Fidei Defensor

[ fee-de-ee de-fen-sohr; English fahy-dee-ahy di-fen-sawr ]

noun

, Latin.

1. Defender of the Faith: one of the titles of English sovereigns.

Fidei Defensor

/ ˈfaɪdɪˌaɪ dɪˈfɛnsɔː /

noun

1. defender of the faith; a title given to Henry VIII by Pope Leo X, and appearing on Brit coins as FID DEF or FD

Example Sentences

King Henry himself in 1521 had deigned to write an abusive pamphlet against Luther, for which he had been awarded the magnificent title of Fidei Defensor by that cultured sceptic Pope Leo X. About the same time we begin to read of orders issued by the bishops for the discovery and burning of all Lutheran books—a clear sign that they were reaching England in appreciable quantities.

From Project Gutenberg

F.D., fidei defensor, defender of the faith.

From Project Gutenberg

John added the title dominus Hiberniae; Edward III., on claiming the crown of France, styled himself rex Angliae et Franciae, the same title being borne by successive kings down to the year 1801; and Henry VIII., in 1521, assumed the title of fidei defensor.

From Project Gutenberg

He was gifted with enormous energy; he could ride all day, changing his horses nine or ten times a day; then he would dance all night; even then his energies were not exhausted; then he would write what the courtiers described as poetry, or he would compose music, or he would dash off an attack on Luther, and so earn from the Pope the much-coveted title of “Fidei Defensor.”

From Project Gutenberg

I think it was intended as a present to our Henry VIII., when he was in such high favour at Rome, for his Defence of the Seven Sacraments, that Leo X. conferred on him the title of "Fidei Defensor," and which all our sovereigns have subsequently retained.

From Project Gutenberg