Please!** Iād** love to hear.
You are kind to ask.
Henry liked sparklies. Was always on the look-out for a new and nifty title, or geegaw, to add to his collection. In 1512, he petitioned Julius II to award him the title possessed by Louis XII, āMost Christian Kingā (you didnāt just call yourself something like that; it was awarded). Not sure if āMost Christianā was a zero sum title, but Julius did award it to Henry, and, for good measure, secretly gave him the French throne. All he had to do to claim it was to defeat Louis in the then on-going unpleasantness between the Holy League and France. That part never happened, though Henry tried, after Ferdinand of Spain finked out on him. But Henry got his ā
Christianissimusā.
In 1515, Henry wanted something else to pad his resume. Various ideas were passed around: āProtector of the Holy Seeā, maybe āDefenderā, from the English side. The first was turned down because it already belonged to the Holy Roman Emperor, the second was the property of the Swiss. Some in Rome countered with āKing Apostolicā (interesting combination) or āOrthodoxā. The Pope vetoed both. In 1516, the title of āDefender of the Faithā was proposed from England. Leo ignored it, and Henry pouted.
Henry gave up until May, 1521, when Wolsey wrote once again to Rome, asking for a pretty for Henry. Leo passed it to a committee of Cardinals. Forthcoming were suggestions:
ā
Rex Fidelisā, "ā
Orthodoxusā, ā
Ecclesiaticusā ,
āProtectorā, ā
Anglicusā. The last looks like they were running out of ideas.
When the Cardinals inquired just why Henry warranted another honor, the part he had played supporting the Holy See against Louis, 9 years before, was mentioned. And there was the
Assertio, of which Rome had heard (it was in draft in May 1521, printed in July, sent to Rome in September, after the Cardinals had been considering the matter for a few months. So, before the* Assertio* was received and presented to Leo (his copy bound in Henryās favorite cloth of gold; signed by Henry, too), a list of titles for Henry to choose from was shipped to England.
The* Assertio* probably tipped the scales. About the time it was presented to Leo, Henry chose the same title that had been suggested by England 6 years before:
Defensor Fidei. Leo granted it six weeks after he received the book. Doubtless directly inspired by the
Assertio, some cardinals then wanted to add a flourish to Henryās prize such as
Gloriosus or
Fidelissimus, but Leo vetoed it.
So Henry got his sparklie, partially because of the
Assertio, partially because of the Holy League, partially because he was a pain in the neck. It was intended as a title for him personally, though he thought it was hereditary. Paul III took it back, but Parliament thought it looked nice, and attached it to the Throne, in 1544. Mary took it off, Elizabeth put it back, and itās there now by legislative fiat.
GKC