View source for Father of the Nation

{{Short description|Honorific title}}
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{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}

The '''Father of the Nation''' is an [[honorific]] title given to a person considered the driving force behind the establishment of a [[country]], [[Sovereign state|state]], or [[nation]]. {{lang|la|[[Pater Patriae]]}} (plural {{lang|la|Patres Patriae}}), also seen as {{lang|la|Parens Patriae}}, was a Roman honorific meaning the "Father of the Fatherland", bestowed by the Senate on heroes, and later on emperors. In monarchies, the [[monarch]] is often considered the "'''father/mother of the nation'''" or as a [[patriarch]] to guide his family. This concept is expressed in the [[divine right of kings]] espoused in some monarchies, while in others it is codified into constitutional law.

In Spain, the monarch is considered the personification and embodiment, the symbol of unity and permanence of the nation. In Thailand, the monarch is given the same recognition, and any person who expresses disrespect toward the reigning monarch faces severe criminal penalties.

Many [[dictator]]s bestow titles upon themselves, which rarely survive the end of their regime. [[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]] of [[Togo]]'s titles included "father of the nation", "older brother", and "Guide of the People".<ref>{{cite book|last=Triulzi|first=Alessandro|title=The Post-colonial Question|url=https://archive.org/details/postcolonialques00cham|url-access=registration|editor=Iain Chambers & Lidia Curti|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=1996 |page=[https://archive.org/details/postcolonialques00cham/page/88 88]|chapter=African cities, historical memory, and street buzz|isbn=0-415-10857-8}}</ref> [[Mobutu Sese Seko]] of [[Zaire]]'s included "Father of the nation", "the Guide", "the Messiah", "the Leopard", "the Sun-President", and "the Cock who Jumps on Anything That Moves".<ref>{{Cite book |page=50 |title=The Tragic State of the Congo: From Decolonization to Dictatorship |first=Jeanne M. |last=Haskin |publisher=Algora Publishing |year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lo6pXz2vxf4C |isbn=0-87586-417-1}}</ref> In [[postcolonial]] [[Africa]], "father of the nation" was a title used by many leaders both to refer to their role in the [[independence movement]] as a source of [[Legitimacy (political)|legitimacy]], and to use [[paternalist]] symbolism as a source of continued popularity.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schatzberg|first=Michael G. |title=Political Legitimacy in Middle Africa: Father, Family, Food |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |year=2001 |pages=passim, see index; and esp. p. 8 & p. 213 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtJnDhRnE5gC |isbn=0-253-33992-8}}</ref> On [[Joseph Stalin]]'s seventieth birthday in 1949, he was bestowed with the title "Father of Nations" for his establishment of "people's democracies" in [[Soviet occupations|countries occupied by the USSR]] after [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Paczkowski |first=Andrzej |others=translated by Jane Cave |title=The Spring Will be Ours: Poland and the Poles from Occupation to Freedom |publisher=[[Penn State Press]] |year=2003 |page=210 |isbn=0-271-02308-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WoKQWem2yl4C&q=%22Father+of+Nations%22+stalin&pg=RA2-PA210 }}</ref>

The title "Father of the Nation" is sometimes politically contested. The 1972 [[Constitution of Bangladesh]] declared [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] to be "father of the nation".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1160598.stm|title=Country profile: Bangladesh |work=BBC News|access-date=2008-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081111022801/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1160598.stm |archive-date=2008-11-11}}</ref> A motion in the [[National Council of the Slovak Republic|Parliament of Slovakia]] to proclaim controversial pre-war leader [[Andrej Hlinka]] "father of the nation" barely failed in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spectator.sk/articles/view/30240/14/2007_was_turbulent_for_the_ruling_coalition.html|title=2007 was turbulent for the ruling coalition|last=Balogová|first=Beata|date=2007-12-17|work=The Slovak Spectator|access-date=2008-11-09|archive-date=26 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626000451/http://www.spectator.sk/articles/view/30240/14/2007_was_turbulent_for_the_ruling_coalition.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==List==
The following people are still often called the "Father" or "Mother" of their respective nations.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Nation
! Title (native)
! Title (translation)
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]]
| {{Flag|Afghanistan}}
| [[Padishah|Ahmad Shah Baba]]
| Ahmad Shah the Father<ref name="Singh">{{cite book|title=Ahmad Shah Durrani: Father of Modern Afghanistan |last1=Ganḍā |first1=Singh |year=1959|publisher=Asia Pub. House |isbn=978-1-4021-7278-6|page=457|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F_A8AAAAMAAJ |access-date=2010-08-25}}</ref><ref name="LoC">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+af0010) |title=Ahmad Shah and the Durrani Empire |access-date=2010-08-25 |publisher=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]] on [[Afghanistan]] |year=1997 |archive-date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722064857/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+af0010) |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/10162/Ahmad-Shah-Durrani |title=Aḥmad Shah Durrānī |access-date=2010-08-25 |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] Online Version |year=2010}}</ref>
| Founder of the Afghan [[Durrani Empire]].
|-
| [[Ismail Kemal]]
| {{Flag|Albania}}
| Babai Kombit
| Father of the Nation
| Led the Albanian national movement against the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|-
| [[V. C. Bird]]
| {{Flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
|
| Father of the Nation
| First prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda.
|-
| [[José de San Martín]]
| {{Flag|Argentina}}<br/>{{Flagicon|Peru}} [[Peru]]
| Padre de la Patria /<br /> Fundador de la República y Protector del Perú<ref>[http://www.argentina.ar/_es/pais/personalidades/C2390-jose-de-san-martin.php] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202114854/http://www.argentina.ar/_es/pais/personalidades/C2390-jose-de-san-martin.php|date=2 December 2011}}</ref>
| Father of the Fatherland /<br /> Founder of the Republic and Protector of Peru
| Primary leader of the [[Argentine War of Independence]] and the [[Spanish American wars of independence]] in southern South America.
|-
| [[María Remedios del Valle]]
| {{Flag|Argentina}}
| Madre de la Patria
| Mother of the Homeland
| Important officer in the Argentine Army during the War of Independence, referred to as the "Mother of the Homeland" since her lifetime. In 1829, the Chamber of Representatives of the province of Buenos Aires named her "Mother of the Homeland" and granted her the position of sergeant major.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cabildonacional.cultura.gob.ar/noticia/maria-remedios-del-valle-la-madre-de-la-patria/|language=es|accessdate=19 November 2023|title=María Remedios del Valle, la "Madre de la Patria"|location=Buenos Aires|publisher=[[Cabildo of Buenos Aires|Museo Nacional del Cabildo de Buenos Aires y de la Revolución de Mayo]]. [[Ministry of Culture (Argentina)|Ministerio de Cultura]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2022/11/08/remedios-del-valle-la-madre-de-la-patria-que-lucho-junto-a-belgrano-y-termino-como-mendiga/|title=Remedios del Valle, la "Madre de la Patria" que luchó junto a Belgrano y terminó como mendiga|language=es|location=Buenos Aires|publisher=[[Infobae]]|accessdate=19 November 2023|first=Adrián|last=Pignatelli|date=8 November 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hayk]] (Հայկ)
| {{Flag|Armenia}}
| Nahapet (Նահապետ)
| Head of the Family<br/>Patriarch
| Legendary founder of the [[Armenians|Armenian nation]].
