Regent

In a monarchy, a regent usually governs due to one of these reasons, but may also be elected to rule during the period when the royal line has died out.

During this period, the Roman Catholic primate (the Archbishop of Gniezno) served as the regent, and was called interrex (Latin: ruler 'between kings' as in Ancient Rome).

In the small republic of San Marino, the two Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti) are both elected for a six-month term as joint heads of state.

In the 16th century, Queen Catherine de Medici's acts as regent caused her to become arguably the most important woman in Europe, giving her name to an age.

Consequently, in the successor state of Indonesia, the term regent is used in English to mean a bupati, the head of a kabupaten (second level local government).

In Malaysia, a pemangku raja is the interim ruler of a Malay state if its king is elected to be the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the usual five-year term, or is unable to assume their role.

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 institution's spiritual head.

Much like in Eswatini, succession to the throne of Lagos is not immediate, and the Erelu Kuti (a high ranking functionary in her own right) is charged with serving as custodian until a successor is crowned.

16th century Swedish regent Stenonis Sture and wife Christina Gyllenstierna who both operated in strong resistance to Danish rule during the Kalmar Union
Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse in Haarlem , Frans Hals , 1664
The oath of the provisional triumviral regents of the Empire of Brazil in the country's Imperial Chapel in 1831, at the beginning of the Regency period .