List of royal saints and martyrs

This list of royal saints and martyrs is a list of monarchs, other royals, and nobles who have been canonized or beatified, or who are otherwise named or revered as saints or martyrs in Christian churches. Their names are rendered in English and, where possible, in their own national language.

Monarchs

Abgar V of Edessa, the first Christian monarch in history, holding the Image of Edessa

St. Stephen I, King of Hungary

St. Louis IX, King of France

• Abgarus of Edessa, king of Osroene (Orthodox)^[1]
• Alexander Nevsky (Orthodox)^[2]
• Alfred the Great of Wessex, 849 to October 26, 899 (Anglican)
• Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy (Catholic)
• Archil of Kakheti, martyred, (Orthodox))^[3]
• Ashot I of Iberia, martyred (Orthodox)
• Boris I of Bulgaria (Orthodox)^[4]
• Canute IV of Denmark, known as "St. Canute", Danish "Knud 4. den Hellige" (Catholic)^[5]
• Charles I of England, the only saint canonized by the Church of England after the Reformation; martyred January 30, 1649. Known as "St Charles, King and Martyr" (Anglican)
• Charles I, Count of Flanders, known as "St. Charles the Good", French "Charles le Bon", Dutch "Karel de Goede" (Catholic)
• Constantin Brancoveanu King of Wallachia^[6] (Orthodox)
• Constantine King of Dumnonia, martyr,^[7] (confusion about identity)
• Constantine I 272-337 Roman Emperor. Also known as "Constantine the Great," and " Constantine, Equal-to-the-Apostles" ("Κωνσταντίνος Α' Ἰσαπόστολος"). (Orthodox), (Byzantine Catholic), (Anglican), (Lutheran)
• Constantine IV c.652-685 Roman Emperor. Also called “Constantine the New.”^[8][9] (Orthodox)
• Constantine XI 1405-1453 Roman Emperor. Also known as “Constantine XI Palaiologos”, “The Marble Emperor,” “The Last Roman Emperor.” Not officially recognized by either the Orthodox or Byzantine Catholic churches, he is popularly regarded in both as the national patron saint, known as Ethnomartyr" ("Ἐθνομάρτυρας"'), meaning "national martyr."
• David I of Scotland; son of Saint Margaret of Scotland, below; Gaelic "Naomh Daibhidh" (Catholic)
• David IV of Georgia, also known as "David the Builder" (Orthodox)
• Demetre I of Georgia, (Orthodox)
• Demetre II of Georgia, martyred, also known as "Demetre the Self-Sacrificer"; (Orthodox)
• Edmund the Martyr of East Anglia (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Edward the Confessor of England (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Edward the Martyr of England (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Edwin of Northumbria, known as "St. Edwin" (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Eric IX of Sweden, martyred May 18, 1161, as he was leaving Mass. His cultus grew immediately, but was forbidden by Pope Alexander III in 1172; although never formally canonized, he is revered as a patron saint of Sweden, and is referred to in passing as "St. Eric" in the Catholic Encyclopedia.^[10][11] Swedish "Erik den helige" or "S:t Erik" (Catholic)
• Æthelberht of Kent (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Æthelberht II of East Anglia (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Ferdinand III of Castile; also known as "St. Ferdinand" or "Ferdinand III the Saint", Spanish "San Fernando"or "Fernando III el Santo". (Catholic)
• Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor, husband of Cunigunde of Luxemburg (see below); known as "St Henry II", German "Heinrich II. der Heilige" (Henry II the Holy) (Catholic)
• Hermenegild of the Visigoths (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Humbert III of Savoy (Catholic)
• Jadwiga of Poland, also known as "St. Hedwig of Poland" or "St. Hedwig Queen of Poland", Polish "Św. Jadwiga Królowa Polski" (Catholic)
