duke Charles of Södermanland (1599–1604) after ousting his Catholic nephew King Sigismund, until he himself claimed the throne.
Axel Oxenstierna (1632–1644), during the minority of Queen Christina.
Dowager Queen Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp (1660–1672), during the minority of her son King Charles XI, and again (1697–1699), during the minority of her grandson King Charles XII.
Charles, Duke of Södermanland (1792–1796) for his underage nephew Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, and again (1809) after Gustav IV Adolf was deposed and before Charles himself was proclaimed King Charles XIII.
Crown Prince Charles John (1810–1818), for his adoptive father King Charles XIII, due to Charles XIII's incapacity.
Crown Prince Charles (1857–1859), for his father King Oscar I, due to Oscar's incapacity.

Thailand

for the minor Chulalongkorn (Rama V) (18 October 1868 – 23 October 1910) : 18 October 1868 – 16 November 1873 Chao Praya Siri Suriyawongse (d. 1882)
for Prajadhipok (Rama VII) (26 November 1925 – 2 March 1935; in self-imposed exile from 12 Jan 1934) : 12 January 1934 – 2 March 1935 Prince Naritsaranuwatiwong Chitchalerm
for Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) (2 March 1935 – 9 June 1946; in Switzerland to 5 December 1945) :
- 2 March 1935 – 12 August 1935 Prince Oscar Anuvatana (president of Council of Regency)
- 12 August 1935–1944 Prince Aditya Dibabha (president of Council of Regency)
- 1944 – 9 June 1946 Pridi Banomyong –Regent
for present king Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (b. 9 June 1946) :
- 16 June 1946–1946 Prince Rangsit, Prince of Jainart –Regent (from 1947, president of Supreme Council of State)
- 1946 – 5 May 1950 Prince Dhanivat Bidyalabh Bridhyakon "Prince Dhani" –Regent (president of Supreme Council of State)
- 22 October 1956 – 7 December 1956 Queen Sirikit -Regent

United Kingdom and its constitutive realms

George IV (1811–1820), Prince Regent during the incapacity of his father, George III.

England

William Longchamp (intermittently 1189–1199), during the absences of Richard I on crusade, in prison, and in France.
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1216–1219) and then Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent (1219–1227), during the minority of King Henry III
A regency council headed by Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster (1327–1330) during the minority of Edward III
John, Duke of Bedford (1422–1435) and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1422–1437), during the minority of their nephew, Henry VI
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York (1454–1455; 1455–1456), during the incapacity of his cousin, Henry VI
Queen Catherine of Aragon, while Henry VIII was in France. In this time she played a large role in the defeat of the Scots at Flodden, and was Queen Regent for several months.
Queen Catherine Parr, while Henry VIII was in France.
Richard, Duke of Gloucester (1483), during the minority of his nephew, Edward V
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (1547–1550), during the minority of his nephew, Edward VI
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1550–1553), during the minority of Edward VI
During the month of March 1617, Francis Bacon served as regent of England during the reign of King James I of England
William III personally led his army into battle each year during the Nine Years' War (1689–1698). In his absence, the kingdom was administered by his wife Mary until her death in 1694, and thereafter by a council of seven Lord Justices (sometimes referred to as the "Lords Regent"): William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire (1640–1707), Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset (1638–1706), Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645–1712), Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke (1656–1733), Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury (1660–1718), John Somers, Baron Somers (1651–1716), and Thomas Tenison.
After the death of Queen Anne in 1714 a regency under Baron Parker, the Lord Chief Justice, was set up while King George I was sent for to take up the crown.

