Majesty

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Majesty (abbreviated HM for His Majesty or Her Majesty, oral address Your Majesty; from the Latin maiestas, meaning 'greatness') is used as a manner of address by many monarchs, usually kings or queens. Where used, the style outranks the style of (Imperial/Royal) Highness , but is inferior to the style of Imperial Majesty . It has cognates in many other languages, especially of Europe.

Contents

Origin

Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else. This was crucially defined by the existence of a specific case, called laesa maiestas (in later French and English law, lèse-majesté ), consisting of the violation of this supreme status. Various acts such as celebrating a party on a day of public mourning, contempt of the various rites of the state and disloyalty in word or act were punished as crimes against the majesty of the republic. However, later, under the Empire, it came to mean an offence against the dignity of the Emperor.

Style of a head of state

The term was first assumed by Charles V, who believed that—following his election as Holy Roman Emperor in 1519—he deserved a style greater than Highness , which preceding emperors and kings had used. Soon, Francis I of France and Henry VIII of England followed his example. [1]

After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, Majesty was used to describe a monarch of the very highest rank— it was generally applied to God. Variations, such as Catholic Majesty (Spain) or Britannic Majesty (United Kingdom) are often used in diplomatic settings where there otherwise may be ambiguity (see a list).

A person with the title is usually addressed as Your Majesty, and referred to as His/Her Majesty, abbreviated HM; the plural Their Majesties is TM. Emperors (and empresses) use [His/Her/Their/Your] Imperial Majesty, HIM or TIM.

Princely and ducal heads usually use His Highness or some variation thereof (e.g., His Serene Highness ). In British practice, heads of princely states in the British Empire were referred to as Highness.

In monarchies that do not follow the European tradition, monarchs may be called Majesty whether or not they formally bear the title of King or Queen, as is the case in certain countries and amongst certain peoples in Africa and Asia.

In Europe, the monarchs of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium use the style. By contrast, the heads of state of Liechtenstein and Monaco, being principalities, use the inferior style of Serene Highness. Luxembourg, a Grand Duchy, accords its monarch the style of Royal Highness, as accorded to all other members of the Grand-Ducal Family, due to being descendants of Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma. In the Holy See, the Pope – while ruling as Sovereign of the Vatican City State – uses the spiritual style of Holiness. Moreover, while Andorra is formally a monarchy, its Co-Princes – the bishop of Urgell (appointed by the Pope) and President of France – use the republican and non-royal style of Excellency. Andorra is the only non-hereditary, elective and appointive monarchy in Europe.

United Kingdom and the Commonwealth

In the United Kingdom, several derivatives of Majesty have been or are used, either to distinguish the British sovereign from continental kings and queens or as further exalted forms of address for the monarch in official documents or the most formal situations. Richard II, according to Robert Lacey in his book Great Tales from English history, was the first English King to demand the title of Highness or Majesty. He also noted that, "previous English Kings had been content to be addressed as My Lord ". [2]

Most Gracious Majesty is used only in the most formal of occasions. Around 1519 King Henry VIII decided Majesty should become the style of the sovereign of England. Majesty, however, was not used exclusively; it arbitrarily alternated with both Highness and Grace , even in official documents. For example, one legal judgement issued by Henry VIII uses all three indiscriminately; Article 15 begins with, "The Kinges Highness hath ordered," Article 16 with, "The Kinges Majestie" and Article 17 with, "The Kinges Grace."

Pre-Union Scotland Sovereigns were only addressed as Your Grace . During the reign of James VI and I, Majesty became the official style, to the exclusion of others. In full, the Sovereign is still referred to as His (Her) Most Gracious Majesty, actually a merger of both the Scottish Grace and the English Majesty.

Britannic Majesty is the style used for the monarch and the crown in diplomacy, the law of nations, and international relations. For example, in the Mandate for Palestine of the League of Nations, it was His Britannic Majesty who was designated as the Mandatory for Palestine. Britannic Majesty is famously used in all British passports, where the following sentence is used:

His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

Most Excellent Majesty is mainly used in Acts of Parliament, where the phrase The King's (or Queen's) Most Excellent Majesty is used in the enacting clause. The standard is as follows:

BE IT ENACTED by the King's [Queen's] most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Wives of Kings are entitled to the style of Her Majesty (such as Queen Camilla). Husbands of queens regnant do not have the same right, as was the case with Queen Elizabeth II's consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who had the style Royal Highness. This is because a king outranks a queen, therefore, the consort would outrank the monarch, also, a woman holds the female equivalent of her husbands title but a man does not share his wives title.

Thailand

In Thailand, the title for the King is พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว (Phra Bat Somdet Phra Chao Yu Hua), or informally God Above Us (Thai : พระเจ้าอยู่หัว, romanized: Phra Chao Yu Hua. This designation stems from the concept of Devaraja or God-King (เทวราชา), where the Thai King is considered a part of Vishnu, one of the highest gods in Hinduism.

