The Most Illustrious (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

: ''Ilustrísimo Señor'' (male) or ''Ilustrísima Señora'' (female), literally "Illustrious Sir/Mister") 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. It is a lower version of the prefix

The Most Excellent The Most Excellent ( Spanish: ''Excelentísimo Señor'' (male) or ''Excelentísima Señora'' (female), literally "Most Excellent Sir/Madam") is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in Spain and certain Spanish-speak ...

(Excelentísimo/a Señor/a), and was traditionally applied to 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, but is now used for a series of other offices.

In the Kingdom of Spain

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

Constitutional court and judiciary

* The President of the Economic Administrative Central Court * The Lawyers of the

Spanish Council of State The Council of State ( es, Consejo de Estado), is the supreme consultative council of the Spanish Government. The current Council of State was established in 1980 according to the article 107 of the Constitution of 1978. The institution of the C ...

Central government

* The Finance Delegates

Local authorities

* The Headmasters of Secondary State Schools

Diplomacy

* The Embassy Counsellors * The Ministers Plenipotentiary of 3rd class

Other institutions

* The Director of the Spanish Academy of Rome * The Director of the Spanish Agency of Data Protection

Nobility

*Non-

titleholders, their spouses and heirs *Non-firstborn children of Grandees

Other countries

Reference to a

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are r ...

in the UK's upper house of Parliament

The House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in ...

historically employed the prefix "the illustrious Duke" in the late 1800s. In the 21st century, it has been replaced by the generic prefix "the noble Duke"https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-10-31/debates/41D46B76-DB0F-4628-9435-BB237A184321/details#contribution-EC43770F-E643-4D92-ACD1-C74FD76B5E53 which is customarily used for all members of the House of Lords, irrespective of their rank.
In other countries, "The Most Illustrious" is rarely used, but rather " Illustrious Highness"

Notes

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