Scotland

A regency council of six Guardians existed (1286–1290) during the minority of Margaret, Maid of Norway. These were; William Fraser, Bishop of St Andrews; Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife (followed by Donnchadh IV, Earl of Fife); Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan; Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow; James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland; and John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch
William Wallace (1298), claiming to act as regent on behalf of the deposed King John
Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick (1298–1300)
John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (1298–1301; 1302–1304)
William Lamberton, Bishop of St Andrews (1299–1301)
Sir Ingram de Umfraville (1300–1301)
John de Soules (1301–1304)
Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray (1329–1332) (during the minority of David II)
Donald, Earl of Mar (1332) (during the minority of David II)
Sir Andrew Murray (1332) (during the minority of David II)
Sir Archibald Douglas (1332–1333) (during the minority of David II)
Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland (1334–1335) (during the minority of David II)
John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray (1334–1335) (during the minority of David II)
Sir Andrew Murray (1335–1338) (during the minority of David II)
Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland (1338–1341; 1346–1357) (during the minority of David II)
John Stewart, Earl of Carrick (during the incapacity of his father, Robert II)
Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Fife (1388–1393) (during the incapacity of his father, Robert II and of his brother, Robert III)
David Stewart, 1st Duke of Rothesay (1399–1401) (during the incapacity of his father, Robert III)
Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany (1401–1420) (during the incapacity of his brother Robert III, and then during the minority and captivity of his nephew James I)
Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany (1420–1424) (during the captivity of his cousin James I)
Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas (1437–1439) (during the minority of James II)
William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton and Sir Alexander Livingston (1439–1445) (during the minority of James II)
William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas (1445–1449) (during the minority of James II)
Mary of Gueldres (1460–1463) (during the minority of her son, James III)
James Kennedy and Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Lord Kennedy (1463–1466) (during the minority of James III)
Robert Boyd, 1st Lord Boyd (1466–1469) (during the minority of James III)
Patrick Hepburn (1488–1494) (during the minority of James IV)
Margaret Tudor (1513–1514) (during the minority of her son, James V)
Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell (1513-?) (Regent Isle of Arran during the minority of James V. Also in 1536 he was created one of the members of the council of Regency during the absence of the king in France)
John Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany (1514–1524) (during the minority of his cousin, James V)
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus and Archbishop James Beaton (1524–1528) (during the minority of the former's stepson James V)
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran (1542–1554) (during the minority of his cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary of Guise (1554–1560) (during the minority of her daughter Mary, Queen of Scots)
James Stuart, 1st Earl of Moray (1567–1570) (during the minority of his nephew James VI)
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox (1570–1571) (during the minority of his grandson James VI)
John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar (1571–1572) (during the minority of James VI)
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (1572–1581) (during the minority of James VI)

Regents in various former Monarchies

The same notes apply; inclusion in this list reflects the political reality, regardless of claims to the throne.

Afghan monarchies

Before the 1881 unification, there were essentially four rulers' capitals: Kabul, Herat, Qandahar and Peshawar (the last now in Pakistan); all their rulers belonged to the Abdali tribal group, whose name was changed to Dorrani with Ahmad Shah Abdali. They belong either to the Saddozay segment of the Popalzay clan (typically styled padshah, king) or to the Mohammadzay segment of the Barakzay clan (typically with the style Amir, in full Amir al-Mo´menin "Leader of the Faithful"). The Mohammadzay also furnished the Saddozay kings frequently with top counselors, who served occasionally as (Minister-)regents, identified with the epithet Mohammadzay.

Brazil

John, Prince Regent, was responsible for elevating Brazil to the status of Kingdom in 1815. One year later, he was acclaimed King of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves.
Pedro I, Prince Regent, was responsible for declaring the independence of Brazil, in 1822, during his regency (1820–1822), after his father, John VI, returned to Portugal. Some months later, he would be acclaimed Emperor of Brazil.
Maria Leopoldina, Empress consort of Brazil, acted as Empress Regent while her husband, Pedro I, was away – specially during the war against Uruguay.
Provisional triumviral regency – from 7 April to 18 June 1831, comprised José Joaquim Carneiro de Campos, marquess de Caravelas, Nicolau Pereira de Campos Vergueiro and Francisco de Lima e Silva, baron of Barra Grande, was formed to control the country after the abdication of Peter I.
Permanent triumviral regency – from 18 June 1831 to 12 October 1835, comprised the baron of Barra Grande as well as José da Costa Carvalho, marquess of Monte Alegre, and João Bráulio Muniz.
Diogo António Feijó – from 12 October 1835 to 19 September 1837, during what was considered the advance of the Liberal Party
Pedro de Araújo Lima, Marquis of Olinda – from 1838 to 1840, during what was considered the retaken of the Conservative Party.
Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil, was Princess Regent of the Empire of Brazil three times (1871–1872; 1876–1877; 1887–1888) while her father travelled abroad. During her last regency, she signed the abolition of slavery in Brazil (known as the "Lei Áurea", or "Golden Law"), on 13 May 1888, whereby Isabel got the sobriquet Isabel the Redeemer. For the act of signing the Golden Law, she was awarded the Golden Rose by Pope Leo XIII.

Bulgaria

Stefan Stambolov, during the absence of Prince Alexander Battenberg from the Bulgarian throne between 28 August 1886 and 3 September 1886 and the vacancy of the throne between 7 September 1886 and 14 August 1887.
Prince Kyril of Preslav, during the minority of his dead brother (Boris III)'s son, Simeon II (1943–1944).

