What is Defender of the Faith?
[[File:Henry-VIII-kingofengland 1491-1547.jpg|thumb|Henry VIII]] '''Defender of the Faith''' (Latin: Fidei Defensor) is a [[title]] belonging to the leader of the [[Church of England]]. It was originally conferred upon King [[Henry VIII of England]] by [[Pope Leo X]] on 11 October 1521 as a reward for the king having written a pamphlet in defense of the [[sacrament]]s against [[Martin Luther]] (''Declaration of the Seven Sacraments Against Martin Luther''). King [[James V of Scotland]] received a similar title from [[Pope Paul III]].<ref>''The Catholic Concise Encyclopedia''. 1956. Simon & Schuster. pp. 123-24.</ref> When Henry broke with the [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Pope Paul III]] took the title away. It was returned to the king by [[Parliament]] in 1544. The abbreviation Fid. Def. or the letters F.D. have appeared on British coinage from the time of George I. Defender of the Faith is a title still carried by [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarchs]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/155661/defender-of-the-faith Encyclopaedia Britannica]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Titles]] [[Category:British royalty]] [[Category:Protestant Reformation]] {{religion-stub}} {{UK-stub}}