viceroy

viceroy
/vuys"roy/, n.
1. a person appointed to rule a country or province as the deputy of the sovereign: the viceroy of India.
2. a brightly marked American butterfly, Limenitis archippus, closely mimicking the monarch butterfly in coloration.
[1515-25; < MF, equiv. to vice- VICE- + roy king < L regem, acc. of rex]

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▪ government official
      one who rules a country or province as the representative of his sovereign or king and who is empowered to act in the sovereign's name. Viceroy (virrey) was the title given to the principal governors of Spain's American colonies, as well as to the governors of the “kingdoms” (reinos) of peninsular Spain proper (e.g., Aragon, Valencia).

      In the early 16th century the great viceroyalties of New Spain (Mexico) and Peru were instituted; two more—New Granada and Río de la Plata—were created in South America in the 18th century. The viceroys were appointed by the king of Spain and the Council of the Indies from among noble Spanish families. Their official powers and duties were extensive: the collection and augmentation of royal revenues, the nomination of lesser colonial officials (both civil and ecclesiastical), the enforcement of the laws, the protection of the Indians and their conversion to Christianity, and, until the 18th century, the grant of encomiendas (grants of Indians for labour and tribute to certain colonists).

      The powers of the viceroys were subject to various limitations: other important colonial officials were also crown-appointed and could thwart them by dealing directly with Madrid. Moreover, the home government's minute regulations on every aspect of colonial administration (though they were often ignored) tended to allow little discretionary power. The audiencia, a court that shared the viceroy's administrative responsibilities, often used its power to obstruct him. The viceroy's princely salary was supposed to prevent corruption, and commercial dealings were forbidden to him. Before laying down his office he was required to report to the king the principal deeds and events of his administration, which was also subjected to a judicial review (residencia).

      In Brazil, the captain general, who occupied a position similar to the Spanish viceroys, was styled viceroy from the mid-17th century. From the 14th century the governors appointed by the English crown to rule in Ireland were called viceroys; and between 1858 and 1935 the title was applied to the British governor-general of India.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Viceroy — В категории дешевых сигарет British American Tobacco ведущим брендом является Viceroy (Вайсрой). Родина марки США (1936 г.), в 1952 г. в фильтр Viceroy добавили ацетилцеллюлозу, создав таким образом новый промышленный стандарт. Затем различные… …   Википедия

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  • Viceroy — Vice roy, n. [F. vice roi; pref. vice in the place of (L. vice) + roi a king, L. rex. See {Vice}, prep. and Royal.] 1. The governor of a country or province who rules in the name of the sovereign with regal authority, as the king s substitute; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • viceroy — (n.) person ruling as representative of a sovereign, 1520s, from M.Fr. vice roy, from O.Fr. vice deputy (see VICE (Cf. vice )) + roi king, from L. regem (nom. rex); see REX (Cf. rex). The species of American butterfly so called from 1881 …   Etymology dictionary

  • viceroy — Viceroy, ou Viroy, Prorex, qua forma dicimus Propraetor et Proconsul …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • viceroy — ► NOUN ▪ a ruler exercising authority in a colony on behalf of a sovereign. DERIVATIVES viceroyalty noun (pl. viceroyalties) . ORIGIN archaic French, from vice in place of + roi king …   English terms dictionary

  • viceroy — [vīs′roi΄] n. [MFr < vice (see VICE ) + roy, king < L rex: see REGAL] 1. a person ruling a country, province, or colony as the deputy of a sovereign ☆ 2. an American butterfly (Limenitis archippus) of striking orange and black coloring,… …   English World dictionary

  • Viceroy — For other uses, see Viceroy (disambiguation). Royal and noble ranks Emperor Empress King Queen …   Wikipedia

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