Divine right of kings facts for kids
The divine right of kings was an old idea about how kings got their power. It said that a king's right to rule came directly from God. This meant no one could question his decisions. He ruled completely over his people because he was God's chosen leader.
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How the Idea Began
In ancient times, some rulers like the Pharaohs of Egypt were seen as gods themselves. Or they were believed to be descendants of gods. This idea changed when people started believing in only one God.
During the Middle Ages, people thought God gave power to two groups. Political rulers got power over everyday matters. The Pope, as head of the Church, got power over spiritual matters. This was sometimes called the 'doctrine of the two swords'.
In the year 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor. This showed that the Emperor had worldly power, while the Pope had spiritual power. But this idea started to change before the First Crusade. The Pope asked nobles directly for help, not just the Emperor.
When Kings Claimed More Power
In England, Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church. He did this in the 1530s. By laws called the Acts of Supremacy in 1534, Henry became both king and the "Supreme Head" of the Church of England.
After the Protestant Reformation, the idea of divine right grew stronger. It meant the king had total power. He was seen as God's representative on Earth. This applied to both political and religious issues. The king was only answerable to God, not to his people or Parliament.
James I of England explained this idea in 1609. He told Parliament:
Kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods...they have power of raising and casting down, of life and of death, judges over all their subjects and in all causes and yet accountable to none but God only.
In France, this idea was considered from the 13th century. Even though France stayed Catholic, its kings slowly gained more power than the Pope. By the 1500s, the king became the main authority over the French church.
The Decline of Divine Right
The idea of divine right became less popular in England after the Glorious Revolution of 1688–89. But in France, kings like Louis XIV of France (who ruled from 1643 to 1715) kept using this idea. This continued until the French Revolution in 1789. By the 19th century, the divine right of kings was no longer a strong belief in Europe.
A Similar Idea in China
Chinese culture had a similar, but older, idea called the 'Mandate of Heaven'. This concept said that a good ruler had blessings from heaven. But if a ruler was bad, heaven would take away their right to rule. When the People's Republic of China was formed in 1949, they claimed this Mandate of Heaven from the people.
See also
Images for kids
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Henry VIII declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England.
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Ahura Mazda gives divine kingship to Ardashir.
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Louis XIV of France depicted as the Sun King.
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Antichristus, a woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder, showing the pope giving power to a ruler.
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Charles I of England, with a divine hand moving his crown.
More Information
In Spanish: Derecho divino de los reyes para niños
