divine right

/dɪˈvaɪn raɪt/

Other forms: divine rights

In a monarchy, the idea that a king or queen's right to rule comes directly from God is known as divine right.

During the Middle Ages, kings had absolute power over their kingdoms, thanks to the widespread belief that they ruled by divine right. There are few of these absolute monarchies today, but most of the world's few remaining sovereigns are limited by laws and constitutions. Still, some people still feel that queens and kings inherit their positions because God has chosen them to do so. The Latin root of divine is divus, "belonging to a god."

Definitions of divine right

1. noun

   the doctrine that kings and queens 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”

   synonyms: divine right of kings

   type of:

   doctrine, ism, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought

   a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school