Divine Right Of Kings (Noun)
Meaning
The doctrine that kings derive their right to rule directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects; rebellion is the worst of political crimes; "the doctrine of the divine right of kings was enunciated by the Stuarts in Britain in the 16th century".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The doctrine of divine right of kings held that monarchs were above their subjects and not liable to answering to them.
- They believed their power was ordained by God and reinforced the divine right of kings to assert their dominance.
- Kings who invoked the divine right of kings often crushed opposition with brutal force, viewing any dissent as a challenge to divine authority.
- Defenders of monarchy posited the divine right of kings as an absolute justification for their rulers' actions, and resistance was futile.
- By proclaiming their rule as divinely ordained, monarchs could use the divine right of kings to justify any repressive measure against perceived threats to their authority.