|-
| [[Henry Parkes|Sir Henry Parkes]], {{post-nominals|country=AUS|GCMG}}
| {{Flag|Australia}}
|
| Father of [[Federation of Australia|Federation]]
| Gave the [[Tenterfield Oration]], which is believed to be pivotal in the process of the [[Federation of Australia]]. 
|-
| [[Lynden Pindling|Sir Lynden Pindling]]
| {{Flag|The Bahamas}}
|
| Father of the Nation
| Leader at independence in 1973.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/editorial/308121337236779.php |title=The death of Jeffrey Thompson |date=20 March 2008 |work=Freeport News |publisher=The Nassau Guardian (1844) Ltd |access-date=2009-01-17 |quote=it has been well documented that Sir Lynden Pindling was the leader of the political movement that led to the attainment of majority rule on January 10, 1967, and that he is recognized as the ৭ of the Nation — the man who was the country's leader when The Bahamas obtained its independence from the [[United Kingdom]] on July 10, 1973. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721162049/http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/editorial/308121337236779.php |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}
</ref>
|-
| [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]]
| {{Flag|Bangladesh}}
| Jatir Janak ({{lang|bn|জাতির জনক}}) <br />Bangabandhu ({{lang|bn|বঙ্গবন্ধু}})
| Father of the Nation <br/>Friend of Bengal
| Founder of Bangladesh, leader during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].
|-
| [[Errol Barrow]]
| {{Flag|Barbados}}
| 
| Father of Independence
| The third and last premier of Barbados (1961–1966) who lead Barbados to independence from the British Empire in 1966. He became the first prime minister and served three terms (1966–76, 1986–87) dying in office during his third.
|-
| [[Konstanty Kalinowski]]
| {{Flag|Belarus}}
| ''Stvaralnik bielaruskaha narodu'' ({{lang|be|Стваральнік беларускага народу}})
| Creator of the Belarusian Nation
| Used among other titles. Military and political leader during the [[January Uprising]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2021 |title=Каліноўскі быў беларусам. Даказаць адваротнае немагчыма |language=be |trans-title=Kalinoŭski was Belarusian: It's impossible to claim otherwise |work=[[Novy Chas]] |url=https://novychas.online/poviaz/kalinouski-byu-belarusam-dakazac-advarotnae-nemah |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=22 January 2013 |title=Каліноўскі і мы |language=be |trans-title=Kalinoŭski and us |work=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |url=https://www.svaboda.org/a/24880625.html |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> Usage opposed by those who view Kalinowski's nationality as Polish, rather than Belarusian.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2009 |title=Кім быў Кастусь Каліноўскі? |language=be |trans-title=Who was Kastus Kalinoŭski? |work=[[Polskie Radio]] |url=http://www2.polskieradio.pl/eo/print.aspx?iid=105649 |access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[George Cadle Price]]
| {{Flag|Belize}}
|
| Father of the Nation
| Former Chief Minister, Premier and two-term Prime Minister before retiring in 1997.<ref>
{{cite news |url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/projects/personalities/rt_hon_george.jsp?menu=projects |title=Rt. Hon. George Price |date=20 March 2008 |work=CARICOM.com |publisher=CARICOM |access-date=2009-01-30 |quote=Rt. Honourable George Cadle Price, "Father of the Nation" of Belize |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121051424/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/projects/personalities/rt_hon_george.jsp?menu=projects |archive-date=21 January 2010 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |url=http://news.mybelize.net/index.php?action=view&id=1875&module=newsmodule&src=%40random4865ef792ff2d |title=The Father of the Nation Turns 90 |date=16 January 2009 |publisher=7 News Belize |access-date=2009-05-13 |quote=Even Prime Minister [[Dean Barrow]] calls George Price the father of the nation }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
</ref>
|-
| [[Ugyen Wangchuck]]
| {{Flag|Bhutan}}
| First king of modern Bhutan.
|-
| [[Simón Bolívar]]
| {{Flagicon|Bolivia}} [[Bolivia]]<br/>{{Flagicon|Colombia}}[[Colombia]]<br/>{{Flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Ecuador]]<br/>{{Flagicon|Panama}} [[Panama]]<br/>{{Flagicon|Peru}} [[Peru]]<br/>{{Flagicon|Venezuela}} [[Venezuela]]
| Libertador
| Liberator
| Primary leader of the [[Spanish American wars of independence]] in northern [[South America]]. 
|-
| [[Seretse Khama]]
| {{Flag|Botswana}}
| 
| Father of Independence
| Leader of the independence movement and first President of Botswana. Creator of democracy in Botswana
|-
| [[Dom Pedro I]], [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria]] and [[José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva]] 
| {{Flag|Brazil}}
| Pai da Nação e Patriarca da Independência
| Father of the Nation and Patriarch of Independence
| Founder and the first Emperor of Brazil (1822) during the [[independence of Brazil]]. Maria Leopoldina was the first Empress of Brazil. Bonifácio was the advisor of Pedro I.
|-
| [[Omar Ali Saifuddien III]]
| {{Flag|Brunei}}
| 
| Architect of Modern Brunei. Builder of the Modern Nation and Father of Independence
| 28th [[List of sultans of Brunei|Sultan of Brunei]] and First [[Ministry of Defence (Brunei)|Minister of Defence]] (1914–1986).
|-
| [[Asparuh]]
| {{Flag|Bulgaria}}
| [[Kanasubigi]] (Кан)
|
| Founder and first ruler of the [[First Bulgarian Empire]].
|-
| [[Norodom Sihanouk]]
| {{Flag|Cambodia}}
| សម្តេចឪ (''Sâmdéch Âu'')
| King Father
| Secured [[Independence Day of Cambodia|independence]] [[French protectorate of Cambodia|from France]].
|-
| [[John A. Macdonald]] and the other [[Fathers of Confederation]]
| {{Flag|Canada}}
| Father of Confederation <br> Pères de la Confédération
| Father of Confederation
| The 36 Canadian politicians who negotiated [[Canadian Confederation]]
|-
| [[Bernardo O'Higgins]]
| {{Flag|Chile}}
| Padre de la patria
| Father of the fatherland
| Principal leader of the [[Chilean War of Independence]].