• John III 1193-1254 Roman Emperor. Also known as “John the Merciful” and “John III Doukas Vatatzes” (Orthodox)
• John IV 1250-1305 Roman Emperor and monk. Also known as “John IV Laskaris,” and “John IV Doukas Laskaris.” (Orthodox)
• Justinian I c.482-565 Roman Emperor. Also called “Justinian the Great” (Orthodox), (Lutheran)
• Justinian II 669-711 Roman Emperor. Also called “Justinian Rhinotmetos” (ὁ Ῥινότμητος, "the slit-nosed") (Orthodox)
• Ladislaus I of Hungary, canonized in 1192; Hungarian "Szent László" (Catholic)
• Lazar Hrebeljanović, Knez ("Prince" or "Duke") of Serbia; also known as "Tsar Lazar"; killed in action against the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Kosovo, 1389; canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church as " Свети Косовски Великомученик кнез Лазар " ("Holy Great-Martyr of Kosovo Prince Lazar"); also called "Свети Цар Лазар" ("Holy Tsar Lazar")
• Leopold III, Margrave of Austria, patron saint of Austria
• Luarsab II of Kartli, martyred, (Orthodox)
• Louis IX of France, known as "St. Louis"; French "Saint Louis" (Catholic)
• Ludwig IV of Thuringia, husband of Elisabeth of Hungary (see below); not canonized, but revered as a saint in Thuringia; German "Ludwig IV., der Heilige" (Ludwig IV the Holy) (Catholic)
• Manuel II 1350-1425 Roman Emperor and monk. Also known as “Manuel I Palaiologos,” and “Manuel the Monk.” (Orthodox)
• Marcian 392-457 Roman Emperor. (Orthodox)
• Mirian III of Iberia
• Neagoe Basarab King of Wallachia^[12]
• Nicholas II of Russia, canonized in 1980 as saint and martyr by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and as a saint and passion bearer by the synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on August 14, 2000; Russian "Царь-Мученик Николай II" ("Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II") and "Святой Страстотерпец Царь Николай II" ("Holy Passion-Bearer Tsar Nicholas II") (Orthodox)
• Nikephoros II c.912-969 Roman Emperor. Also known as “Nikephoros II Phokas” (Orthodox)
• Olaf II of Norway, known as "St. Olav" or "St. Olave"; Old Norse "Oláfr hinn helgi"; Bokmål "Olav den hellige"; Nynorsk "Heilag-Olav" (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Oswald of Northumbria, martyred August 5, 642 (Orthodox),(Catholic)
• Peter I of Bulgaria (Orthodox)
• Sigismund of Burgundy (Catholic)
• Solomon II of Imereti (Georgian Orthodox)
• Stephen I of Hungary, canonized as "St. Stephen of Hungary", Hungarian "Szent István király" (Catholic)
• Stephen the Great, King of Moldavia, repaused July 2, 1504; called "Athlete of Christianity"; one of the patron saints of Moldavia. Romanian "Dreptcredinciosul Voievod Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt"
• Tamar of Georgiac.1160-1213, she is known as "Holy Righteous King Tamar" in the Georgian Orthodox Church, (Orthodox'
• Theodosius I 347-395 Roman Emperor. Also called “Theodosius the Great” (Orthodox)
• Theodosius II 401-450 Roman Emperor. Also called “Theodosius the Younger” and “Theodosius the Calligrapher” (Orthodox)
• Tiridates III of Armenia, honoured as a saint in the Armenian Church
• Vakhtang I of Iberia (Georgian Orthodox)
• Vakhtang III of Georgia (Georgian Orthodox)
• Vladimir I of Kiev, first Christian ruler of Kiev; in the Russian Orthodox Church he is accorded a title meaning "equal to the Apostles". Russian "Владимир Святой"; Ukrainian "Володимир Святий" or "Святий рівноапостольний князь Володимир" ("Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Duke Volodymyr")
• Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, martyred September 28, 935; subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas"; patron of the Czech Republic. Czech "Svatý Václav", German "Heilige Wenzel" (Catholic) (Orthodox)^[13]

