Divine right of kings

Definition

The belief that a monarch’s authority comes from God, rather than being granted by the people or Parliament.

Used by OCR

Paper 2

Charles I became king in 1625. He believed in the divine right of kings: royal authority came from God. This encouraged him to defend his authority against challenges from Parliament.
Revise: The Civil War and the Restoration of the Monarchy

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GCSE History · key term

The belief that a monarch’s authority comes from God, rather than being granted by the people or Parliament.

Used by OCR

Paper 2

Charles I became king in 1625. He believed in the divine right of kings: royal authority came from God. This encouraged him to defend his authority against challenges from Parliament.
Revise: The Civil War and the Restoration of the Monarchy

Create a free account to read GCSE History revision notes for your exam board and track your progress.