diff --git a/doc_engine/cli.py b/doc_engine/cli.py
index 154d871..c497353 100644
--- a/doc_engine/cli.py
+++ b/doc_engine/cli.py
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@
     available_themes,
     compile_pdf,
 )
-from doc_engine.converter import convert_document, extract_title, strip_first_heading
+from doc_engine.converter import (
+    convert_document,
+    extract_title,
+    extract_title_markup,
+    strip_first_heading,
+)
 from doc_engine.diagrams import DiagramError
 from doc_engine.help import RichCommand, RichGroup
 from doc_engine.linter import has_errors, lint
@@ -383,6 +388,7 @@ def run() -> bool:
         if resolved_bib is None and collected is not None:
             resolved_bib = collected.bibliography
         resolved_title = title or meta.get("title") or extract_title(content) or input_path.stem
+        title_markup = None if title or meta.get("title") else extract_title_markup(content)
         resolved_author = chosen.author or _detect_git_user()
         resolved_subtitle = subtitle or meta.get("subtitle") or ""
         resolved_date = date or meta.get("date")
@@ -447,6 +453,7 @@ def run() -> bool:
                 compile_pdf(
                     typst_body=conversion.body,
                     title=resolved_title,
+                    title_markup=title_markup,
                     author=resolved_author,
                     subtitle=resolved_subtitle,
                     date=resolved_date,
diff --git a/doc_engine/compiler.py b/doc_engine/compiler.py
index 6253f70..e3dfb2b 100644
--- a/doc_engine/compiler.py
+++ b/doc_engine/compiler.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ def compile_pdf(
     paper: str = DEFAULT_PAPER,
     pdf_standard: str | None = None,
     code_theme: str | None = None,
+    title_markup: str | None = None,
 ) -> None:
     source = template_path(template)
     if not source.exists():
@@ -126,6 +127,8 @@ def compile_pdf(
                 date,
                 paper,
                 theme_inject,
+                # Custom templates retain the existing string-only title contract.
+                title_markup if Path(template).suffix != ".typ" else None,
             ),
             encoding="utf-8",
         )
@@ -161,7 +164,9 @@ def _build_main(
     date: str | None = None,
     paper: str = DEFAULT_PAPER,
     theme_inject: str = "none",
+    title_markup: str | None = None,
 ) -> str:
+    title_line = f"  title_content: [{title_markup}],\n" if title_markup is not None else ""
     theme_line = f"#set raw(theme: {theme_inject})\n" if theme_inject != "none" else ""
     date_line = f'  date: "{_escape(date)}",\n' if date else ""
     return (
@@ -170,6 +175,7 @@ def _build_main(
         f"{_FIT_IMAGE}\n"
         "#show: setup_doc.with(\n"
         f'  title: "{_escape(title)}",\n'
+        f"{title_line}"
         f'  subtitle: "{_escape(subtitle)}",\n'
         f'  author: "{_escape(author)}",\n'
         f"{date_line}"
diff --git a/doc_engine/converter.py b/doc_engine/converter.py
index ba35611..05d73d6 100644
--- a/doc_engine/converter.py
+++ b/doc_engine/converter.py
@@ -443,6 +443,16 @@ def finalize(self, data: str, state: Any) -> str:
         return data
 
 
+def _parse_markdown(markdown: str) -> tuple[list[dict], Any]:
+    md = mistune.create_markdown(renderer=None, plugins=[*_PLUGINS, _math_plugin])
+    return md.parse(markdown)
+
+
+def _render_markdown_tokens(renderer: TypstRenderer, tokens: list[dict], state: Any) -> str:
+    renderer.load_footnotes(tokens, state)
+    return _CITATION.sub(r"@\1", renderer.render_tokens(tokens, state))
+
+
 def convert_document(
     markdown: str,
     base_dir: Path | None = None,
@@ -468,11 +478,8 @@ def convert_document(
         split_tall=split_tall,
         anchors=anchors,
     )
-    md = mistune.create_markdown(renderer=None, plugins=[*_PLUGINS, _math_plugin])
-    tokens, state = md.parse(markdown)
-    renderer.load_footnotes(tokens, state)
-    body = renderer.render_tokens(tokens, state)
-    body = _CITATION.sub(r"@\1", body)
+    tokens, state = _parse_markdown(markdown)
+    body = _render_markdown_tokens(renderer, tokens, state)
     return Conversion(
         body=body,
         assets=renderer.assets,
@@ -485,12 +492,33 @@ def convert(markdown: str, base_dir: Path | None = None) -> str:
     return convert_document(markdown, base_dir).body
 