|-
| [[Sun Yat-sen]]
| {{Flag|Republic of China|name=Republic of China}}
| {{lang|zh-hant|國父}} (''Guófù'')
| Father of the Nation
| Sun played an instrumental role in the overthrow of the [[Qing dynasty]] during the [[1911 Revolution|Xinhai Revolution]]. The [[Nationalist government]] decreed the title in 1940.<ref name="Sun1">{{cite book|last1=Yin|first1=Xiong|title=至樂齋詩抄 第二部|year=2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYOXDwAAQBAJ&q=%E5%AD%99%E4%B8%AD%E5%B1%B1+%E4%B8%AD%E5%8D%8E%E6%B0%91%E5%9B%BD%E6%8E%88%E4%BA%88%E5%9B%BD%E7%88%B6&pg=PT191|page=181|publisher=新華出版社 |isbn=978-7-5166-1604-8}}</ref> Sun is more widely known in the [[China|People's Republic of China]] as the "Forerunner of the Revolution".<ref name="Sun2">{{cite book|last1=Xie|first1=Xuanjun|title=少数民族入主中国史略|year=2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhE6DwAAQBAJ&q=%E5%AD%99%E4%B8%AD%E5%B1%B1+%E9%9D%A9%E5%91%BD%E5%85%88%E8%A1%8C%E8%80%85+%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%A7%E9%99%86&pg=PA403|page=403|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-387-25535-1}}</ref>
|-
| [[José María Castro Madriz]]
| {{Flag|Costa Rica}}
| Fundador de la República
| Founder of the Republic
| First President of the Republic of Costa Rica.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.guiascostarica.com/presi/presi08.htm|title = Francisco María Oreamuno Badilla|date = 27 June 2013|access-date = 28 November 2016|archive-date = 24 April 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130424023545/http://guiascostarica.com/presi/presi08.htm|url-status = live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ante Starčević]]
| {{Flag|Croatia}}
| Otac domovine
| Father of the Homeland
| His diverse activities and works laid the foundations for the modern [[Croatia|Croatian state]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hsp-ante-starcevic.hr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=57 |publisher=[[Croatian Party of Rights Dr. Ante Starčević]] |title=Povijest Oca domovine |language=hr |access-date=2010-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313080552/http://www.hsp-ante-starcevic.hr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=57 |archive-date=2010-03-13 |url-status=dead }}His works are considered to have laid the foundations for Croatian nationalism and he is often referred to as "Father of the Homeland" by Croats.</ref>
|-
| [[Carlos Manuel de Céspedes]]
| {{Flag|Cuba}}
| Padre de la Patria
| Father of the Fatherland<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://edicionesanteriores.trabajadores.cu/2004/octubre/10_ingles/textos_y_fotos/cuba-conmemora.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210195308/http://edicionesanteriores.trabajadores.cu/2004/octubre/10_ingles/textos_y_fotos/cuba-conmemora.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-10 |publisher=[[Trabajadores (newspaper)|Trabajadores]] |title=Cuba commemorates the 136 anniversary of the beginning of its wars of independence  |first=Iliana |last=Hautrive |date=2004-10-10 |quote=Cuba commemorates this Sunday the beginning of its wars of independence, the 10 of October of 1868, when the insigne patriotic Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, considered the Father of the Motherland, gave the freedom to his slaves to begin the fight by the liberation of the Nation. |access-date=2009-01-16 }}
</ref>
| Leader of the first Cuban independence movement which fought the [[Ten Years' War]].
|-
| Archbishop [[Makarios III]] 
| {{Flag|Cyprus}}
| [[Ethnarch|Εθνάρχης]] 
| Leader of the Nation
| First and longest President of Cyprus, leader of [[Greek Cypriot nationalism|Greek Cypriot nationalist]] movement during [[Cypriot intercommunal violence]]
|-
| [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor]]
| rowspan="3" | {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
| Otec vlasti
| Father of the Homeland
| [[List of rulers of Bohemia|King of Bohemia]]. Title coined by the [[Rector (academia)|rector]] of the [[Charles University of Prague]] at the emperor's funeral.<ref name="cz">{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Andrew Lawrence |title=From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Švejk: A Dictionary of Czech Popular Culture|publisher=[[Central European University Press]] |year=2005 |page=102 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BWg8CdosOpMC |isbn=963-7326-26-X}}</ref>
|-
| [[František Palacký]]
| Otec národa
| Father of the Nation
| Politician and historian, influential in [[Czech National Revival|Czech National Revival movement]].<ref name="cz"/> Whereas ''vlast'' "homeland" included all inhabitants, ''národ'' "nation" comprised only [[Czechs|Czech people]].<ref>
{{cite book |last=Sayer |first=Derek |author2=Alena Sayer |title=The Coasts of Bohemia: A Czech History |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |year=2000 |page=129 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_yrxrO0lC0YC |isbn=0-691-05052-X}}
</ref>
|-
|[[Tomáš Masaryk]]
| Tatíček /<br/>Prezident Osvoboditel
| Father of the Fatherland / President Liberator
| First [[President of Czechoslovakia]], helped negotiate establishment of Czechoslovakia with the [[Allies of World War I]].<ref name="cz"/><ref>Preclík, Vratislav. Masaryk a legie (Masaryk and legions), váz. kniha, 219 pages, first issue vydalo nakladatelství Paris Karviná, Žižkova 2379 (734 01 Karvina, Czech Republic) ve spolupráci s Masarykovým demokratickým hnutím (Masaryk Democratic Movement, Prague), 2019, {{ISBN|978-80-87173-47-3}}, pages 36 – 39, 41 – 42, 106 – 107, 111–112, 124–125, 128, 129, 132, 140–148, 184–199.</ref>
|-
| [[Juan Pablo Duarte]]
| {{Flag|Dominican Republic}}
| Padre de la patria
| Father of the Fatherland
| Defeated Haiti during [[Dominican War of Independence]].
|-
| [[Ilia Chavchavadze]]
| {{Flag|Georgia}}
| უგვირგვინო მეფე / ერის მამა
| The Crownless King / Father of the Nation
|
|-
| Members of the [[Parlamentarischer Rat]]
| {{Flag|Germany}}
| Väter und Mütter des Grundgesetzes
| Fathers and mothers of the Basic Law
| Drafted the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]], the constitution of (then West) Germany
|-
| [[Kwame Nkrumah]]
| {{Flag|Ghana}}
|Osagyefo
| Father of the nation
| First president and prime minister of Ghana during [[Decolonisation of Africa|decolonization]], the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve full independence.
|-
| [[Alexander the Great]]
| {{Flag|Greece}}
| Πατέρας των Ελλήνων
| Father of the Greeks
| Founder of the [[Macedonian Empire]] responsible for spreading Greek culture during the [[Hellenistic period]].
|-
| [[Cheddi Jagan]]
| {{Flag|Guyana}}
| 
| Father of the Nation
| President of Guyana from 1992 to 1997.
|-
| [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]]
| {{Flag|Haiti}}
| Père de la patrie
| Father of the Fatherland
| Primary leader of the [[Haitian Revolution]].
|-
|[[Dionisio de Herrera]]
|{{Flag|Honduras}}
|
|
|First Head of State of Honduras within the [[Federal Republic of Central America]]
|-
| [[Árpád]]
| {{Flag|Hungary}}
| Honalapító
| Founder of the Homeland
| Second [[Grand Prince of the Hungarians]], leader of the [[Honfoglalás|Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian basin]]. 
