1547年英国摄政改革初探

The English Regent Reformation in 1547

摄政制度是君主制国家中的一项重要政治制度,是在国王不能理政时期代行国王权力的一种制度。英国摄政制度经过近500年的发展,最终于1937年以成文法的形式确立。都铎中期是摄政制度的形成时期。亨利八世通过议会立法和遗嘱拟定了爱德华六世时期的摄政形式,但是,依据死去国王的授权来统治国家在现实中是难以推行的。爱德华六世继位以后,遗嘱执行委员会发起了一场摄政改革,以探求摄政的形式和摄政者合法性的来源,并最终制定了单一摄政者的摄政形式。这种摄政形式在爱德华六世时期被认为是合法且可行的,并得到了后世的继承。1547年摄政改革开启了都铎后期的政治制度变革,并成为有限王权体制的重要组成部分。

Regent system as an instrument for performing the royal power during king's minority,absence or incapacity is an important element of monarchy.The English regent system was settled in 1937 by the Regency Act,but it started to be formed during the Tudor dynasty.By his testament,with several statutes adopted by the parliament,Henry VIII prepared a regency institution for Edward VI.But ruling the kingdom under the empowerment of a dead king was not a practical way for getting through the king's minority.After Edward VI succeeded to the crown in 1547,the Tudor statesmen reformed the regency institution designed by Henry VIII.By the said regent reformation,they found a more practical way for regency during Edward VI's minority,and set an example for the future.Furthermore,the regent reformation of 1547 started the political reformation in the later Tudor decades,and later became an important component of the limited monarchy.