 
+def _title_tokens(markdown: str) -> tuple[list[dict], Any]:
+    tokens, state = _parse_markdown(markdown)
+    for token in tokens:
+        if token["type"] == "heading" and token["attrs"]["level"] == 1:
+            return token.get("children", []), state
+    return [], state
+
+
 def extract_title(markdown: str) -> str:
-    for line in markdown.split("\n"):
-        stripped = line.strip()
-        if stripped.startswith("# ") and not stripped.startswith("##"):
-            return stripped[2:].strip() or "Documentation"
-    return "Documentation"
+    """Plain text for metadata; formatting belongs in the displayed title."""
+
+    def text(tokens: list[dict]) -> str:
+        return "".join(
+            text(token["children"]) if "children" in token else token.get("raw", "")
+            for token in tokens
+        )
+
+    tokens, _ = _title_tokens(markdown)
+    return text(tokens) or "Documentation"
+
+
+def extract_title_markup(markdown: str) -> str | None:
+    """Render the promoted H1 through the same inline renderer as body headings."""
+    tokens, state = _title_tokens(markdown)
+    if not tokens:
+        return None
+    return _render_markdown_tokens(TypstRenderer(), tokens, state)
 
 
 def strip_first_heading(markdown: str) -> str:
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/academic.typ b/doc_engine/templates/academic.typ
index aace344..34bb6a6 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/academic.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/academic.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -18,6 +19,14 @@
   let surface = rgb("#f8fafc")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   set page(
     paper: paper,
@@ -90,7 +99,7 @@
 
   align(left + horizon)[
     #v(-10%)
-    #text(font: "Inter", size: 38pt, weight: 800, tracking: -1.5pt, fill: primary)[#title]
+    #text(font: "Inter", size: 38pt, weight: 800, tracking: -1.5pt, fill: primary)[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(0.8em)
       #text(font: "Inter", size: 15pt, weight: 400, fill: muted)[#subtitle]
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/article.typ b/doc_engine/templates/article.typ
index 5186b5e..3bef074 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/article.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/article.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -21,6 +22,14 @@
   let mono = ("DejaVu Sans Mono", "Cascadia Code", "Courier New")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   set page(
     paper: paper,
@@ -84,7 +93,7 @@
   // A LaTeX-style title block at the top of the first page, not a cover sheet.
   align(center)[
     #v(1em)
-    #text(size: 17pt, weight: 700)[#title]
+    #text(size: 17pt, weight: 700)[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(0.5em)
       #text(size: 12pt, style: "italic", fill: muted)[#subtitle]
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/book.typ b/doc_engine/templates/book.typ
index de1552d..acff394 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/book.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/book.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -17,6 +18,14 @@
   let surface = rgb("#f5f2ed")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   set page(
     paper: paper,
@@ -86,7 +95,7 @@
   align(center + horizon)[
     #line(length: 40%, stroke: 0.75pt + accent-color)
     #v(1.5em)
-    #text(size: 32pt, weight: 700, fill: ink, style: "italic")[#title]
+    #text(size: 32pt, weight: 700, fill: ink, style: "italic")[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(1em)
       #text(size: 14pt, weight: 400, fill: muted, style: "italic")[#subtitle]
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/minimal.typ b/doc_engine/templates/minimal.typ
index 3280874..6f2a48a 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/minimal.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/minimal.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -17,6 +18,14 @@
   let surface = rgb("#f6f6f6")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   set page(
     paper: paper,
@@ -74,7 +83,7 @@
   ]
 