|-
|[[Mahatma Gandhi]]
|{{Flag|India}}
|राष्ट्रपिता (Rashtrapita)<br>Bapu (Father)
|Father of the Nation<ref>{{cite news|title=Gandhi Jayanti 2021: Inspirational quotes by 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/gandhi-jayanti-2021-inspirational-quotes-by-father-of-the-nation-mahatma-gandhi-10016461.html|access-date=15 October 2021|work=Firstpost|date=2 October 2021|language=en|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003150745/https://www.firstpost.com/india/gandhi-jayanti-2021-inspirational-quotes-by-father-of-the-nation-mahatma-gandhi-10016461.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="timesofindia-20Jan20">{{Cite news|title=Mahatma Gandhi was never declared 'Father of Nation', reveals RTI reply |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/mahatma-gandhi-was-never-declared-father-of-nation-reveals-rti-reply/articleshow/73446044.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |first1=Anuja |last1=Jaiswal |language=en|date=20 January 2020|quotation=Mahatma Gandhi was never accorded the 'Father of the Nation' title by Government of India and no rule or ordinance was ever passed in this regard. ... Article 18 (1) of the Constitution does not permit any titles except education and military ones. ... a bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant, had observed, 'Mahatma Gandhi is the Father of the Nation and people hold him in high esteem, beyond any formal recognition'.}}</ref>
| Leader of the [[Indian independence movement]] from [[British Raj]].
|-
| [[Sukarno]]<br>[[Mohammad Hatta]]
| {{Flag|Indonesia}}
| Bapak Bangsa<br/>Sang Proklamator<br/>Dwitunggal
| Father(s) of Nation<br/>The Proclamators<br/>Duumvirate
| Main leaders in the independence of Indonesia, wrote and signed the [[Proclamation of Indonesian Independence|Independence Proclamation Text]]. 
|-
| [[Cyrus the Great]]
| {{Flag|Iran}} ([[Name of Iran|Persia]])
| [[Shahanshah]]
| King of Kings
| The founder of the first [[Persian Empire]]
|-
| [[Abraham]]
| {{Flag|Israel}}
| אַבְרָהָם (Avraham)
| Father of Many Nations
| The patriarch of the [[Hebrews]], also considered the father of [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]
|-
| [[Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour|Camillo Benso]]<br>[[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]<br>[[Giuseppe Mazzini]]<br>[[Victor Emmanuel II of Italy|Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia]]
| {{Flag|Italy}}
| Padre della Patria
| Father of the Fatherland
| Authors of [[Italian unification]]<ref>{{cite book|first=Roland|last=Sarti|chapter=Giuseppe Mazzini e la tradizione repubblicana|title=Almanacco della Repubblica: storia d'Italia attraverso le tradizioni, le istituzioni e le simbologie repubblicane|publisher=Pearson|year=2003|isbn=978-88-424-9499-7|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Romano|last=Ugolini|title=Cento anni del Vittoriano 1911-2011|publisher=Gangemi|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Francesco|last=Perfetti|chapter=I padri della Patria|title=Quaderni del Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore|page=2|year=2011}}</ref>
|-
| [[Emperor Jimmu]]
| {{Flag|Japan}}
| 神武天皇 (Jinmu Ten-noh)
| 
| Legendary first [[Emperor of Japan]]
|-
|[[Kerei Khan]] and [[Janibek Khan]]
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Kazakhstan}}
|Негізін қалаушылар (Negızın qalauşylar)
|Founders
|Founders and first rulers of the [[Kazakh Khanate]], who led the [[Kazakh War of Independence]] against the [[Uzbek Khanate]] and established the first independent Kazakh state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-13 |title=On the Foundation of the Kazakh Khanate |url=https://e-history.kz/en/news/show/7650 |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=e-history.kz |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| Members of the [[Alash (party)|Alash]]
|
|
| Kazakh intellectuals who took part in the national liberation movement and formed the [[Alash Autonomy|Alash Orda]] provisional government during the [[Russian Revolution]]. 
|-
| [[Jomo Kenyatta]]
| {{Flag|Kenya}}
| Baba wa Taifa
| Father of the Nation/Freedom Fighter
| First President of Kenya from 1963 to his death in 1978 who helped create the [[Constitution of Kenya|Kenyan Constitution]].
|-
| [[Ibrahim Rugova]]
| {{Flag|Kosovo}}
|Ati i Kombit
|Father of the Nation
| First [[President of Kosovo|president]] of the [[First Republic of Kosovo]]. [[President of Kosovo|President]] of [[Serbia (federal)|Serbian]] [[Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metochia]] under [[UNMIK|UN]] after the [[Kosovo War]].
|-
| [[Jonas Basanavičius]]
| {{Flag|Lithuania}}
| Tautos patriarchas
| Patriarch of the Nation
| Various cultural activities during the [[Lithuanian National Revival]].<ref>{{cite book| title=The history of the Baltic States |first=Kevin |last=O'Connor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b3b5nU4bnw4C&pg=PA59 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-313-32355-3 |page=59}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]]
| {{Flag|Malaysia}}
| Bapa Kemerdekaan
Bapa Malaysia
| Father of Independence
Father of Malaysia
| The first [[Prime Minister of Malaysia]]. A prince from the [[Kedah Sultanate]], the Cambridge-educated Tunku led the negotiated independence of [[Federation of Malaya]] from the [[British Empire]] in 1957. Later formed [[Malaysia]] through the union of Peninsular Malaya, [[Singapore]], [[North Borneo]] and [[Sarawak]] in 1963.
|-
| [[Muhammad Fareed Didi]]
| {{Flag|Maldives}}
| Founder of modern Maldives and last [[List of Maldivian monarchs|sultan of Maldives]].
|-
|[[Giorgio Borġ Olivier]]
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Malta}}
|Missier Malta Indipendenti
|Father of Independent Malta
|First post-independence [[Prime Minister of Malta]] between 1950–1955 and 1962–1971.
|-
| [[Dom Mintoff]]
| Missier Malta Repubblika,
Missier Malta Hielsa
| Father of Republican Malta,
Father of Free Malta
| A Maltese statesman and leading politician. He twice served as Prime Minister of Malta (from 1955 to 1958, and from 1974 to 1984) as the Leader of the [[Labour Party (Malta)|Labour Party]], a position he held from 1949 to 1984. In 1974, with him as Prime Minister, Malta negotiated a series of constitutional reforms leading to the establishment of the Maltese Republic and the removal of the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] as [[Queen of Malta|head of state]]. In 1979, the last [[Royal Navy]] ships left Malta, marking the country's transformation into a fully independent nation. Mintoff is also credited with the establishment of the Maltese [[welfare state]] and the [[Socialism|socialist]]-style [[nationalisation]] and [[collectivisation]] of various key industries.
|-
| Sir [[Seewoosagur Ramgoolam]]
| {{Flag|Mauritius}}
|
| Father of the Nation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mauritiuspost.mu/museum/fdc/other.php?id=51 |quote=Known as the "Father of the Nation", Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam has throughout his political career from 1940 to 1982 been closely associated with the significant emancipation of the people of Mauritius and has led the struggle for Independence. |title=Centenary of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. |year=2004 |work=Mauritius Post Museum |publisher=Mauritius Post |access-date=2009-01-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625162936/http://www.mauritiuspost.mu/museum/fdc/other.php?id=51 |archive-date=25 June 2007 }}
</ref>
| First post-independence Prime Minister, in 1968.
