Regency

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regency may have several meanings:

  • A regency may be a period of time when a regent reigns, and in a non-ceremonial monarchy holds power, in the name of the current monarch, or in the name of the Crown itself, if the throne is vacant. Specific political eras derived from this usage (and artistic style periods named after these) include:
  • The term, or its equivalent in another language, is also used for certain specific political regimes and institutions:
    • Regentschap (in Dutch) for a colonial autochthonous (usually Malay, often Islamic) polity (e.g. sultanate) involved in indirect rule in the (Dutch) East Indies
    • Régence (in French) is applied to the de facto independent Barbary coast regime (nominally in the Ottoman empire) and subsequent French protectorate over Tunisia
    • Albany Regency refers to the dominant political faction in New York state, U.S., c.1820-1850
  • A regency may also be a geographical area, usually a small city or a subdistrict of a province, that is or has been governed by a regent.
    • For example, the Indonesian term kabupaten, for a sub-provincial political district, is usually translated into English as "regency" (compare above for the colonial era).

[edit] Regency as an individual name