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Athleta Christi (Latin:"Champion of Christ") was a class ofEarly Christian soldiermartyrs ormilitary saints, of whom the most familiar examples areSaint Sebastian andSaint George. It also could be used to refer to Christians with exemplary martial prowess, especially when fighting against non-Christians or heretics.

Since the 15th century, the title has been a political one, granted byPopes to men who have led military campaigns defendingChristianity. The militantCatholic hymnAthleta Christi nobilis ("Noble Champion of the Lord"), a hymn forMatins on 18 May, the feast of SaintVenantius, written in the 17th century by an unknown author, popularized the term. The medieval precursors of the hymn are numerous and includehymns,responsories andantiphons dedicated to many saints and martyrs, even non-militant ones such asCosmas and Damian.^[1]

Those who have held the title include:

• Simon de Montfort, called byPeter of Vaux de Cernay.^[2]
• Ferdinand III of Castile, called by PopesGregory IX andInnocent IV.^[3]
• Louis IX of France, called byPope Innocent IV.
• Louis I of Hungary, called byPope Innocent VI.
• John Hunyadi ofTransylvania, called byPope Pius II.
• George Kastrioti Skanderbeg ofAlbania, called by PopesCallixtus III,Pius II,Paul II, andNicholas V.^[4]
• Stephen the Great ofMoldavia, called byPope Sixtus IV.
• Vlad the Impaler ofWallachia, called byPope Sixtus IV.

• Miles Christianus

• New Catholic Dictionary:Athleta Christi nobilis
• La Trobe University Library: Medieval Music Database: cf incipitsO athleta Christi
• La Trobe University Library: Medieval Music Database: cf incipitsAthleta Christi

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