|-
| [[Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla]]
| {{Flag|Mexico}}
| Padre de la patria mexicana<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elperiodicodemexico.com/nota.php?sec=Nacional-Politica&id=137050 |title=El Grito, una tradición popular mexicana sin dueño |date=2007-09-15 |work=El Periodico de Mexico |language=es |access-date=2009-02-07 |quote=Miguel Hidalgo, considerado el "padre de la patria" mexicana |archive-date=10 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710184350/http://www.elperiodicodemexico.com/nota.php?sec=Nacional-Politica&id=137050 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Father of the Mexican Nation<ref name="Vazquez">
{{cite book |last= Vazquez-Gomez |first= Juana |title= Dictionary of Mexican Rulers, 1325–1997 |url= https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmexi0000vazq |url-access= registration |year=1997 |publisher= Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated |location= Westport, CT, US |isbn=978-0-313-30049-3 }}
</ref>
| First revolutionary leader in the [[Mexican War of Independence]].
|-
| [[Genghis Khan]]
| {{Flag|Mongolia}}
| Монголчуудын эцэг
| Father of the [[Mongols]], Founding Father of Mongolia<ref>
 "Genghis Khan". North Georgia College and State University. Archived from the original on 6 March 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
</ref>
| After unifying the many nomadic tribes of northeastern Asian steppe peoples, Genghis Khan founded the [[Mongol Empire]] and became the first Great Khan and Emperor. He eventually led a [[Mongol invasions and conquests|conquest of the majority of Eurasia]], and his unified homeland would become Mongolia.
|-
|[[Mohammed V of Morocco|Mohammed V]]
|{{MAR}}
|{{Lang|ary|أب الوطن المغربي}} / {{Lang|zgh|ⵉⴱⴱⴰ ⵏ ⵜⴰⵎⵜⵜⵉ ⴰⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱⵉ}}
|Father of the Moroccan Nation<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-14 |title=Princess Lalla Aicha: Women's-rights activist and first female Arab |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/princess-lalla-aicha-women-srights-activist-and-first-female-arab-ambassador-2370954.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
|King of Morocco during its independence in 1956, seen by most Moroccans as Father of the Nation.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Stora |first1=Benjamin |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3917/ateli.stora.1999.01 |title=Les 100 portes du Maghreb |last2=Ellyas |first2=Akram |date=1999-01-01 |publisher=Éditions de l'Atelier (programme ReLIRE) |isbn=978-2-7082-3434-5 |series=Points d'appui|doi=10.3917/ateli.stora.1999.01 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Aung San]]
| {{Flag|Myanmar}}
| နိုင်ငံ‌တော်၏ဖခင်၊ <br/>လွတ်လပ်ရေးဖခင်၊ <br/>တပ်မတော်၏ဖခင်
| Father of Nation,<ref>{{cite news |title=Myanmar and Aung San: The resurrection of an icon |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/myanmar-aung-san-resurrection-icon |work=www.lowyinstitute.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cloutman |first1=Violet |title=Profile in power: Aung San - InsideBurma Tours blog |url=https://www.insideasiatours.com/blog/profile-power-aung-san |work=InsideAsia Blog |date=22 September 2016}}</ref> <br/>Father of Independence, <br/>Father of [[Tatmadaw]] (Burmese Army)
| He was the founder of Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) and he was the 5th [[Prime Minister of Myanmar|Prime Minister of Burma]] in [[British rule in Burma|British Era]] from 1946 to 1947. He was instrumental in Myanmar's struggle for independence from British rule, but he was assassinated just six months before his goal was realized.
|- 
| [[Sam Nujoma]]
| {{Flag|Namibia}}
|
| Founding Father of the Namibian Nation
| Primary leader of [[SWAPO]] during the [[South African Border War]] and first [[President of Namibia]], 1990–2005; title conferred by [[Act of Parliament]] in 2005.<ref>
{{cite journal |date=29 December 2005 |journal=Government Gazette |publisher=Republic of Namibia |location=Windhoek |issue=3567 |url=http://www.parliament.gov.na/parlidocs/ACT594.pdf |title=Promulgation of Conferment of Status of Founding Father of the Namibian Nation Act, 2005 (Act No. 16 of 2005), of the Parliament |access-date=2008-01-16}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
</ref>
|-
| [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]]
| {{Flag|Nepal}}
| श्री ५ बडामहाराजधिराज पृथ्वी नारायण शाह
| Father of the Nation
| [[King of Nepal]] during the [[Unification of Nepal]].
|-
| [[William the Silent]]
| {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| Vader des Vaderlands
| Father of the Fatherland
| Leader of the successful [[Dutch Revolt]] against the [[Spanish Empire]], which led to the [[Dutch Republic]], the first independent Dutch state.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.essentialvermeer.com/delft/delft_today/oude_and_nieuwe.html |title=The Oude and Nieuwe Kerk in Delft |access-date=13 October 2008 |archive-date=6 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006192350/http://www.essentialvermeer.com/delft/delft_today/oude_and_nieuwe.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Diriangén]]<ref>Ortiz Nuñez, Ramiro. Dirianghen: padre de la patria nicaragüense. Tipografía Brenes, Managua, 1953.</ref>
|{{Flag|Nicaragua}}
|Padre de la Patria Nicaragüense
|Father of the Nicaraguan Fatherland
|Native Nicaraguan tribal leader
|-
| [[Nnamdi Azikiwe]]
| {{Flag|Nigeria}}
| Father of Nigerian Nationalism
| 
| First president of [[Nigeria]] when it became a republic on 1 October 1963, and was the last governor general of Nigeria.
|-
| [[Krste Misirkov]]
| {{Flag|North Macedonia}}
| Татко на нацијата
| Father of the Nation
| Prominent linguist, writer and activist.
|-
| [[Einar Gerhardsen]]
| {{Flag|Norway}}
| Landsfaderen
| Father of the Nation
| First post–[[World War II]] [[Prime Minister of Norway|prime minister]] of [[Norway]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.aftenposten.no/fakta/tusenarsskiftet/article561221.ece | title = Gratulerer, kjære landsmann! | publisher = [[Aftenposten]] | author = Bjørn Talen | date = 1987-05-09 | access-date = 2007-12-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013134650/http://www.aftenposten.no/fakta/tusenarsskiftet/article561221.ece <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-10-13|language=no}}</ref>
|-
| [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]]
| {{Flag|Pakistan}}
| Baba-e-Qaum<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp?id=54870|title=Quaid's 60th death anniversary being marked today|date=11 September 2008|work=The News International|access-date=2008-11-09|quote=Today the nation marks the 60th Death anniversary of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, known as Quaid-e-Azam, meaning "Great Leader" and Baba-e-Qaum meaning Father of the Nation.}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>/Quaid-e-Azam<ref>{{cite web |title=Father of the Nation : Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah |url=http://quaid.gov.pk/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503015545/http://quaid.gov.pk/index.htm |archive-date=2009-05-03 |access-date=2008-11-09 |publisher=Government of Pakistan}}</ref>
| Father of the Nation/Great Leader
| Led the [[Pakistan Movement]] and served as first [[Governor-General of Pakistan|governor-general of Pakistan]].
