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History vocabulary · Periods and Eras

Interregnum

Meaning in history, with examples

nounCommon term

In history, interregnum means: An interval between rulers or established governments during which normal succession or authority is interrupted.

In Turkish: hükümdarsız dönem, fetret dönemi

How it is used

An interregnum need not mean that all administration stopped; identify the authority that was missing.

Example sentences

  1. The council collected taxes throughout the interregnum while rival heirs negotiated.

    A vacant throne can coexist with functioning local institutions.

  2. The disputed election prolonged the interregnum for another winter.

    The term identifies an interruption in recognized rulership.

Common collocations

  • a prolonged interregnum
  • during the interregnum
  • successionThe process by which a new ruler takes the place of the previous one, and the rules or customs that decide who has the right to the throne.
  • reignThe period during which a king, queen, emperor or sultan rules; as a verb, to rule as a monarch.

More terms: Periods and Eras

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