Father of the Nation is an
honorific title given to a man considered the driving force behind the establishment of his
country,
state, or
nation.
Pater Patriae (plural Patres Patriae), also seen as
Parens Patriae, was a Roman honorific meaning "Father of the Fatherland", bestowed by the Senate on heroes, and later on emperors. In monarchies, the
monarch was often considered the "father/mother of the nation" or as a
patriarch to guide his family. This concept is expressed in the
Divine Right espoused in some monarchies, while in others it is codified into constitutional law as in Spain, where the monarch is considered the personification and embodiment, the symbol of the unity and permanence of the nation. In Thailand, the monarch is given the same recognition, and demonstrated loyalty is enforced with severe criminal statutes.