|-
| Sir [[Michael Somare]]
| {{Flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| Papa Blo Kantri<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-26|title=Sir Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea's 'Father of the Nation', dies aged 84|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/26/sir-michael-somare-papua-new-guineas-father-of-the-nation-dies-aged-84|access-date=2021-02-26|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226134404/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/26/sir-michael-somare-papua-new-guineas-father-of-the-nation-dies-aged-84|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Father of the Nation
| Leader at independence in 1975; also known as "the chief" and "the old man".<ref>
{{cite book |last=East |first=Roger |author2=Richard Thomas |title=Profiles of People in Power |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2003 |page=[https://archive.org/details/profilesofpeople0001east/page/408 408] |chapter=Papua New Guinea |isbn=1-85743-126-X |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/profilesofpeople0001east/page/408 }}
</ref>
|-
| [[Emilio Aguinaldo]]
| rowspan="3" | {{Flag|Philippines}}
| Kauna-unahang Pangulo ng Pilipinas
| First President of the [[First Philippine Republic|Philippines]]
| Military Leader of the [[Philippine Revolution]] and the First [[President of the Philippines]] through the 1899 [[Malolos Congress]], which oversaw the promulgation of the [[Malolos Constitution]]. His birthday, 22 March 1869, is celebrated as Emilio Aguinaldo Day.
|-
| [[Andrés Bonifacio]]
| Amá ng Himagsikan
| Father of the Revolution
| Political Leader of the [[Philippine Revolution]], which saw armed resistance against the Spanish Empire. His birthday, 30 November 1863, is a national holiday.
|-
| [[José Rizal]]
| Pambansáng Bayani
| National Hero
| Colloquially known as the "National Hero". Rizal's works and writings–which helped start the [[Philippine Revolution]]–are part of the national curriculum as mandated by Republic Act No. 1425. The anniversary of his 30 December 1896 execution by the Spanish colonial government is a national holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joserizal.com/|title=Jose Rizal|access-date=2014-05-10|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429190455/http://www.joserizal.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Ignacy Daszyński]], [[Roman Dmowski]], [[Wojciech Korfanty]], [[Ignacy Jan Paderewski]], [[Józef Piłsudski]], [[Wincenty Witos]]
| rowspan="2" | {{Flag|Poland}}
| Ojcowie Niepodległości, Ojcowie Polski Odrodzonej
| Fathers of Independence, Fathers of Reborn Poland
| After [[World War I]] six fathers of independence jointly took advantage of the favorable conditions and led to the birth of the [[Second Polish Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://niepodlegla.gov.pl/o-niepodleglej/roznymi-sciezkami-ku-niepodleglej-szli-ojcowie-polski-odrodzonej/|title=Różnymi ścieżkami ku Niepodległej szli. Ojcowie Polski Odrodzonej|access-date=2023-09-05|archive-date=2023-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905183439/https://niepodlegla.gov.pl/o-niepodleglej/roznymi-sciezkami-ku-niepodleglej-szli-ojcowie-polski-odrodzonej/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mieszko I]]
| Twórca państwa polskiego
| Founder of the Polish state
| Mieszko I united [[Polish tribes|slavic tribes of Poland]], [[Christianization_of_Poland#Baptism|baptized]] the country and became the first historical [[List of Polish monarchs|ruler of Poland]].
|-
| [[Dom (title)|D.]] [[Afonso I of Portugal|Afonso Henriques]]
| {{Flag|Portugal}}
| Fundador da Nação
| Father of the Nation<br/>a.k.a. ''The Conqueror''
| Founder and first King of Portugal (1139), recognized by the [[Holy See]] in 1179.
|-
| [[Peter I of Russia]]
| {{Flag|Russia}}
| Отец Отечества (Otets Otechestva)
| Father of the Fatherland
| Was granted the title in 1721 by the [[Governing Senate]], along with "[[Emperor of Russia]]" and "[[The Great]]".<ref>
{{cite book |last=Anisimov| first=Evgeniy Viktorovich|others=translator John T. Alexander |title=The Reforms of Peter the Great: Progress Through Coercion in Russia |publisher=M.E. Sharpe|year=1993 |page=143 |isbn=1-56324-047-5}}
</ref>
|-
| [[El-Ouali Mustapha Sayed]]
| {{Flag|Western Sahara}}
|
| Father of the Nation
| Leader of the [[Polisario Front]], First President of the [[SADR]]. Fought against Spanish colonial army & against the invasion of the Moroccan and Mauritanian armies in the [[Western Sahara conflict]].
|-
| Sir [[John Compton]]
| {{Flag|Saint Lucia}}
|
| Father of the Nation
| Prime Minister at independence in 1979. Also known as "Daddy Compton".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1562638/Sir-John-Compton.html |title=Obituary: Sir John Compton |date=10 September 2007 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=2009-01-17 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614092013/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1562638/Sir-John-Compton.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Saint Marinus]]
| {{Flag|San Marino}}
|
| 
| Founder of a chapel and monastery in central Italy, in 301 (traditional date: 3 September). From this initial community the state of San Marino later grew.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://catholicsaints.info/saint-marinus/ |title=Saint Marinus |date=2 September 2017 |work=CatholicSaints.Info |access-date=22 January 2018 |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908002522/http://catholicsaints.info/saint-marinus/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Ibn Saud|Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia]]
| {{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| والد الأمة (Waalid Al Ummah)/ المؤسس (Al-Moa'sis)
| Father of the Nation/ The Founder
| Unified the tribes of the [[Arabian Peninsula]] and established the modern Saudi state. He descended from the noble [[House of Saud]], the dynasty which had ruled most of Arabia in the 18th century. His son [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman]] is the current head of state of [[Saudi Arabia]]. Five other older sons – [[Saud of Saudi Arabia|Saud]], [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia|Faisal]], [[Khalid of Saudi Arabia|Khalid]], [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|Fahd]] and [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Abdullah]] – served as former heads of state.
|-
| [[Donald Dewar]]
| rowspan="1" | {{Flag|Scotland}}
| 
| Father of the Nation
| First [[First Minister of Scotland]] following the reconvening of the [[Scottish Parliament]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18781330.remembering-donald-dewar-glasgow-politician-became-father-nation/|title=Remebering Donad Dewar: the Glasgow politician who became 'Father of the Nation'|work=Glasgow Times|date=12 October 2020|access-date=11 April 2023|archive-date=12 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212092723/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18781330.remembering-donald-dewar-glasgow-politician-became-father-nation/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dobrica Ćosić]]
| rowspan="3" | {{Flag|Serbia}}
| Отац нације<ref name="glas-javnosti2000">{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/05/11/srpski/P00051027.shtm|title=Ko je ovaj čovek?: Dobrica Ćosić|author=Zorica Vulić|date=11 May 2000|language=sr|publisher=[[Glas javnosti]]|access-date=25 August 2019|archive-date=27 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327232011/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/05/11/srpski/P00051027.shtm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/info/emisije/pescanik.php?yyyy=2007&mm=03&nav_id=237772 |title=Injekcija za Srbe |author=Lukić, Svetlana Lukić & Svetlana Vuković |date=16 March 2007 |publisher=[[B92]]: Peščanik |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327212553/http://www.b92.net/info/emisije/pescanik.php?yyyy=2007&mm=03&nav_id=237772 |archive-date=2007-03-27 }}</ref>
| Father of the Nation
| Yugoslav and Serbian politician, writer, and political theorist.
