Divine right

Nicholas became Tsar in 1894, inheriting an autocracy: the ruler possessed supreme authority rather than answering to an elected parliament. He believed in divine right and regarded his authority as a duty sanctioned by God. Accepting representatives who could genuinely control his government therefore challenged his understanding of monarchy, not simply his preferred way of making decisions.

Henry believed in the divine right of kings: his authority to rule came from God. He therefore expected obedience and believed that his decisions should not be challenged. This conviction connected his personal view of monarchy to the wider religious beliefs that supported England’s social hierarchy.

Charles’s belief in his divine right to rule, meanwhile, made parliamentary attempts to restrict his authority especially difficult for him to accept.