๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆintro to sociology review

Divine Right of Kings

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated September 2025

Definition

The Divine Right of Kings is the doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects, and cannot therefore be held accountable by them. This belief asserts that a monarch's legitimacy comes from their relationship with the divine, rather than any secular process or consent of the governed.