Reichsverweser
A Reichsverweser (German pronunciation: 'ʁaɪ̯çsfɛɐ̯ve:zɐ) or imperial regent represented a monarch when there was a vacancy in the throne, such as during a prolonged absence or in the period between the monarch's death and the accession of a successor. The term Verweser comes from the Old High German firwesan and means "for or in the place of a person". The plural form is the same as the singular.
In the
Positions similar to Reichsverweser have been used in Hungary, where they are called kormányzó, in Finland (valtionhoitaja) and in Sweden (riksföreståndare).
Holy Roman Empire
In the Holy Roman Empire's German and Italian territories, regents were called
The imperial vicariate over Italy, which the popes at times claimed as their right, was disputed between the
Germany
German revolutions of 1848–1849
On 28 June 1848, four months after the outbreak of the German revolutions of 1848–1849, the
Abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II
In the final weeks of World War I, calls increased for the abdication of Prussian King and German Emperor
When the Social Democratic Party demanded the emperor's abdication, von Baden urged him plainly to step down. On 9 November 1918 he announced the abdication of Wilhelm II and the crown prince on his own authority. He thought that the abdication was imminent and that officials were simply working out the formulation of the announcement. He also feared that a revolution was imminent.
In a meeting with leading Social Democrats, von Baden transferred the office of chancellor to Friedrich Ebert. Baden's advisors had urged him to exercise the powers of the emperor as Reichsverweser in order to keep the question of the head of state open until a decision was made by a national assembly. But that same afternoon, the Social Democrat Philipp Scheidemann, acting on his own, publicly proclaimed a republic in Germany. Immediately afterwards the surprised and angry Ebert asked von Baden to become Reichsverweser, but he refused because he no longer believed such a course to be realistic.
Beginning on 12 November, the function of emperor and Reich chancellor (and, to some extent, of other state offices) was exercised by the Council of the People's Deputies, of which Ebert was one of the two chairmen. The Act on Provisional Reich Power (Gesetz über die vorläufige Reichsgewalt) of 10 February 1919 gave Germany a provisional constitutional order and, soon thereafter, a president and government. No Reichsverweser was ever named.
Nazi era
In the 20 July 1944 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, it was envisioned that General Ludwig Beck would become provisional head of state as Reichsverweser after Hitler was killed. When the plot failed, Beck and many other members of the resistance were executed.[4]
The anti-Nazi
The Kreisau Circle's plans were never used. Most of its members were arrested following the failed July 20 plot to assassinate Hitler.
Hungary
Finland
Finland belonged to the
At the same time, the former regent Svinhufvud resigned and was replaced by the commander-in-chief of the Finnish army, General
Sweden
In Sweden imperial stewardship was held by the
The office was abolished with the election of the riksföreståndare
According to the Swedish Constitutional Act on the Form of Government of 1974, the riksföreståndare is now the deputy of the king if the king is prevented from exercising his office or if the heir to the throne is still under age. The riksföreståndare is appointed by parliament and is a member of the royal family in accordance with the principle of succession to the throne, or if no such person is available, the president of parliament.
References
- ^ "Frankfurt National Assembly". Britannica. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ Schlossar, Anton. "Johann (Erzherzog von Österreich)". Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie in wikisource.de (in German). Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ISBN 9783170010550.
- ^ Speidel, Hans, ed. (1955). Ludwig Beck Studien [Ludwig Beck Studies] (in German). Stuttgart: K.F. Koehler Verlag.
- .
- ISBN 3-423-02917-X.
- ^ "Kingdom of Finland (1918): The Kingdom that never was". European Royal History. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "Pehr Evind Svinhufvud". Suomen presidentit (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 November 2022.