Excellency, a title borne originally by the Lombard kings, and then by the emperors of the West from Charlemagne to Henry VII. It was adopted in the loth century by the Italian princes, who exchanged it for that of highness (altezza) after the French and other ambassadors had been permitted to assume it. In France it became about the middle of the 17th century a common title for the highest civil and military officers; and in Germany it was given also to doctors and professors in univer-sities. It is the title of every nobleman in Italy; in France, a duke is addressed as excellence, and a prince as altesse. It is the usual address of foreign ministers and of the govern-ors of British colonies. The president of the United States is sometimes called his excellency the president, but there is no legal sanction for this, the founders of the government having decided after discussion to bestow no title upon the president. A committee of the senate reported in favor of the style his highness," but the house opposed any title besides those expressed in the constitution.

Massachusetts is the only state whose constitution grants the title of excellency to its governor.