Viceroy

A viceroy is an official who rules a country or area for a king or queen. The word comes from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in place of," and the Anglo-Norman word roy, meaning "king." This shows that a viceroy acts for a king or queen.

A viceroy's area may be called a viceroyalty, although this name is not always used. If a woman holds the position, she may be called a vicereine, though the word viceroy can be used for anyone in the role. The term viceregal consort is used for the wife of a viceroy.

The role of a viceroy is appointed by a royal leader, not by noble rank. Often, a viceroy also had another noble title. For example, Bernardo de Gálvez, 1st Viscount of Galveston was also the Viceroy of New Spain. Sometimes, the term has been used for governors-general of the Commonwealth realms, who represent the monarch in those countries.

Spanish Empire

The title of viceroy began in Catalonia and was later used for governors of Sardinia and Corsica. In the late 1400s, explorer Christophor Columbus asked the kings of Spain to name him viceroy of any lands he discovered. By the 1500s, many viceroys governed different parts of the growing Spanish Empire, which spread across Europe, the Americas, and other faraway places.

In Europe, the Spanish kings once appointed viceroys for places like Catalonia, Aragon, Valencia, Navarre, Portugal, Sardinia, Sicily, and Naples. Later, new leaders changed some of these roles. In the Americas, big areas like Mexico and Peru were led by viceroys. These large regions were called viceroyalties. Over time, more viceroyalties were added in South America to help grow the empire and settle new lands.

Portuguese Empire

India

From 1505 to 1896, places like Goa and many others were led by a person called a viceroy. This started seven years after Vasco da Gama found a sea route to India, with the first viceroy being Francisco de Almeida. At first, King Manuel I of Portugal shared power among three leaders, but later, Afonso de Albuquerque made one main leader for all. Most leaders served about three years, but some stayed longer.

Portugal

During a time called the Iberian Union from 1580 to 1640, the same person was king of both Spain and Portugal. Because he ruled many places, he sometimes chose a viceroy to lead Portugal for him.

Brazil

After the Iberian Union ended in 1640, leaders of Brazil began using the title of Viceroy. In 1763, Brazil became a permanent Viceroyalty when the main city moved from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro.

Main articles: Colonial Brazil and Portuguese colonization of the Americas

British Empire

India

Further information: Governor-General of India, List of governors-general of India, and Presidencies and provinces of British India

After the Government of India Act 1858 gave control of India to the British Crown instead of the East India Company, the Governor-General became known as the Viceroy. This title was mostly used for ceremonies and social events. The real power stayed with the Governor-General-in-Council.

The viceroy reported to the secretary of state for India in London and followed the advice of the Council of India. They ruled a large land with a big army. Later, they shared power with the Central Legislative Assembly, which was an early step toward India’s self-rule. This led to India and Pakistan becoming independent nations in 1947. India became a secular republic in 1950, and Pakistan became an Islamic republic in 1956.

The viceroy was the main representative of British rulers in India, handling important events and political matters. They were also the grand master of two major awards in British India. The viceroys lived in Calcutta until 1911 and then in New Delhi. In summer, they stayed in Simla. Today, their old homes are used by important leaders in India.

Notable governors-general included Warren Hastings, Lord Cornwallis, Lord Curzon, The Earl of Minto, Lord Chelmsford, and Lord Mountbatten. Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India and then became the first governor-general of the Dominion of India.

Ireland

The leaders of Ireland were often called viceroys from 1700 until 1922, even though Ireland had joined the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

Commonwealth realms

Further information: List of current viceregal representatives of the Crown

Sometimes people call the leaders of the Commonwealth realms "viceroys". For example, in 1973, Gough Whitlam told the Australian House of Representatives, "The leader is the representative of the Queen of Australia".

The Australia Act from 1986 says that the queen's powers in Australia, except for choosing leaders, can be used by these representatives. We don't use the word "viceroy" much, but the word "viceregal" is often used.

Russian Empire

The word namestnik was used in the Russian Empire to describe an important official. It can mean "viceroy," "deputy," or someone acting in place of a king.

In the past, namestniks helped manage local areas. Later, they had strong powers to govern regions. One famous namestnik was Mikhail Vorontsov, who governed Bessarabia and the Caucasus. Other areas with namestniks included the Congress Kingdom of Poland, the Transcaucasia region, and the Far East.

Other viceroyalties

French colonies

Further information: French colonial empire

In New France, which is now Canada, there was a governor named Jacques Cartier. After him, the area had lieutenants-general and viceroys. Some of these leaders were Jean François de la Rocquet, sieur de Roberval and Jean de Biencourt, sieur de Poutrincourt, baron de St. Just.

Today, the president of France still has a special role in the small country of Andorra and sends a special representative to rule there.

Italian colonies

Further information: Italian Empire

In Italian East Africa, which included Eritrea, Somaliland, and Ethiopia, the top leaders were called viceroys from 1936 until 1941.

In 1939, Italy invaded the Albanian Kingdom, and leaders were appointed to govern the area.

Ban of Bosnia

Further information: Ban of Bosnia

Ban Borić was the first ruler and viceroy of Bosnia, chosen by Géza II of Hungary in 1154. He had important powers in Bosnia.

Ban of Croatia

Further information: Ban of Croatia

In the early medieval times in the Kingdom of Croatia, the position of viceroy was held by the Ban of Croatia. They acted for the king and led the army. In the 1700s, they became the main leaders of the government in Croatia, similar to prime ministers. The last ban served until 1941.

Ancient antecedents

In the Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire, there was a special job called the Exarch. This job was for leaders of places far from the big city, Constantinople. These leaders had to make decisions by themselves because they were too far to get help often. This was an early example of what a viceroy does.

Non-Western counterparts

A viceroy is someone who rules in place of a king or queen. Many cultures have had similar roles with different names.

In Africa, leaders like the Khalifa in the north or inkosis under the King of the Zulu Nation acted like viceroys. In the Magadha Empire of ancient India, the title was Uparaja, meaning "vice king." The Mughal Empire used Subahdars to govern big areas called subahs. In Vietnam, leaders called Tổng Trấn managed parts of the country. In China, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were also leaders who acted like viceroys.

In Siam (now Thailand), the person next in line to be king was sometimes called a viceroy until 1885. After that, the title changed to Crown Prince of Siam.

Main article: Front Palace