Interrex
Encyclopedia
The Interrex was literally a ruler "between kings" (Latin
inter reges) during the Roman Kingdom
and the Roman Republic
. He was in effect a short-term regent
.
The office of interrex was supposedly created following the death of Rome's first king Romulus
, and thus its origin is obscured by legend. The Senate of the Roman Kingdom
was at first unable to choose a new king. For the purpose of continuing the government of the city, the senate, which then consisted of one hundred members, was divided into ten decuriae
(groups of ten); and from each of these decuriae one senator was nominated as decurio. Each of the ten decurios enjoyed in succession the regal power and its badges for five days as interrex; and if no king was appointed at the expiration of fifty days, the rotation began anew. The period during which they exercised their power was called an interregnum
and at that time lasted for one year, after which Numa Pompilius
was elected as the new king.
After the death of each subsequent king an interrex was appointed by the senate. The interrex's function was to call a meeting of the Comitia Curiata which would elect a new king.
Interreges were appointed under the Republic
for holding the comitia for the election of the consuls
when the consuls, through civil commotions or other causes such as death, had been unable to do so in their year of office. Each held the office for only five days, as under the kings. The comitia were, as a general rule, not held by the first interrex, who was originally the curio maximus
; more usually by the second or third; but in one instance we read of an eleventh, and in another of a fourteenth interrex. The comitia for electing the first consuls were held by Sp. Lucretius as interrex was also called praefectus urbis. The interreges under the republic, at least from B.C. 482, were elected by the senate from the whole body, and were not confined to the decem primi or ten chief senators as under the kings. Plebeians, however, were not admissible to this office; and consequently when plebeians were admitted into the senate, the patrician senators met together without the plebeian members to elect an interrex. For this reason, as well as on account of the influence which the interrex exerted in the election of the magistrates, we find that the tribune
s of the plebs were strongly opposed to the appointment of an interrex. The interrex had jurisdictio.
Interreges continued to be appointed occasionally till the time of the Second Punic War
. After that no interrex was appointed till the senate, by command of Sulla
, named L. Valerius Flaccus
to hold the comitia for his election as Dictator
in 82 BC. In 55 BC another interrex was appointed to hold the comitia in which Pompey
and Crassus were elected consuls. There were interreges in 53 and 52 BC, in the latter of which an interrex held the comitia in which Pompey was appointed sole consul.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
inter reges) during the Roman Kingdom
Roman Kingdom
The Roman Kingdom was the period of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a monarchical form of government of the city of Rome and its territories....
and the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. He was in effect a short-term regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
.
The office of interrex was supposedly created following the death of Rome's first king Romulus
Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus are Rome's twin founders in its traditional foundation myth, although the former is sometimes said to be the sole founder...
, and thus its origin is obscured by legend. The Senate of the Roman Kingdom
Senate of the Roman Kingdom
The Senate of the Roman Kingdom was a political institution in the ancient Roman Kingdom. The word senate derives from the Latin word senex, which means "old man"...
was at first unable to choose a new king. For the purpose of continuing the government of the city, the senate, which then consisted of one hundred members, was divided into ten decuriae
Decury
In Ancient Rome, a decury was a group of ten people, ranged under one chief, or commander, called a decurio. The Roman cavalry was divided into decuries....
(groups of ten); and from each of these decuriae one senator was nominated as decurio. Each of the ten decurios enjoyed in succession the regal power and its badges for five days as interrex; and if no king was appointed at the expiration of fifty days, the rotation began anew. The period during which they exercised their power was called an interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
and at that time lasted for one year, after which Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus. What tales are descended to us about him come from Valerius Antias, an author from the early part of the 1st century BC known through limited mentions of later authors , Dionysius of Halicarnassus circa 60BC-...
was elected as the new king.
After the death of each subsequent king an interrex was appointed by the senate. The interrex's function was to call a meeting of the Comitia Curiata which would elect a new king.
Interreges were appointed under the Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
for holding the comitia for the election of the consuls
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
when the consuls, through civil commotions or other causes such as death, had been unable to do so in their year of office. Each held the office for only five days, as under the kings. The comitia were, as a general rule, not held by the first interrex, who was originally the curio maximus
Curio maximus
The curio maximus was an obscure priesthood in ancient Rome that had oversight of the curiae, groups of citizens loosely affiliated within what was originally a tribe. Each curia was led by a curio, who was admitted only after the age of 50 and held his office for life...
; more usually by the second or third; but in one instance we read of an eleventh, and in another of a fourteenth interrex. The comitia for electing the first consuls were held by Sp. Lucretius as interrex was also called praefectus urbis. The interreges under the republic, at least from B.C. 482, were elected by the senate from the whole body, and were not confined to the decem primi or ten chief senators as under the kings. Plebeians, however, were not admissible to this office; and consequently when plebeians were admitted into the senate, the patrician senators met together without the plebeian members to elect an interrex. For this reason, as well as on account of the influence which the interrex exerted in the election of the magistrates, we find that the tribune
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
s of the plebs were strongly opposed to the appointment of an interrex. The interrex had jurisdictio.
Interreges continued to be appointed occasionally till the time of the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
. After that no interrex was appointed till the senate, by command of Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
, named L. Valerius Flaccus
Lucius Valerius Flaccus (princeps senatus 86 BC)
Lucius Valerius Flaccus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 100 BC and princeps senatus during the civil wars of the 80s...
to hold the comitia for his election as Dictator
Roman dictator
In the Roman Republic, the dictator , was an extraordinary magistrate with the absolute authority to perform tasks beyond the authority of the ordinary magistrate . The office of dictator was a legal innovation originally named Magister Populi , i.e...
in 82 BC. In 55 BC another interrex was appointed to hold the comitia in which Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
and Crassus were elected consuls. There were interreges in 53 and 52 BC, in the latter of which an interrex held the comitia in which Pompey was appointed sole consul.