The Senate eventually conferred the title on many Roman emperors, often only after many years of rule, or if the new emperor was particularly esteemed by the senators, as in the case of Nerva. As a result, many of the short-lived Emperors never received the title.
The honor was subject to the approval of the honoree, who could decline it. Suetonius notes in his work The Twelve Caesars that Nero did so when first offered the honor during the first year of his reign, on account of his youth. It was traditional for the honoree, in a proper sign of humility, to defer the honor for some time once conferred. Hadrian deferred for eleven years, for example.[2]
Chronological list of Roman Patres Patriae
Note that with the exceptions of Cicero and Julius Caesar, the following are all considered Roman emperors.
The first Prime Minister of then-Malaya is commonly known by his formal cognomen of "Bapa Kemerdekaan" (or Father of Independence) a title synonymous to that of Father of the Nation.[3]
Considered the founding father of modern day Myanmar (or Burma)[6], although he was assassinated six months before Burmese independence from Great Britain. His daughter Aung San Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize winning democracy activist and icon for the Burmese people.
Leader of the calls for Icelandic home-rule from Denmark and independence, during the 19th century. His goal was later achieved, but not in his lifetime, with Icelandic independence becoming a reality in 1944. Widely recognised as the father of the independence movement ("Sjálfstæðisfaðirinn") and by extension the father of (modern) Iceland ("Landsfaðirinn"). His birthday, June 17, later became the Icelandic national day.
William of Orange, or William the Silent, was the leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spain and is today known as Vader des Vaderlands, which in English means Father of the Fatherland.[17]
Led the successful 1997 'Yes' campaign in the referendum for Scottish Devolution and became the first First Minister of Scotland in over 300 years in May 1999 holding that position until his death in October 2000.[24]