The institution of interrex existed in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, whose ruling classes liked to view their Commonwealth as an heir to Roman Empire traditions. The Commonwealth's monarch, holding a double title of the Two Nations, entered into their office by free election , which often led to a relatively long interregnum. Since 1572, the role of interrex traditionally fell to the Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland of the Roman Catholic Church. The Archbishop could nominate a replacement.