Faithful Majesty

The sobriquet Most Faithful King (Rex Fidelissimus) was a title awarded by the Pope as spiritual head of the Catholic Church to a monarch. In practice only one monarchy, Portugal, has ever received it.

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.

See also