custos regni

English

Etymology

First attested in the plural in October 1644 and in the singular in 1683; Latin: custōs (“guard”, “protector”; “guardian”; “keeper”, “custodian”) + rēgnī (“of royal power”; genitive singular of rēgnum, “royal power”, “kingdom”) = “custodian of royal power” ≈ “guardian of the realm”.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kŭsʹtŏs rĕgʹnī, kŭsʹtōs rĕgʹnī; IPA^(key): /ˈkʌstɒs ˈɹɜɡnaɪ/, /ˈkʌstəʊs ˈɹɜɡnaɪ/

Noun

custos regni (plural custodes regni)

1. A kind of viceregal locum tenens appointed, either alone or jointly, to execute the political duties of a monarch during his or her absence from the seat of government.
   • 1644 October 7, Samuel Rutherford, Lex, Rex: The Law and the Prince, page 148:

     If the King be abſent, and taken captive, the People may give the Royall power to one, or to ſome few to exerciſe it as cuſtodes regni.

   • 1683, John Nalson, An Impartial Collection of the Great Affairs of State, II, page 412:

     It was reſolved…[to] Petition…His Majeſty, to appoint a Cuſtos Regni, or Locum tenens during his Abſence out of this Kingdom; and amongſt other things, in ſpecial to give him Power, to give the Royal Aſſent in Parliament, and to do ſuch things as the King might do if he were preſent. [It was] reſolved…that His Majeſty be likewiſe Petitioned, That an Act of Parliament may paſs to this Effect, That ſuch Commiſſion ſhall not be repealed, until His Majesties return from Scotland to the City of London or Weſtminſter, or be preſent in full Parliament.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:custos regni.

Related terms

• custos rotulorum

Anagrams

• scroungiest