   block[
-    #text(size: 24pt, weight: 800, fill: ink)[#title]
+    #text(size: 24pt, weight: 800, fill: ink)[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(0.3em)
       #text(size: 13pt, weight: 400, fill: muted)[#subtitle]
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/modern.typ b/doc_engine/templates/modern.typ
index bd2e83e..fec211a 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/modern.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/modern.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -17,6 +18,14 @@
   let surface = rgb("#f1f5f9")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   set page(
     paper: paper,
@@ -80,7 +89,7 @@
     #v(-8%)
     #line(length: 18%, stroke: 3pt + accent-color)
     #v(1.2em)
-    #text(size: 44pt, weight: 800, tracking: -2pt, fill: ink)[#title]
+    #text(size: 44pt, weight: 800, tracking: -2pt, fill: ink)[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(0.8em)
       #text(size: 16pt, weight: 400, fill: muted)[#subtitle]
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/report.typ b/doc_engine/templates/report.typ
index e72fa03..81fcb90 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/report.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/report.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -20,6 +21,14 @@
   let mono = ("DejaVu Sans Mono", "Cascadia Code", "Courier New")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   // Wide margins and a short measure: roughly 65 characters a line, which is
   // the range that stays comfortable to read for pages at a time.
@@ -98,7 +107,7 @@
     #v(-12%)
     #line(length: 2.5em, stroke: 3pt + accent-color)
     #v(1.5em)
-    #text(size: 30pt, weight: 600, fill: ink)[#title]
+    #text(size: 30pt, weight: 600, fill: ink)[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(0.7em)
       #text(size: 15pt, fill: muted)[#subtitle]
diff --git a/doc_engine/templates/technical.typ b/doc_engine/templates/technical.typ
index 7863725..57baf51 100644
--- a/doc_engine/templates/technical.typ
+++ b/doc_engine/templates/technical.typ
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #let setup_doc(
   title: "",
+  title_content: none,
   subtitle: "",
   author: "Anonymous",
   date: datetime.today().display(),
@@ -18,6 +19,14 @@
   let line-color = rgb("#e4e4e7")
 
   set document(author: author, title: title)
+  let cover-title = context {
+    // Capture the surrounding title size before raw's default scaling applies.
+    let title-size = text.size
+    show raw.where(block: false): it => text(
+      font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas", "Courier New"),
+      size: title-size, it.text)
+    if title_content == none { title } else { title_content }
+  }
 