Other royalty and nobility

• Adelaide of Italy, empress-consort of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
• Agnes of Bohemia, daughter of Otakar I of Bohemia; Czech "Sv. Anežka Česka"
• Alexandra Fyodorovna of Russia (Alix of Hesse)
• Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia
• Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia
• Balthild, Queen of France and wife of King Clovis II, died 30 January 680 (Catholic)
• Begga; daughter of Pepin of Landen and mother of Pepin of Herstal
• Bertha of Kent; revered as a saint, but not canonized
• Bojan Enravota, prince of Bulgaria
• Boris and Gleb, princes of Kiev
• Casimir, son of Casimir IV of Poland; also known as "St. Casimir of Poland" or "Saint Casimir Jagiełło"; Polish "Święty Kazimierz"
• Clotilde, daughter of Chilperic II of Burgundy; wife Clovis I
• Cunigunde of Luxemburg, wife of Henry II; Luxembourgish "Helleg Kunigunde"
• Dmitry of Moscow
• Edburga of Winchester, daughter of Edward the Elder
• Edburga of Bicester, daughter of Penda of Mercia
• Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet, or Heaburg, or Bugga, daughter of Centwine of Wessex
• Elizabeth Fyodorovna of Russia
• Elisabeth of Hungary, wife of Ludwig IV of Thuringia (see above); Hungarian "Árpádházi Szent Erzsébet" (Saint Elizabeth of Árpád's line)
• Elizabeth of Portugal, daughter of Pedro III of Aragon; wife of Denis of Portugal; also known as "Saint Queen Elizabeth" or "St. Isabel of Portugal"; Portuguese "Rainha Santa Isabel"
• Emeric of Hungary, son of Stephen I of Hungary, "Szent Imre" in Hungarian.
• Queen Emma of Hawaii, helped to found the Anglican church in Hawaii. Saint in US Episcopal Church. Feast day: November 28. (Anglican)
• Hedwig of Andechs, daughter of Berthold III, Count of Tyrol, wife of Henry I of Poland, canonized 1267 as "St. Hedwig of Andechs", Polish "Św. Jadwiga Śląska"
• Helena of Constantinople c.246-c.327 Roman Empress, mother of Constantine I (above)
• Irene c.752-803 Roman Empress, consort of Emperor Leo IV, regent for her son Emperor Constantine IV. Also known as “Irene of Athens,” “Irene the Athenian,” “Irene Sarantapechaina.” Often referred to as a saint, but not recognized by the Greek Orthodox Church officially. (Orthodox?)
• Irene of Hungary 1108-1134 Roman Empress, consort of Emperor John II (Orthodox)
• Isabelle of France, daughter of Louis VIII of France, younger sister of Saint Louis of France (above); French royal princess. Feast day: February 26
• Jeanne of France, daughter of Louis XI of France; wife of Louis XII of France; known as "St. Jeanne de Valois"; French "Ste Jeanne de France"
• Joana of Portugal, daughter of Afonso V of Portugal, joined the Dominican Order; known in Portugal as Santa Joana Princesa (Princess Saint Joan), although she as only been beatified
• Jolenta of Poland, daughter of Béla IV of Hungary; wife of Boleslaus the Pious of Poland; also known as "Blessed Yolande of Poland" and "Blessed Helen of Hungary"; Polish "Bł. Jolenty w Gnieźnie "
• Ketevan the Martyr, queen of Kakheti, canonized by the Georgian Church
• Kinga of Poland, daughter of Béla IV of Hungary; wife of Boleslaus V of Poland; also known as "St Kunigunda", "St Cunegunde", "St Kioga", or "St Zinga"; Polish "Święta Kinga"
• Ludmila, Czech princess (Orthodox Saint)^[14]
• Mafalda of Portugal, O. Cist., daughter of Sancho I of Portugal and queen-consort of Castille; known in Portugal as Rainha Santa Mafalda (although only beatified)
• Margaret of Hungary, daughter of Béla IV of Hungary; Hungarian, "Árpád-házi Szent Margit" (St. Margaret of Árpád's line)
• Blessed Margaret of Savoy, Marchioness of Montferrat.
• Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045 – 16 November 1093), granddaughter of Edmund II of England; wife of Malcolm III of Scotland and mother of David I of Scotland (above); canonized in 1251 by Pope Innocent IV
• Maria Nikolaevna of Russia
• Matilda, queen-consort to Heinrich I of Germany
• Nana of Iberia, queen-consort of Mirian III of Iberia (Orthodox)
• Nuno Álvares Pereira, O. Carm., ancestor of Portuguese House of Braganza
• Olga of Kiev, regent of son Svyatoslav I, Prince of Kiev; Russian "Свята Ольга" ("Holy Olga")
• Olga Nikolaevna of Russia
• Ragnhild of Tälje
• Sancha of Portugal, O. Cist., daughter of Sancho I of Portugal; known in Portugal as Rainha Santa Sancha (although only beatified)
• Shushanik (Orthodox)
• Teresa of Portugal, O. Cist., daughter of Sancho I of Portugal and queen-consort of León; known in Portugal as Rainha Santa Teresa (although only beatified)
• Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia
• Theodora 815-867 Roman Empress, consort of Emperor Theophilos. (Orthodox)
• Prince Vladimir Paley
• Prince Ioann Konstantinovich of Russia
• Prince Constantine Constantinovich of Russia
• Prince Igor Konstantinovich of Russia

