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The Most Excellent ( Spanish: ''Excelentísimo Señor'' (male) or ''Excelentísima Señora'' (female), literally "Most Excellent Sir/Madam") is an
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...
and certain Spanish-speaking countries. Following Spanish tradition, it is an '' ex officio'' style (the holder has it as long as they remain in office, in the most important positions of state) and is used in written documents and very formal occasions. The prefix is similar (but not equal) to that of " His/Her Excellency", but in the 19th century "The Most Excellent" began to replace the former. The use of the prefix Excellency was re-introduced in
Francoist Spain Francoist Spain ( es, España franquista), or the Francoist dictatorship (), was the period of Spanish history between 1939 and 1975, when Francisco Franco ruled Spain after the Spanish Civil War with the title . After his death in 1975, Sp ...
by ''
Generalísimo ''Generalissimo'' ( ) is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to field marshal and other five-star ranks in the states where they are used. Usage The word (), an Italian term, is the absolute superlative of ('general') thus me ...
'' Francisco Franco himself, who was formally styled as '' Su Excelencia el Jefe del Estado'' ("His Excellency The Head of State"), while his ministers and senior government officials continued using the prefix "The Most Excellent". The prefix " The Most Illustrious" (''Ilustrísimo/a Señor/a)'' is the lower version, and is mostly used for non-
Grandee Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ...
titled nobles in Spain and some other officeholders.


In the Kingdom of Spain

The following State and Government officials receive the style "The Most Excellent":


Household of His Majesty The King

* The Head of the Household * The Secretary General * The Head of the Military Chamber


Executive power

;Central government * The President of the Government ( Prime Minister) and former Presidents of the Government * Vice Presidents of the Government and former vice presidents * Government Ministers and former ministers * Secretaries of State * The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs * Government's Delegates to the Autonomous Communities ;Autonomous communities * The Presidents of the
Autonomous communities of Spain eu, autonomia erkidegoa ca, comunitat autònoma gl, comunidade autónoma oc, comunautat autonòma an, comunidat autonoma ast, comunidá autónoma , alt_name = , map = , category = Autonomous administr ...
* Counselors (ministers) of the Autonomous Communities


Legislative power

* The President of the Congress of Deputies * The President of the
Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
* Members of the Bureau of the Congress of deputies * Members of the Bureau of the Senate * Members of the Bureaus of the Autonomic Legislatures


Constitutional Court and judiciary

* Justices of the Constitutional Court * Members of the General Council of the Judiciary * Justices of the Supreme Court * The Attorney General of the State * The Head prosecutor of the Supreme Court * The Chief justice and the Head prosecutor of the Audiencia Nacional * Chief justices and Head prosecutors of the High Courts of Justice of the Autonomous Communities


Local authorities

* The Mayors of Madrid and Barcelona * Mayors of cities considered big cities according to the law


Other institutions

* Members of the Council of State * Members of the Court of Audit * Members of the Instituto de España * Academics of the eight Royal Academies * Members of the Nuclear Security Council * Deans of the College of Lawyers of the provinces where a High Court of Justice is seated * The Governor of the Bank of Spain


Diplomacy

* Ambassadors * Diplomats with the rank of Minister-Counselor


Military

* Flag officers of the Spanish Armed Forces and the Civil Guard


Recipients of civilian decorations, awards and orders

* Knights/Dames of the Collar and Knights/Dames Grand Cross of any of the military and civilian orders * Holders of the Gold Medal of Merit in Labour


Nobility

* Grandees of Spain and their consorts * Heirs of Grandees of Spain and their consorts


Other

* Foreign Heads of State not belonging to royalty (and their consorts) receive the style of
His Excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...
, while high-ranking officials of state receive the style of "The Most Excellent".


The Style of "His Excellency" in Spain

The style "
His Excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...
", which has a higher connotation than "The Most Excellent", is instead reserved for the children of an Infante or Infanta, who have the rank (but not the title) of Grandees. During
Francoist Spain Francoist Spain ( es, España franquista), or the Francoist dictatorship (), was the period of Spanish history between 1939 and 1975, when Francisco Franco ruled Spain after the Spanish Civil War with the title . After his death in 1975, Sp ...
, General Francisco Franco was the ''de facto'' Dictator of Spain and properly adopted the style
His Excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...
, since he was both Chief of State and Government, without being a "royal".


Other countries


Hispanic countries

Following the tradition from
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...
, Hispanic countries adopted the styles "
His Excellency Excellency is an honorific style (manner of address), style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder ...
" and "The Most Excellent" although they are informally used most of the time without following rules of style. Properly used, the style "His Excellency" (or simply "Excellency") is reserved for Chiefs of State and/or Government in Republics, i.e. the President and Vice-President of the Republic. Also, though informally, this style applies for the "President of Congress" (or equivalent) and the "President of the Supreme Courts" (or equivalent). Former Presidents and Vice-Presidents of Republics usually retain the style "His/Her Excellency" after finishing their terms, as an honorific. The style "The Most Excellent" (Excelentísimo Señor/a) applies to high-ranking officials of Republican countries that are not Chiefs of State or Government, i.e. a Minister, a Governor, an elected official. Ambassadors of Foreign Countries also receive the style "The Most Excellent", although informally they are addressed as "Excellency".


Other countries

In other countries, "His Excellency" and "The Most Excellent" are rarely used. San Marino’s Captain Regents are styled as "The Most Excellent". In the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
, albeit rarely, the President of the Nation is styled "Excellency". The more British-style "The Honourable" is preferred for Senators, Representatives and other elected officials. In European monarchies or former monarchies, the style "His Excellency" is rarely used. "The Most Excellent" is sometimes given to members of the minor nobility, i.e. Viscounts and/or Barons.


See also

* The Most Illustrious


Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Most Excellent Titles in Spain Styles (forms of address) Superlatives