Archbishop of Gniezno during interregnum in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth – interrex or vicarius regis?

Abstract

After the childless death of Sigismund II Augustus, the election process of subsequent monarchs of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was often accompanied by relatively long periods of interregnum. During these intervals, the archbishop of Gniezno played a pivotal role. He was responsible for informing the nobility and foreign rulers about the king’s death, scheduling regional assemblies and convening a convocation Sejm. The primate also had the authority to appoint deputies to the extraordinary court presiding over the election and occasionally conferred other titles. Moreover, the archbishop represented the state in foreign affairs, hosting foreign envoys, providing official responses and even filling diplomatic posts. His authority, however, was limited by senators and deputies assigned to assist him. Often, the archbishop found himself mediating between conflicting interests within the nobility. While he did not assume full royal powers, his constitutional status justified the use of the title interrex.