Blesseds

• Karl I of Austria, last kaiser (Emperor) of Austria and király (King) of Hungary; beatified October 3, 2004; known as "Blessed Karl I" or "Blessed Karl of Austria", or sometimes as "Blessed Charles I of Austria"; in German "Der Selige Kaiser Karl I"; in Hungarian "Boldog Károly király" (Catholic)
• Charlemagne, King of the Franks and founder of the Holy Roman Empire, who secured and protected the Papal States and contributed greatly to the spread of Catholicism in Europe. He was canonized by Antipope Paschal III; this decree was never confirmed by the Church; his cultus, however, was permitted at Aachen.^[15] (Catholic)

Servants of God

• Isabella I of Castile, Married Layperson of the Archdiocese of Valladolid, Queen of Spain
• Teresa Enriquez Alvarado de Cardenas, Married Layperson of the Archdiocese of Toledo

Hebrew Saints

King David of the United Monarchy of ancient Israel, as well as Kings Hezekiah and Josiah of the southern Kingdom of Judah, are traditionally considered to be in heaven in Catholic dogma;.^[16][17] They are named as (Old Testament) saints by the Orthodox Church as testified by numerous calendars, services said for their intercession, as well as their use as patron saints. Some heterodox do not recognise them as saints as they lived before the time of Christ.

References

1. Leclercq, Henri. "The Legend of Abgar." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 19 Feb. 2013
2. Sant' Alessandro Nevskij
3. Machitadze, Archpriest Zakaria (2007) Holy Royal Martyrs Archil and Luarsab. The Lives of the Georgian Saints. Retrieved from Pravoslavie.Ru on November 11, 2007.
4. San Boris Michele I
5. St. Canute IV
9. http://www.byzantium.xronikon.com/bitsaint.html
13. Hutchison-Hall, John (Ellsworth). "Pre-Schism Orthodox Western Saints - 28th September". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
14. Hutchison-Hall, John (Ellsworth). "Pre-Schism Orthodox Western Saints - 16th September". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
15. Shahan, Thomas, and Ewan Macpherson. "Charlemagne." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 19 Feb. 2013
16. Litany to Old Testament Saints
17. This Rock Quick Questions, Volume 14, Issue 5

See also

• By the Grace of God
• Great Catholic Monarch
• Society of King Charles the Martyr
• List of nicknames of European Royalty and Nobility
• List of rulers who converted to Christianity