Traditionally, many Thai people referred to their kings as Pho Khun (พ่อขุน), a term connected to the word father as seen in the Sukhothai Kingdom or the Phayao Kingdom, where the king is addressed as Pho Yuhua (พ่ออยู่หัว) or Pho Yuhua Chao (พ่ออยู่หัวเจ้า). This reflects the concept of patriarchy, considering the king as the father and the people as the sons. [3]

During the reign of King Ramathibodi I of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, society expanded, and the king's status evolved from father to god. [4] King Ramathibodi I adopted the concept of Devaraja from the Khmer Empire, incorporating the word Phra Bat (พระบาท) from the Khmer king's title, along with Somdet (สมเด็จ) rooted in the Khmer language. The names of Thai kings also signify divinity, such as Ramathibodi meaning Rama the sovereign, Naresuan signifying God in human form, and Ramesuan a combination of Rama and Ishvara [5]

There is further evidence of similar uses, such as Somdet Phra Puttha Chao Yu Hua (สมเด็จพระพุทธเจ้าอยู่หัว), implying that the king holds the status of a Bodhisattva destined to attain enlightenment and become a Buddha in the future. Somdet Borombophit (สมเด็จบรมบพิตร), meaning 'Your Majesty' is the honorific title monks use to address the king.

Japan

In Japan, the uses of honorific title Heika (Japanese: 陛下) for the Emperor of Japan, the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are defined in The Imperial House Law since 1947. [6]

In 757, this term was first defined in the Yōrō Code (Japanese: 養老律令) to use only when addressing the Reigning Emperor (Japanese: 今上天皇).

In Former Imperial House Law (1889), the use case of this term was expanded to include the Empress, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. [7]

Brunei

In Brunei, a Malay title for the Sultan of Brunei is officially Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda (KDYMMPSB) or unofficially simply Kebawah Duli. It literally means "Under the dust of the Most Exalted [God], The Victorious Sovereign".

It reflects the title of Zilullah-fil-Alam ("Shadow of God on Earth"), referring to the Sultan as having a small bit of God's immense power. The title paduka means "victorious" from Old Malay while seri is an honorific from Sanskrit. The title baginda is a third-person noun for royals and prophets.

Ancient China

In History of China after Han dynasty, the honorific (陛下; bìxià), referring to the Emperor of China (皇帝), was used.

Saudi Arabia

In 1986, King Fahd abolished the use of Majesty (Arabic : صَاحِب الْجَلَالَة, romanized: Ṣāḥib al-Jalāla, lit. 'Master of the Sublimeness') in reference style in favour of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, a style adopted by historical Islamic rulers. [8] However, the King of Saudi Arabia by custom continues to be referred to as Your Majesty in conversation.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the Malay style for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda or simply Seri Paduka Baginda. The Sultan of Johor and the Permaisuri of Johor use the Malay style Duli Yang Maha Mulia (DYMM) which is equivalent to His/Her Majesty since 2017. Prior to that, they were addressed as His/Her Royal Highness in English, similar with the other eight royal state Malay rulers in Malaysia. [9]

Burma

In Burma, the full Burmese title for the King of Burma Proper was officially Bhone Taw Kyi Hla Thaw Myanmar Min Myat Phya (Burmese : ဘုန်းတော်ကြီးလှသောမြန်မာမင်းမြတ်ဘုရား), shortened to Bhone Taw Kyi Phaya (Burmese : ဘုန်းတော်ကြီးဘုရား) or Ashin Paya (Burmese : အရှင်ဘုရား). [10]

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Styles represent the fashion by which monarchs and noblemen are properly addressed. Throughout history, many different styles were used, with little standardization. This page will detail the various styles used by royalty and nobility in Europe, in the final form arrived at in the nineteenth century.

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The Malay language has a complex system of styles, titles and honorifics which are used extensively in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen of Malaysia</span> Consort of the elected monarch of Malaysia

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Traditional rank amongst European imperiality, royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among geographic regions, the following is a reasonably comprehensive list that provides information on both general ranks and specific differences. Distinction should be made between reigning families and the nobility – the latter being a social class subject to and created by the former.

Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Kings and their female consorts, as well as queens regnant, are usually styled Majesty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serene Highness</span> Style of address

His/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein, Monaco and Thailand. Over the past 400 years, it has also been used as a style for senior members of the family of Hazrat Ishaan, who are believed to succeed Prophet Muhammad based on the 1400 year old Sunni Sayyid ul Sadatiyya line of Emarat of Ahlul Bayt. Until 1918, it was also associated with the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties and with a few princely but non-ruling families. It was also the form of address used for cadet members of the dynasties of France, Italy, Russia and Ernestine Saxony, under their monarchies. Additionally, the treatment was granted for some, but not all, princely yet non-reigning families of Bohemia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania and Russia by emperors or popes. In a handful of rare cases, it was employed by non-royal rulers in viceregal or even republican contexts.

