The sobriquet Most Faithful King (Rex Fidelissimus) was a title awarded by the Pope as spiritual head of the Catholic Church to a to Portuguese monarchy.
The title remains attached to monarchs descended from whoever received the original sobriquet. The sobriquet can be awarded to either a king or a queen.
The only European monarchy that has received the sobriquet Fidelissimus was the now-defunct monarchy of Portugal. King John V of Portugal was favoured with the title of Rex Fidelissimus in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV.
Famous quotes containing the words faithful and/or majesty:
“Is not prayer also a study of truth,—a sally of the soul into the unfound infinite? No man ever prayed heartily, without learning something. But when a faithful thinker, resolute to detach every object from personal relations, and see it in the light of thought, shall, at the same time, kindle science with the fire of the holiest affections, then will God go forth anew into creation.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“I don’t wish to give offense when I suggest that this country should select a king, or even a queen, rather than a president. One isn’t that quick to shoot a king or a queen—the majesty of royalty, you see.”
—David Webb Peoples, screenwriter. English Bob (Richard Harris)