|-
| [[Karađorđe]] and [[Miloš the Great]]
| Отац нације<ref name="Jelenić1923">{{cite book|author=Durde Jelenić|title=Nova Srbija i Jugoslavija, 1788–1921|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=77QMAAAAIAAJ|year=1923|page=56|quote=ОТАЦ ОТАЏБИНЕ – КАРАЂОРЂЕ ПЕТРОВИЋ}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Milivoj J. Malenić|title=Posle četrdeset godina: u spomen proslave četrdesetogodišnjice Sv. Andrejske velike narodne skupštine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-IwAQAAMAAJ|year=1901|publisher=U Drž. štamp. Kralj. Srbije|quote=да се на престо српски поврати њен ослободилац и оснивалац: Отац Отаџбине, Милош Обреновић Велики,}}</ref>
| Father of the Nation
| Leaders of the [[First Serbian Uprising|First]] and [[Second Serbian Uprising]] during the [[Serbian Revolution]].
|-
| [[Saint Sava]]
| Отац отаџбине<ref>{{cite book|author=Branko Pešić|title=Spomen hram Sv. Save na Vračaru u Beogradu: 1895–1988|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6T7kAAAAMAAJ|year=1988|publisher=Sveti arhijerejski sinod Srpske pravoslavne crkve|quote=Отац Отаџбине Св. Сава је надахнуо Немањи- ну државу идеалима хришћанског патриотизма и створио слободну цркву у слободној држави. Држа- ва је Отечество – земља мојих ота- ца. Држава не сме да буде импери- ја, јер где ...}}</ref>
| Father of the Fatherland
| Founder of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]].
|-
| [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
| {{Flag|Singapore}}
|
| Father of Singapore
| First [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]] of the [[Singapore|Republic of Singapore]], governing for over 30 years. Leading figure throughout Singapore's time as a [[Singapore in Malaysia|part of Malaysia]] and its later independence.
|-
| [[Primož Trubar]]
| {{Flag|Slovenia}}
| Oče naroda
| Father of the Nation
| A consolidator of [[Slovene language|Slovene]] and the author of the first Slovene printed book.
|-
| [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan]]
| {{Flag|Somalia}}
|
| Father of the fatherland
| The emir of Dervish and [[Las Anod#Diiriye Guure|Diiriye Guure]].<ref name="scr">{{cite book |last1=Omar |first1=Mohamed |title=The Scramble in the Horn of Africa |date=2001 |page=402 |quote=This letter is sent by all the Dervishes, the Amir, and all the Dolbahanta to the Ruler of Berbera ... We are a Government, we have a Sultan, an Amir, and Chiefs, and subjects ... (reply) In his last letter the Mullah pretends to speak in the name of the Dervishes, their Amir (himself), and the Dolbahanta tribes. This letter shows his object is to establish himself as the Ruler of the Dolbahanta}}</ref> 
|-
| [[Nelson Mandela]]
| {{Flag|South Africa}}
| Tata wethu
| Father of the Nation
| Primary leader of [[internal resistance to apartheid]] as chairman of the [[African National Congress]], and  President of post-[[apartheid]] South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/2010/observance2010.shtml |title=Nelson Mandela International Day, July 18, For Freedom, Justice and Democracy |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2013-03-22 |archive-date=26 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626123837/http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/2010/observance2010.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[Catholic Monarchs]] (Ferdinand and Isabella) 
| {{Flag|Spain}}
| Reyes Católicos de los reinos de Castilla y Aragón
| Catholic Monarchs of the Kingdoms of Castille and Aragon
| The unifiers of Spain. They unified the territories of [[Crown of Castile|Castille]], [[Crown of Castile|Aragon]] and [[Al-Andalus]], all the territories of the Iberian Peninsula, except Portugal. During their reign [[Americas|America]] was discovered and started the [[Spanish Empire]].
|-
| [[Don Stephen Senanayake]]
| {{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
| ජාතියේ පියා (Jathiyay Piya)
| Father of the Nation
| First Prime Minister, from 1947 to 1952.<ref>
{{cite book |last=Phadnis |first=Urmila |author-link1=Urmila Phadnis |author2=Rajat Ganguly |title=Ethnicity and Nation-building in South Asia |publisher=SAGE |year=2001 |edition=revised |page=181 |isbn=0-7619-9439-4}}
</ref>
|-
| [[Johan Ferrier]]
| {{Flag|Suriname}}
| Vader des Vaderlands
| Father of the Nation
| First president after the independence of the country in 1975 (the term ''Vader des Vaderlands'' has its roots in the Netherlands).
|-
| [[Gustav I of Sweden]]
| rowspan="2" | {{Flag|Sweden}}
| Landsfader
| Father of the Nation
| Broke Sweden from Danish rule under [[Christian II]].
|-
| [[Per Albin Hansson]]{{Citation needed|date=July 2022|reason=According to whom?}}
| Landsfader
| Father of the Nation
| [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] 1932–1946 and founder of [[Folkhemmet|The People's Home]].
|-
| [[Julius Nyerere]]
| {{Flag|Tanzania}}
| Baba wa Taifa
| Father of the Nation
| First [[President of Tanzania]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/tanzania-weeps-for-father-of-the-nation-739027.html|title=Tanzania weeps for father of the nation|last=Duval Smith|first=Alex|date=20 October 1999|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=2008-11-08|archive-date=15 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215140138/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/tanzania-weeps-for-father-of-the-nation-739027.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Henry Alcazar, Victor Bryan, [[Tubal Uriah Butler]], [[Rudranath Capildeo]], [[Simbhoonath Capildeo]], [[Arthur Andrew Cipriani]], [[Albert Gomes]], [[Solomon Hochoy]], [[A. P. T. James]], [[Audrey Jeffers]], Ranjit Kumar, [[Emmanuel Mzumbo Lazare]], Chanka Maharaj, [[Bhadase Maraj|Bhadase Sagan Maraj]], [[Quintin O'Connor]], Michael Pocock, [[Adrian Cola Rienzi|Adrian Cola Rienzi (Krishna Deonarine)]], Alfred Richards, Harold Robinson, Timothy Roodal, Lionel Seukeran, [[Ashford Sinanan]], Mitra Sinanan, [[Sarran Teelucksingh]], Louis de Verteuil, Gerald Wight, [[Eric Williams]], [[Hugh Wooding]]<ref name="issuu.com">{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/pariapublishing/docs/50th_independence_besson|title=50th Anniversary of Independence of Trinidad and Tobago|date=26 May 2013 |access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=27 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327195343/https://issuu.com/pariapublishing/docs/50th_independence_besson|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" | {{Flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
|  
| Moulders of the Nation<ref name="issuu.com"/>
| They helped shape the country's future as an independent nation and laid the foundation of democracy.<ref name="issuu.com"/>
|-
| [[Eric Williams]]
|
| Father of the Nation
| First and three-term [[List of Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago|Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago]] from 1956 to his death in 1981, first Premier of Trinidad and Tobago from 1961 to 1966, second Chief Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1956 to 1961, founder of the [[People's National Movement|People's National Movement (PNM)]] and was instrumental in writing the Trinidad and Tobago constitution and gaining the country [[independence]] and [[republicanism]] from [[History of Trinidad and Tobago|British rule]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trinidad and Tobago Parliament|url=http://ttparliament.org/members.php?mid=26&pid=23&id=EWI01|access-date=2020-12-06|website=ttparliament.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-07|title=Dr. Eric Williams: The Father of the Nation|url=https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/dr-eric-williams-the-father-of-the-nation/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=Caribbean Life News|language=en-US|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518222808/https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/dr-eric-williams-the-father-of-the-nation/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Habib Bourguiba]]
| {{Flag|Tunisia}}
| المجاهد الاكبر(Al mujehed al akbar)
| The Supreme Warrior
| Father of the independence of [[Tunisia]] and first [[President of Tunisia]]. He led the [[Tunisian national movement]] against the [[French colonial empire]]. After [[Tunisian independence]], he founded a modern state, built schools and hospitals and gave the Tunisian women rights that are still unique in the Arab World today.
