Defender of the Faith

noun

1. a title conferred on Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521, later withdrawn but restored by Parliament and used ever since by English sovereigns.

Defender of the Faith

noun

1. the title conferred upon Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521 in recognition of the King's pamphlet attacking Luther's doctrines and retained by subsequent monarchs of England Latin termFidei Defensor

Word History and Origins

Origin of Defender of the Faith¹

Translation of New Latin Fidēī dēfēnsor

Example Sentences

In May, Charles was confirmed as “Defender of the Faith” during his coronation, a ceremony held in Westminster Abbey and led by the Church of England’s most senior cleric, the archbishop of Canterbury.

From Washington Times

I, Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lord, Defender of the Faith; and unto your heirs and successors according to law.

From BBC

And among the many books and souvenirs sure to show up for the event, Christian evangelist Ray Comfort has produced 500,000 copies of “Defender of the Faith: 10 Weird Facts About the Coronation.”

From Washington Times

The new king wants to present himself not only as the “Defender of the Faith,” meaning the Church of England, but all faiths, here and across the realm.

From Washington Post

He's talked in the past about not being the Head of State or the Defender of the Faith, but Defender of Faith.

From Salon