China

Duke of Zhou,during the minority of his nephew Song Ji, the King Cheng of Zhou until he was old enough to rule.
See Empress dowager and Grand Empress Dowager
Dorgon, the Prince Rui, from 1638 to 1650 during the minority of his nephew Fulin, the Shunzhi Emperor
Sonin, Suksaha, Ebilun and Oboi during the minority of the Kangxi Emperor from 1662 to their downfall in 1670.
Empress Dowager Cixi during the minority of the Tongzhi Emperor and de facto ruler for almost the entire reign of the Guangxu Emperor
Zaifeng, the 2nd Prince Chun, between 1908 and 1911 for his son Puyi

Egypt

Hatshepsut of Egypt for Thutmose III of Egypt
Mohammed Ali Tewfik for King Farouk I of Egypt
Prince Muhammad Abdul Moneim for King Fuad II of Egypt

Ethiopia

Menen Liben Amede from 1831 during the minority of her son Ali II of Yejju
Ras Tessema Nadew in 1913 during the minority of Iyasu who would have been crowned as Iyasu V
Tafari Makonnen from 1916 to 1931 during the reign of a female, Empress Zewditu (Queen of Kings, Negus Negest). Upon her death, the regent himself ascended the throne and was crowned as Emperor Haile Selassie I (King, Negus)

Finland

After the abdication of Nicholas II of Russia, the throne of the Grand Duke of Finland was vacant and according to the constitution of 1772, a regent was installed by the Finnish Parliament during the first two years of Finnish independence, before the country was declared a republic.

Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, installed in January 1918, resigned in late 1918.
General C.G.E. Mannerheim, resigned 1919 with the passing of the new constitution.

France

Anne of Kiev and Baldwin V, Count of Flanders (1060–1067), during the minority of her son and his nephew Philip I
Suger, Abbot of St. Denis (1147–1149), during the absence of Louis VII on the Second Crusade
Adèle of Champagne and Guillaume de Champagne, Archbishop of Reims (1190–1191), during the absence of her son Philip II on the Third Crusade.
Blanche of Castile (1226–1234), during the minority of her son Louis IX
Blanche of Castile (1248–1252) and Alphonse, Count of Poitou and Toulouse (1248–1254), during the absence of her son and his brother Louis IX on the Seventh Crusade.
Mathieu de Vendôme, Abbot of Saint-Denis and Simon de Clermont, Sieur de Nesle, during the absence of Louis IX on the Eighth Crusade (1270).
Philip the Tall (1316), during the interregnum between the death of his brother Louis X and the birth of Louis' posthumous son John I, and during the minority of the short-lived John I.
Philip, Count of Valois and Anjou (1328), from the death of his cousin Charles IV until the birth of a posthumous daughter to the late king brought about Valois' own accession to the throne.
Charles, the Dauphin (1356–1360), during the captivity of his father in England
Louis I, Duke of Anjou (1380–1382), during the minority of his nephew Charles VI
Jean, Duke of Berry, Philippe II, Duke of Burgundy, and Louis II, Duke of Bourbon (1382–1388), during the minority of their nephew, Charles VI
Louis II, Duke of Bourbon and John, Duke of Berry (1388–1407), during the insanity of their nephew, Charles VI
Isabella of Bavaria (1417–1420) and then Henry V of England, during the insanity of her husband and his father-in-law, Charles VI; they were opposed by
Charles, the Dauphin (1417–1422), Charles VI's eldest surviving son, who also claimed the regency.
John, Duke of Bedford (1422–1435), acting as regent on behalf of his nephew, the young Henry VI of England in opposition to the king Charles VII
Anne of France and her husband Pierre de Beaujeu (1483–1492), during the minority of her brother, Charles VIII
Louise of Savoy (1515–1516), during the absence of her son, Francis I, in Italy.
Louise of Savoy (1523–1526), during the absence at war in Italy, and then the captivity, of her son, Francis I
Catherine de' Medici:
- (1552) While her husband Henry II left the kingdom for the campaign of Metz.
- (1560–1563) During the minority of her second son, Charles IX
- (1574) During the absence of her third son, Henry III, in Poland
Marie de' Medici (1610–1614), during the minority of her son, Louis XIII
Anne of Austria (1643–1651), during the minority of Louis XIV
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1715–1723), during the minority of Louis XV; often called "the Regent", since he was the last regent of France. **The related era and style are commonly referred to as the Régence (analogous to the British Regency period).
- A 136 carat (27.2 g) diamond he acquired in 1717 is known as 'le régent'
Louis-Stanislas-Xavier, comte de Provence, while living in exile, self-declared Regent for his nephew Louis XVII of France after the 1793 guillotining of King Louis XVI, until the young pretender's death in 1795.
Empress Eugenie, three times for her husband, Napoleon III of France, during his absence.