   set page(
     paper: paper,
@@ -96,7 +105,7 @@
     #set text(fill: white)
     #text(font: ("Cascadia Code", "DejaVu Sans Mono", "Consolas"), size: 9pt, fill: white.transparentize(20%))[TECHNICAL DOCUMENT]
     #v(1.2em)
-    #text(font: "Inter", size: 34pt, weight: 800, tracking: -1pt)[#title]
+    #text(font: "Inter", size: 34pt, weight: 800, tracking: -1pt)[#cover-title]
     #if subtitle != "" [
       #v(0.7em)
       #text(font: "Inter", size: 14pt, weight: 400, fill: white.transparentize(15%))[#subtitle]
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index a20cf01..d2af8de 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -237,3 +237,32 @@ def test_it_lists_what_the_build_supports(self) -> None:
     def test_plain_info_is_still_human_readable(self) -> None:
         result = CliRunner().invoke(cli, ["info"])
         assert "{" not in result.output.split("Markdown support")[0]
+
+
+class TestPromotedTitle:
+    def test_formatted_heading_reaches_compiler(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
+        import importlib
+
+        module = importlib.import_module("doc_engine.cli")
+        captured = {}
+        monkeypatch.setattr(module, "compile_pdf", lambda **kwargs: captured.update(kwargs))
+        doc = tmp_path / "doc.md"
+        doc.write_text("# **Document** *Title*\n\n## Body\nText.\n")
+        result = CliRunner().invoke(cli, ["build", str(doc)])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+        assert captured["title"] == "Document Title"
+        assert captured["title_markup"] == "*Document* _Title_"
+        assert "Document" not in captured["typst_body"]
+
+    def test_explicit_title_remains_literal(self, tmp_path, monkeypatch) -> None:
+        import importlib
+
+        module = importlib.import_module("doc_engine.cli")
+        captured = {}
+        monkeypatch.setattr(module, "compile_pdf", lambda **kwargs: captured.update(kwargs))
+        doc = tmp_path / "doc.md"
+        doc.write_text("# **Document** *Title*\n\nBody.\n")
+        result = CliRunner().invoke(cli, ["build", str(doc), "--title", "*Literal*"])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+        assert captured["title"] == "*Literal*"
+        assert captured["title_markup"] is None
diff --git a/tests/test_compiler.py b/tests/test_compiler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0bb1e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_compiler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+from doc_engine.compiler import compile_pdf
+
+
+def test_formatted_title_keeps_custom_template_contract(tmp_path):
+    template = tmp_path / "custom.typ"
+    template.write_text(
+        '#let setup_doc(title: "", subtitle: "", author: "", '
+        'bibliography_file: none, accent: none, branding: true, version: "", '
+        'paper: "a4", body) = { title; body }',
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    output = tmp_path / "custom.pdf"
+    compile_pdf(
+        "Body",
+        "Bold Title",
+        "Author",
+        str(output),
+        template=str(template),
+        title_markup="*Bold* Title",
+    )
+    assert output.read_bytes().startswith(b"%PDF-")
diff --git a/tests/test_converter.py b/tests/test_converter.py
index 648d92e..9df3633 100644
--- a/tests/test_converter.py
+++ b/tests/test_converter.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     convert,
     convert_document,
     extract_title,
+    extract_title_markup,
     strip_first_heading,
 )
 
@@ -221,3 +222,35 @@ def test_body_keeps_its_formatting(self) -> None:
         result = convert("> [!TIP]\n> Use **bold** and `code`.\n")
         assert "*bold*" in result
         assert "`code`" in result
+
+
+class TestFormattedTitle:
+    def test_title_uses_body_plugins_and_citations(self) -> None:
+        for inline in ("~~struck~~ title", "The $x^2$ theorem", "Result [@smith2020]"):
+            assert extract_title_markup(f"# {inline}") == convert(f"# {inline}").strip()[2:]
+
+    def test_plugin_metadata_is_plain(self) -> None:
+        assert extract_title("# ~~Old~~ $x^2$ result") == "Old x^2 result"
+
+    def test_reference_links_use_document_definitions(self) -> None:
+        result = extract_title_markup("# [Guide][ref]\n\n[ref]: https://example.com")
+        assert result == '#link("https://example.com")[Guide]'
+
+    def test_metadata_uses_plain_text(self) -> None:
+        assert extract_title("# **Document** *Title*") == "Document Title"
+
+    def test_display_preserves_emphasis(self) -> None:
+        assert extract_title_markup("# **Document** *Title*") == "*Document* _Title_"
+
+    def test_literal_markers_survive(self) -> None:
+        assert extract_title(r"# \*literal\* and `code_name`") == "*literal* and code_name"
+        assert (
+            extract_title_markup(r"# \*literal\* and `code_name`") == r"\*literal\* and `code_name`"
+        )
+
+    def test_nested_formatting(self) -> None:
+        assert extract_title("# **Bold and *italic***") == "Bold and italic"
+        assert extract_title_markup("# **Bold and *italic***") == "*Bold and _italic_*"
+
+    def test_missing_heading_has_no_markup(self) -> None:
+        assert extract_title_markup("## Body heading") is None