INTERREX

A person appointed to discharge the royal functions during a vacancy of the throne. The Romans first elected an interrex after the death of Romulus, and the custom was continued while the monarchy lasted. The manner of their election was this: the senate chose ten individuals out of its body, each of whom discharged the functions of royalty for five days, in an order appointed by lot. It has been supposed that these ten senators were not elected, but they were the respective seniors of the ten de curies into which the original body of patricians was divided, and that this office devolved on them by virtue of their rank. An interrex was also appointed sometimes under the republic, to preside over elections of magistrates, &.c, when the consuls were absent, or their election declared void and no dictator had been created. [s. 626]