Lord Lieutenant of Sussex facts for kids

A Lord Lieutenant of Sussex was a special person chosen by the King or Queen to represent them in the county of Sussex. This important job involved looking after the county and making sure things ran smoothly. From 1677 until 1974, the Lord Lieutenant also had another role called the Custos Rotulorum of Sussex, which meant they were in charge of keeping the county's records and making sure justice was served.

What is a Lord Lieutenant?

A Lord Lieutenant is the personal representative of the British monarch (the King or Queen) in a specific county or area. It's a bit like being the monarch's local ambassador. This role is mostly ceremonial today, meaning they attend events, support local communities, and promote good citizenship. They help connect the local area with the royal family.

The Role in History

In the past, the Lord Lieutenant had more power. They were responsible for organizing the local militia, which was a group of ordinary citizens who could be called upon to defend the country. They also played a key part in maintaining law and order. It was a very important position, often held by powerful nobles or landowners from the county.

Lord Lieutenants of Sussex: A Look Back

For many centuries, important figures served as the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex. These individuals were often members of noble families, like the Earls of Arundel, Dorset, and Northumberland, or the Dukes of Somerset and Richmond. They were chosen by the monarch to oversee the county's affairs. Sometimes, more than one person held the role at the same time, especially in earlier periods.

The list of Lord Lieutenants includes many famous names from British history, showing how significant Sussex was and how important this role was to the Crown. They served for different lengths of time, some for just a few years, others for many decades.

Changes in 1974

The role of Lord Lieutenant for the whole of Sussex continued until 1974. At this time, a big change happened because of the Local Government Act 1972. This law reorganized how local areas in England were governed.

Because of this act, the county of Sussex was split into two separate areas: East Sussex and West Sussex. This meant that the single Lord Lieutenancy for Sussex was also divided. From 1974 onwards, there have been two separate Lord Lieutenants: one for East Sussex and one for West Sussex. Each now represents the monarch in their specific part of the historic county.