Greece

Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou (1944–1946): on behalf of king George II of Greece until his return.
General Georgios Zoitakis (1967–1972): appointed by the military junta of the time when the last reigning king, Constantine II of Greece, fled to exile after a failed royal countercoup.
Military dictator Georgios Papadopoulos (1972–1973): then Prime Minister, assumed the additional role of regent until the monarchy was abolished by referendum.

German monarchies

Anhalt

Prince Aribert (1918), during the minority of Duke Joachim Ernst

Baden

Prince Frederick (1852–1856), during the incapacity of his brother, Grand Duke Louis II

Bavaria

Prince Luitpold (1886–1912), during the incapacity of his nephews, Ludwig II and Otto
Prince Ludwig (1912–1913), during the incapacity of his cousin, Otto

Brunswick

George, Prince of Wales, later King George IV of the United Kingdom (1815–1823), during the minority of his cousin, Duke Charles II
Prince Albrecht of Prussia (1885–1906), during the interregnum following the death of Duke Wilhelm in 1884, when the throne could not be filled due to the status of the heir, the Duke of Cumberland, as an enemy of the Reich.
Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1907–1913), for the same reason

Hanover

George, Prince of Wales (1813–1820), due to the insanity of his father, King George III

Hesse-Kassel

Electoral Prince Frederick William (1831–1847), due to the incapacity of his father, Elector William II

Lippe

Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe (1895–1897), due to the incapacity of his cousin, Prince Alexander
Count Ernst of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1897–1904), for the same reason
Count Leopold of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1904–1905), for the same reason

Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1897–1901), due to the minority of his nephew, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV

Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1918), due to the near extinction of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz line.

Prussia

Prince William (1858–1861), during the incapacity of his brother Frederick William IV

Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Prince Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1900–1905), during the minority of his cousin Duke Charles Edward

Saxe-Meiningen

Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe (1803–1821), during the minority of her son, Duke Bernard II

Saxe-Weimar

Anna Amalia of Brunswick (1758–1775), during the minority of her son, Duke Carl August

Waldeck

Emma of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (1845–1852), during the minority of her son, Prince George Victor

Hawaii

Queen Kaʻahumanu, between 1824–1832 during the rule of the infant Kamehameha III; she was also Kuhina Nui (co-ruler), regent, of Kamehameha II
Elizabeth Kīnaʻu, between 5 June 1832–17 March 1833 after Kaʻahumanu's death and before Kamehameha III became 20 years old^[2]

Hungary

Andrew of Hungary, between 1201–1205 during the rule of the infant Ladislaus III
Elizabeth of Bosnia, unpopular regent for her daughter Mary
John Hunyadi, during Ladislaus V's minority
Michael Szilágyi in 1458, between Ladislaus V's death and the crowning of Matthias I
Lajos Kossuth, under the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
Admiral Miklós Horthy during the period of Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1944)

Iceland

Sveinn Björnsson (1941–1944)

India

Vakataka Kingdom

Prabhavati (ca. 390–410)

Madurai

Rani Mangammal (1684–1703) of Madurai Nayak Dynasty

Travancore

Both before and during the British raj (colonial rule), most of India was ruled by several hundred native princely houses, many of which have known regencies, under the raj subject to British approval

Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore (1811–1815)
Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi (1815–1849)
Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1924–1931)

Iraq

In the short-lived Hashemite kingdom, there were three regencies in the reign of the third and last king Faysal II (b. 1935 – d. 1958; also Head of the 'Arab Union', a federation with the Hashemite sister-kingdom Jordan, from 14 February 1958) :

4 April 1939 – 1 April 1941 Abdul Ilah (1st time) (b. 1913 – d. 1958)
1 April 1941 – 1 June 1941 Sharaf ibn Rajih al-Fawwaz (b. 1880 – d. 1955)
1 June 1941 – 2 May 1953 Abdul Ilah (2nd time)

Italian former principalities

Parma

Margherita de' Medici (1646-1648), during the minority of her son Ranuccio II
Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg (1731) during the abscence of her grandson Charles I
Louise d'Artois (1854–1859), during the minority of her son Robert I.

Savoy

Christine Marie of France (1637–1663), during the minority of her son Charles Emmanuel II.
Marie Jeanne of Savoy (1675–1680), during the minority of her son Victor Amadeus II.