|-
| [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]
| {{Flag|Turkey}}
| Atatürk
| Father of the Turks (always used as a last name and not a title proper)
| Founder of the [[Republic of Turkey]] and first [[President of Turkey]]. He led the [[Turkish national movement]] in the [[Turkish War of Independence]], and enacted [[Atatürk's reforms|the reforms]] that made Turkey a democratic nation-state. Granted in accordance with the 1934 [[Surname Law]] establishing [[surname]]s in Turkey.<ref>{{cite book|last=Parla|first=Taha |author2=Andrew Davison|title=Corporatist Ideology in Kemalist Turkey: Progress Or Order?|publisher=[[Syracuse arUniversity Press]]|year=2004|pages=37–8|isbn=0-8156-3054-9}}</ref>
|-
| [[Bohdan Khmelnytsky]]
| {{Flag|Ukraine}}
| 
| Father of the Nation
| Leader of the [[Khmelnytsky Uprising]] against the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and founder of the [[Cossack Hetmanate]], the first independent Ukrainian state. 
|-
| Sheikh [[Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan]]
| {{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| والد الأمة (Waalid Al Ummah)
| Father of the Nation
| President of the UAE for its first 33 years (1971–2004).<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/166663.html |title=Abu Dhabi's Zayed Mosque tours to take on special Ramadan significance |date=20 August 2008 |access-date=2009-01-17 |quote=His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, a man affectionately known as 'The Father of The Nation' for his work as an architect of the UAE Federation. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607065303/http://www.ameinfo.com/166663.html |archive-date=7 June 2011 }}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3975849.stm |title=Obituary: Sheikh Zayed |last=Wheeler |first=Julia |date=2 November 2004 |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=BBC |access-date=2009-01-17 |quote=He was frequently referred to as the father of the nation. |archive-date=16 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716124629/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3975849.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| [[George Washington]], [[John Adams]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]], [[John Jay]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[Benjamin Franklin]] and other [[Signing of the United States Declaration of Independence#List of signers|Signers]] and [[Constitutional Convention (United States)#Framers of the Constitution|Framers]]
| rowspan="2" | {{Flag|United States}}
|
| [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Fathers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers.html|title=America's Founding Fathers|publisher=National Archives|access-date=2008-02-18|archive-date=16 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416102739/https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Stanfield, Jack.  ''America's Founding Fathers: Who Are They? Thumbnail Sketches of 164 Patriots'' (Universal-Publishers, 2001).</ref>
| The Signers signed the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] in 1776. The Framers were delegates to the [[Constitutional Convention (United States)|Constitutional Convention]] and took part in framing or drafting the proposed [[United States Constitution]].
|-
| [[George Washington]]
|
| Father of his country<ref name="Grizzard105">{{harvtxt|Grizzard|2002|pp=105–107}}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">Rupert Cornwell, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/presidents/george-washington-the-father-of-the-nation-1391109.html "George Washington: The father of the nation" (17 January 2009).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010154312/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/presidents/george-washington-the-father-of-the-nation-1391109.html |date=10 October 2017 }}</ref>
| George Washington is particularly highlighted out of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States]] as being the "father of his country"<ref name="Grizzard105"/><ref name="independent.co.uk"/> for his role as the [[Commander-in-Chief#United States|commander-in-chief]] of the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]], his resignation of command at the end of the war, the presidency of the Constitutional Convention and for [[Presidency of George Washington|his tenure]] (and [[George Washington's Farewell Address|voluntary retirement]]) as the first [[President of the United States]].
|-
| [[José Gervasio Artigas]]
| {{Flag|Uruguay}}
| Padre de la independencia uruguaya, Protector de los Pueblos Libres y Jefe de los orientales<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.me.gov.ar/efeme/index.html?mes=6&dia=19 |title=Efemérides Culturales Argentinas: Junio 19 |year=2009 |publisher=Ministry of Education, Argentina |access-date=2009-01-20 |quote=1764: Nace en Montevideo (Uruguay) José Gervasio Artigas, iniciador rioplatense del federalismo y padre de la independencia uruguaya. Falleció cerca de Asunción el 23 de septiembre de 1850. |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619131416/http://www.me.gov.ar/efeme/index.html?mes=6&dia=19 |archive-date=2009-06-19 }}
</ref>
| Father of Uruguayan independence, Defender of the Free and Chief of the eastern people<ref>
{{cite book |title=Latin American Government and Politics: The Dynamics of a Revolutionary Society |url=https://archive.org/details/latinamericangov0000edel |url-access=limited |first=Alexander Taylor |last=Edelmann |publisher=Dorsey Press |year=1965 |page=[https://archive.org/details/latinamericangov0000edel/page/309 309] |quote=José Gervasio Artigas, who doggedly led his guerrilla bands against the Spanish armies and raised the flag of a free Uruguay, is affectionately remembered by his fellow countrymen as "the father of Uruguayan independence.}}
</ref>
| Fought against the [[Royalist (Spanish American independence)|Spanish Royalists]] for independence in the [[Río de la Plata]].
|-
| [[Ho Chi Minh]]
| {{Flag|Vietnam}}
| Cha già dân tộc
| Father of the people
| Leader of the [[Viet Minh]], who fought for independence from France in the [[First Indochina War]] and decisively defeated them at the bloody [[Battle of Dien Bien Phu]], resulting in the establishment of an independent [[Democratic Republic of Viet Nam|Democratic Republic of Vietnam]] in the north of the country in 1954. Vietnam would eventually be united under [[Communist Party of Vietnam]] rule after his death with the [[Fall of Saigon]] at the end of the [[Vietnam War]] in 1975. 
|-
| [[Kenneth Kaunda]]
| {{Flag|Zambia}}
|Tata
| Father of the nation
| First president of Zambia from 1964 to 1991. He founded the [[Zambian African National Congress]] (ANC), later becoming the head of the [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP which led to attaining independence.
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last=Grizzard |first=Frank E. Jr. |author-link=Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. |title=George Washington: A Biographical Companion |year=2002 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-082-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RioTGCygpT8C}}

==See also==
* [[Family as a model for the state]]
* [[Fathers of Confederation]]
* [[Founding fathers of the European Union]]
* [[Founding Fathers of the United States]]
* [[List of national founders]]
* [[Pater Patriae]]
* [[Victory title]]

{{Lists of people considered founders by specific groups|state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Political terminology]]
[[Category:Titles held only by one person]]
[[Category:Nation]]
[[Category:Fatherhood]]
[[Category:Men's social titles]]