The precedence of Thai royalty follows a system of ranks known as thanandon, which are accompanied by royal titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savang Vadhana</span> Thai consort

Sri Savarindira, also known as Savang Vadhana. She was a half-sister and queen of King Chulalongkorn. After her first grandson's accession to power in 1935, she became known as Her Majesty Queen Sri Savarindira, The Queen Grandmother of Thailand title in Thailand is Somdetch Phra Phan Vassa Ayika Chao. All her children died before her and she lived to see her grandsons Ananda Mahidol and Bhumibol Adulyadej take the throne.

Imperial and Royal Majesty was the style used by Emperor-Kings and their consorts as heads of imperial dynasties that were simultaneously royal. The style was notably used by the Emperor of Austria and by the German Emperor. The Austrian, German, and Bohemian monarchies were abolished in 1918 while the vacant throne of Hungary continued to exist until the 1940s.

Highness is a formal style used to address or refer to certain members of a reigning or formerly reigning dynasty. It is typically used with a possessive adjective: "His Highness", "Her Highness" (HH), "Their Highnesses", etc. Although often combined with other adjectives of honour indicating rank, such as "Imperial", "Royal" or "Serene", it may be used alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles</span> List of royal and noble titles in the Ethiopian Empire

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His Britannic Majesty or, when the reigning monarch is female Her Britannic Majesty (HBM), is a treaty title for the monarch of the United Kingdom, a royal style used in international law and diplomacy. It is used on the international plane in the same way that His Majesty or Her Majesty is used to refer to the king or queen domestically, the addition of Britannic serving to identify the state in question. It is particularly used in treaties and other formal instruments sent and received between nations. Many other monarchies in Europe used similar conventional terms as treaty titles to identify their respective monarchs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indrasakdi Sachi</span> Thai princess

Princess Indrasakdi Sachi, formerly Her MajestyQueen Indrasakdi Sachi, née Praphai Sucharitakul, full title Her Highness Princess Indrasakdi Sachi, was a royal consort of King Vajiravudh of Siam. She was one of the daughters of Chao Praya Sudharm Montri, the younger sister of Pra Sucharit Suda the one concubine of King Vajiravudh. the name means "Sachi, wife of Indra."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raja Zarith Sofiah</span> Raja Permaisuri Agong since 2024

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Malaysia XVII Duli Yang Maha Mulia Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah is the Queen of Malaysia and the Permaisuri of Johor as a wife of Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. She was born as a member of the Perak royal family. While still attending Somerville College, Oxford, she married the heir to the throne of Johor. Now a mother of six, she participates in the work of non-governmental organisations and universities, and writes a periodical column for a newspaper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Bolkiah</span> Ruling royal family of Brunei

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecclesiastical peerage of Thailand</span>

Ecclesiastical peerages have traditionally been given to ordained members of the Thai sangha, the community of the Buddhist monks of Thailand.

References

  1. Royal Styles and the uses of "Highness"
  2. Great Tales from English History, Robert Lacey.
  3. กรมศิลปากร. (2547) [Fine Arts Department (2004)]. Sukhothai Inscription No. 1. Ram Khamhaeng Inscription. Bangkok: National Library of Thailand. Retrieved 9 January 2024
  4. ชุติพงศ์พิสิฏฐ์, อภิชา. "เทวสิทธิ์-เทวราชา: แนวคิดเกี่ยวกับกษัตริย์ในระบอบสมบูรณาญาสิทธิราชย์". คณะสังคมศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์.
  5. ศานติ ภักดีคำ และนวรัตน์ ภักดีคำ. (2561). ประวัติศาสตร์อยุธยาจากจารึก: จารึกสมัยอยุธยา. กรุงเทพฯ : สมาคมประวัติศาสตร์ในพระราชูปถัมภ์ฯ.
  6. "The Imperial House Law (Chapter 4. Majority; Honorific Titles; Ceremony of Accession; Imperial Funeral; Record of Imperial Lineage; and Imperial Mausoleums)". Imperial Household Agency . 3 May 1947. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. "皇室典範・御署名原本" [The Imperial House Law (1889 Original)]. National Archives of Japan (in Japanese). 11 February 1889. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  8. "Fahad played pivotal role in development". Daily Gulf News. 2 August 2005. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. "Johor Sultan decrees he is to be addressed as 'His Majesty' in English". The Star Online. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. Scott, J. George (1900). Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. Vol. 2. Rangoon: Superintendent, Government Printing, Burma.