Regent

Europe

In the Dutch Republic, the members of the ruling class, not formally hereditary but forming a de facto patrician class, were informally known collectively as regenten (the Dutch plural for regent) because they typically held positions as "regent" on the boards of town councils, as well as charitable and civic institutions.^[7][8] The regents group portrait, regentenstuk or regentessenstuk for female boards in Dutch, literally "regents' piece", is a group portrait of the board of trustees, called regents or regentesses, of a charitable organization or guild. This type of group portrait was popular in Dutch Golden Age painting during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Initially, King Henry II allowed Catherine almost no political influence as queen.^[9] Although she sometimes acted as regent during his absences from France, her formal powers were strictly nominal.^[10] Henry even gave the Château of Chenonceau, which Catherine had wanted for herself, to his mistress Diane de Poitiers instead, who took her place at the center of power, dispensing patronage and accepting favors. The imperial ambassador reported that in the presence of guests, Henry would sit on Diane's lap and play the guitar, chat about politics, or fondle her breasts.^[11] Diane never regarded Catherine as a threat. She even encouraged the king to spend more time with Catherine and sire more children.^[12] When Henry II died, Francis II, Catherine's 15 year old son, became king, but was beset with health issues. When Catherine realized Francis was eventually going to die, she made a pact with Antoine de Bourbon by which he would renounce his right to the regency of the future king, Charles IX, in return for the release of his brother Condé.^[13] As a result, when Francis died on 5 December 1560, the Privy Council appointed Catherine as governor of France (gouvernante de France), with sweeping powers. She wrote to her daughter Elisabeth: "My principal aim is to have the honour of God before my eyes in all things and to preserve my authority, not for myself, but for the conservation of this kingdom and for the good of all your brothers".^[14]

Asia

During the Western Zhou period, Duke Dan of Zhou served as regent for King Cheng of Zhou when his reign was just beginning due to his young age, and He, Earl of Gong did the same for King Xuan of Zhou after the exile of King Li of Zhou. The act of doing so was known as she (攝), though this could also refer to being in charge in general.^[15][16]

In 2016, Prem Tinsulanonda became regent the age of 96.^[17] He became the regent for Rama X of Thailand, who chose not to formally accede to the throne until the end of the mourning period for his father.^[17] Similarly, Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria, was 91 at the end of his regency.^[18]

Africa

In Eswatini, where succession to the throne is not immediate, the Ndlovukati (similar to a queen mother) rules as regent until the new king is determined.^[19]