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{{short description|Class of Early Christian soldier martyrs}}
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'''''Athleta Christi''''' ({{langx|la|"Champion of Christ"}}) was a class of [[Early Christian]] soldier [[martyr]]s or [[military saint]]s, of whom the most familiar examples are [[Saint Sebastian]] and [[Saint George|Saint George]]. It also could be used to refer to Christians with exemplary martial prowess, especially when fighting against non-Christians or heretics. 

== Usage ==
Since the 15th century, the title has been a political one, granted by [[Pope]]s to men who have led military campaigns defending [[Christianity]]. The militant [[Catholic hymn]] ''Athleta Christi nobilis'' ("Noble Champion of the Lord"), a hymn for [[Matins]] on 18 May, the feast of Saint [[Venantius of Camerino|Venantius]], written in the 17th century by an unknown author, popularized the term. The medieval precursors of the hymn are numerous and include [[hymns]], [[responsories]] and [[antiphon]]s dedicated to many saints and martyrs, even non-militant ones such as [[Sts. Cosmas and Damian|Cosmas and Damian]].<ref>[http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/MMDB/Alist/AfileA54.htm Latrobe article] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050109001325/http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/MMDB/Alist/AfileA54.htm|date=9 January 2005}}</ref>

Those who have held the title include:
* [[Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester|Simon de Montfort]], called by [[Peter of Vaux-de-Cernay|Peter of Vaux de Cernay]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=of les Vaux de Cernay|first=Peter|title=The History of the Albigensian Crusade|publisher=Boydell Press|year=1998|isbn=0-85115-807-2|location=Rochester|pages=XIX, 230, 241, 260|language=English|translator-last=Sibly|translator-first=W.A & M.D}}</ref>
* [[Ferdinand III of Castile]], called by Popes [[Pope Gregory IX|Gregory IX]] and [[Pope Innocent IV|Innocent IV]].<ref>O'Callaghan, Joseph F.. Reconquest and Crusade in Medieval Spain. United States: University of Pennsylvania Press, Incorporated, 2004, p.160</ref>
* [[Louis IX of France]], called by [[Pope Innocent IV]].
* [[Louis I of Hungary]], called by [[Pope Innocent VI]].
* [[John Hunyadi]] of [[Voivode of Transylvania|Transylvania]], called by [[Pope Pius II]].
* [[George Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] of [[Albania]], called by Popes [[Pope Callixtus III|Callixtus III]], [[Pope Pius II|Pius II]], [[Pope Paul II|Paul II]], and [[Pope Nicholas V|Nicholas V]].<ref>''The Fulfilled Promise: A Documentary Account of Religious Persecution in Albania''; By Gjon Sinishta; page 6.[https://books.google.com/books?id=8OtJAAAAIAAJ&q=athleta+christi+skanderbeg]</ref>
* [[Stephen the Great]] of [[Moldavia]], called by [[Pope Sixtus IV]].
* [[Vlad the Impaler]] of [[Wallachia]], called by [[Pope Sixtus IV]].

== See also ==
* [[Miles Christianus]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050315092132/http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ncd00856.htm ''New Catholic Dictionary:''] ''Athleta Christi nobilis''
* [http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/MMDB/Alist/AfileO2.htm La Trobe University Library: Medieval Music Database]: cf incipits ''O athleta Christi''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050109001325/http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/MMDB/Alist/AfileA54.htm La Trobe University Library: Medieval Music Database]: cf incipits ''Athleta Christi''

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{{Catholic saints}}
[[Category:15th-century establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:Religious leadership roles]]
[[Category:Honorary titles of the Holy See]]
[[Category:Athleta Christi| ]]