who is britians defender of the faith?

Answer 1

This is a title awarded to Henry VIIIth by the Pope. Although subsequently excommunicated from the Church, the crown has persistently maintained this Roman Catholic title since that time.

Answer 2

Whomever the ruler of Britain happens to be unless you're a Judas Priest fan....okay i just generation gapped myself.

Here's clarity.

Fidei defensor or Defender of the Faith has been one of the subsidiary titles of the English (and later British, Canadian and New Zealand) Monarchs since it was granted on October 17, 1521 by Pope Leo X to Tudor King Henry VIII of England (some other major Catholic Kingdoms have obtained similar pious titles, such as Apostolic King).

The title was then in recognition of Henry's book Assertio Septem Sacramentorum (Defence of the Seven Sacraments), written with the uncredited assistance of St. Thomas More, which defended the sacramental nature of marriage and the supremacy of the Pope. This was also known as the "Henrician Affirmation" and was seen as an important opposition to the early stages of the Protestant Reformation, especially the ideas of Martin Luther.

When the Tudor king broke with Rome and established himself as head of the Church of England, from the papal point of view the worst attack on the faith (or rather, and more to the point, on the Roman Catholic Church) since Luther, the title was revoked by Pope Paul III.

However, the English parliament conferred the title "defender of faith" (omitting "the") in 1544 on King Edward VI and his successors, now the defenders of the Anglican faith, of which they (except the Catholic 'renegade' Mary Tudor) still are the Supreme Governors (formally above the Archbishop of Canterbury as Primate), and mainly against Catholicism, so the inverse of the original papal grant. Although the two Cromwells (16 December 1653 - 30 January 1659), while republican heads of state styled Lord Protector, were clearly profiled as more Protestant than the Monarchy, they did not adopt the style Defender of the Faith, which thus had a hiatus until the Stuart Restoration.

The Latin version of the title, Fidei Defensor, abbreviated to FD, is still seen on all current British coins. It was first placed on coins in 1714 in the reign of King George I.

Most other Commonwealth Realms which share the same sovereign as Head of State omit the title "defender of the faith" from their country's full official title given to the Monarch, while maintaining the initial By the Grace of God, e.g. Australia from 19 October 1973.

However it is still in use as part of His/Her Majesty's full style in a few Commonwealth Realms


Hope that helps.

Answer 3

the Queen, although Prince Charles has said he wants to be Defender of the Faiths when he becomes king to reflect the multi faith society in Britain.

Answer 4

There is no defender of the faith as there are many faiths. If your referring to Church of England then its the Queen.

Answer 5

Her Majesty The Queen ... Thats why when you look at a £1 coin it says f.d ... it is latin for defender of the faith ... God Save Our Gracious Queen !!

Answer 6

Didn't Jesus call us all to be the defender of the faith? Are you defending your faith or just being complacent and letting Evil gain momentum and power around you.

Answer 7

Scotland Yard

Answer 8

Hi >
It is on the coins for crying out loud.
FID DEF. Latin.
Get a grip on asking Q's please
Defender of "the faith"
Bob

Answer 9

Her Great and Glorious Majesty, long may she reign, Elizabeth II, Fid. Def., Ind.Imp.

Answer 10

the queen (thats why if you ever see a £1 coin it says f.d. after the queen's name, its latin for defender of the faith)