Korea

Daewon-gun, Lord Regent for his son King Gojong of Joseon during the late 19th century.

Mongolia

Tolui, the son of Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire
Toregene, the Great Khatun of the Mongol Empire
Oghul Qaimish, the wife of Guyuk Khan

Portugal

Countess Theresa, during the minority of her son Afonso I (1112–1139). Styled herself Queen of Portugal.
Afonso, Count of Boulogne, after Pope Innocent IV had deposed his brother Sancho II, and before assuming himself the throne, following Sancho's death (1245–1248). Styled himself Regent and Defender of the Kingdom.
Queen Leonor, for her daughter Beatrice
João, Mestre de Avis, during the Dynastic Crisis, and before assuming himself the throne (1384–1385). Styled himself Regent and Defender of the Kingdom.
Queen Leonor, during the minority of her son Afonso V (1438–1439).
Peter, Duke of Coimbra, during the minority of his nephew Afonso V (1439–1448).
Queen Catharine, during the minority of her grandson Sebastian I (1557–1562).
Cardinal Prince Henry, during the minority of his grandnephew Sebastian I (1562–1568).
Queen Luísa, for her son Afonso VI (1656–1662).
Prince Peter, for his brother Afonso VI, and before assuming himself the throne, following Afonso's death (1668–1683).
John, Prince Regent, during the incapacity of his mother Mary I, and before assuming himself the throne, following her death (1792–1816).
Princess Isabel Maria, following her father's (John VI) death, and whilst awaiting the arrival of her brother Peter IV to assume the throne (1826–1828).
Prince Michael, for his niece Mary II, and before usurping the throne for himself (1828).
Peter, Duke of Bragança (former King Peter IV), for his daughter Mary II (1831–1834).
King Ferdinand II, during the minority of his son Peter V (1853–1855).

Romania

Lascăr Catargiu, Gen. Nicolae Golescu, Col. Nicolae Haralambie (1866), between the overthrow of Alexandru Ioan Cuza and the coronation of Carol I as Prince.
Prince Nicholas, Miron Cristea, Gheorghe Buzdugan (replaced upon his death by Constantin Sărăţeanu) (1927–1930), during the minority of king Michael I

Russia

for Ivan the Terrible
Natalia Naryshkina for her son Peter the Great (1682)
Sophia Alekseyevna for her brothers Ivan V and Peter the Great (1682–89)
Ernst Johann von Biron for the infant Ivan VI (1740)
Anna Leopoldovna for her son Ivan VI (1740–41)

Serbia

for Prince Milan (1868–1872)
for King Aleksandar (1889–1893)

Yugoslavia

Prince Paul for his nephew King Peter II (1934–1941)

Other uses

In the ancient independent miniature republic of San Marino, a landlocked enclave within central Italy, the two Captains Regent, or Capitani Reggenti, are elected semi-annually (they serve a six-month term) as joint heads of state and of government.

Occasionally, the term regent refers to positions lower than the ruler of a country.

In the Dutch republic of the United Provinces, the members of the ruling class, not formally hereditary but de facto patricians, were known collectively as regenten (the Dutch plural for regent)
In the Dutch East Indies, a regent was a native prince allowed to rule de facto colonized 'state' as a regentschap (see that term). Consequently, in the successor state of Indonesia, the term regent is used in English to mean a bupati (local government official).
Also used in private spheres, for instance, some university managers in North America are called regents, or the members of certain governing bodies of lofty institutions, such as the national banks, in France and (imitating) Belgium.
Again in Belgium and France, but far lower on the social ladder, (Régént in French; or in Dutch) Regent is the official title of a secondary school teacher of the lower years (equivalent to junior high school), who does not require a college degree but is trained solely for education in a specialized écôle normale = normal school.
A management board for a college or university; this is commonly stated as: "Board of Regents".
In the Philippines, specifically, the University of Santo Tomas, the Father Regent, who must be a Dominican priest and is often also a teacher, serves as the College/Faculty/Institute's Spiritual Head and the "owner" of that college, faculty or institution as the Dominican representative. They also form the Council of Regents that serves as the highest administrative council of the university.
In the Turkey and Syria, the term vekil can be used for a type of regent

Sources and references

↑ The Oxford English Dictionary defines the term as "A person appointed to administer a State because the Monarch is a minor, is absent or is incapacitated."
↑ "Kuhina Nui 1819-1864". Centennial Exhibit. State of Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services. http://hawaii.gov/dags/archives/centennial/kunina-nui. Retrieved 2009-10-03.

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