Divine Right of Kings

Definition

The divine right of kings is the belief that monarchs are granted their authority by God and are therefore accountable to no earthly authority. This concept was used to justify absolute monarchical rule and the unquestioned authority of the king or queen.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The divine right of kings was a key political doctrine used to justify the absolute power of European monarchs during the 16th and 17th centuries.
2. Proponents of the divine right of kings believed that the monarch's authority came directly from God, and therefore could not be challenged or questioned by the people.
3. The divine right of kings was used to suppress political dissent and opposition to the monarch's rule, as any challenge to the king's authority was seen as a challenge to God's will.
4. The concept of the divine right of kings was a central feature of the English Civil War, as the Parliamentarians sought to limit the power of the monarchy and the King.
5. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 in England ultimately led to the decline of the divine right of kings, as the monarchy was forced to share power with Parliament and accept limitations on its authority.

Review Questions

• Explain how the divine right of kings was used to justify absolute monarchical rule in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • The divine right of kings was a political doctrine that claimed the monarch's authority came directly from God, and therefore could not be challenged or questioned by the people. This belief was used to justify the absolute power of European monarchs, as they were seen as divinely ordained rulers whose authority was beyond the control of any earthly institution or individual. By claiming that their power was granted by God, monarchs were able to suppress political dissent and opposition, as any challenge to the king's authority was viewed as a challenge to God's will.
• Describe the role of the divine right of kings in the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution.
  • The divine right of kings was a central feature of the English Civil War, as the Parliamentarians sought to limit the power of the monarchy and the King. The Parliamentarians challenged the idea that the monarch's authority came directly from God, arguing that the King's power should be subject to the will of the people and their representatives in Parliament. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 ultimately led to the decline of the divine right of kings, as the monarchy was forced to share power with Parliament and accept limitations on its authority. This event marked a significant shift away from the concept of absolute monarchical rule and towards a more balanced system of government.
• Analyze the relationship between the divine right of kings and the concept of theocracy, and explain how this relationship contributed to the suppression of political dissent and opposition to monarchical rule.
  • The divine right of kings was closely tied to the concept of theocracy, where religious authority is the source of all political power and the laws are seen as divinely ordained. By claiming that their authority came directly from God, monarchs were able to present their rule as a form of theocratic government, where any challenge to the king's power was viewed as a challenge to God's will. This belief system allowed monarchs to suppress political dissent and opposition, as the people were expected to obey the king without question, as they would be disobeying God. The intertwining of religious and political authority under the divine right of kings effectively silenced any voices of dissent, as questioning the monarch's rule was seen as a heretical act. This relationship between the divine right of kings and theocracy was a key factor in the consolidation of absolute monarchical power in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Related terms

Absolutism:

A form of monarchical power where the king or queen holds absolute control over the government and people, with no legal or political restraints.

Theocracy: A system of government in which religious authority is the source of all political power, and the laws are seen as divinely ordained.

Monarchy: A form of government in which a monarch, such as a king or queen, is the head of state and rules for life.