Divine right of monarchs
The power of the monarch
Throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, monarchs were seen as being God's deputies on earth, having a ‘divine right' to rule; the monarch had absolute power, and an attack on him or her, even a verbal one, was considered to be treason.
Although there were meetings of Parliament, and had been for hundreds of years, Parliament did not convene unless summoned by the King; this practice continued through the reign of James I and beyond.
For most English (and European) citizens of Shakespeare's day, the ruler was accepted as head of the nation by divine appointment.
James I was particularly keen on the idea that the king ruled by divine appointment. In The True Law of Free Monarchies (1598) he had already written:
Kings are justly called gods, for that they exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power upon earth: for if you will consider the attributes to God, you shall see how they agree in the person of a king. God hath power to create or destroy, make or unmake at his pleasure, to give life or send death, to judge all and to be judged nor accountable to none; to raise low things and to make high things low at his pleasure, and to God are both souls and body due. And the like power have kings: they make and unmake their subjects, 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.
The period of European history broadly between 1000AD-1500AD.
The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.
The belief that the authority of a king / monarch comes directly from God, taken by some kings to mean that they were above the law of the land and to disobey them was to disobey God / sin.
In the United Kingdom it is the highest political body, composed of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and elected officials in the House of Commons, who make laws and have the responsibility of running the country.
The image of God on his throne in heaven surrounded by his angels and ministers to whom he makes announcements and where he may be petitioned.
