divine right
Monarch's celestial justification
Divine right is the doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God, not from the consent of the governed.
A king ruling by divine right answers only to God, making rebellion against the crown a form of blasphemy.
The concept justified absolute monarchy in Europe through the seventeenth century: James I invoked divine right to resist parliamentary limits on his power.
Now used loosely for any claim to unquestionable authority: He acts like he has some divine right to the corner office.
Unrestricted governmental authority
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
patriarchal · hierarchical · paternalism · obedience · subjugation · birthright · inheritance · tradition
Male crowned ruler
- queenMost powerful chess piece
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
- scepterCeremonial staff of sovereignty
coronation · reign · royal · sovereign · majesty · realm · court · palace
Lawful or rightful status
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- dominionAuthority to rule
- prerogativeExclusive right of office
rule · governance · jurisdiction · power · supremacy · command · entitlement · absolute
Officially appointed to ministry
- sanctionedFormally approved or penalized
- anointedBlessed with sacred oil
- blessedReceiving divine favor
- sacredWorthy of reverence
holy · consecrated · heavenly · providential · spiritual · godly · transcendent · eternal
absolutism
Unrestricted governmental authority
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- feudalismLand-for-service social structure
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
nobility · patriarchal · hierarchical · paternalism · obedience · subjugation · birthright · inheritance · tradition · orthodoxy
king
Male crowned ruler
- queenMost powerful chess piece
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
scepter · coronation · reign · royal · sovereign · majesty · realm · court · palace · regalia
legitimacy
Lawful or rightful status
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- dominionAuthority to rule
prerogative · rule · governance · jurisdiction · power · supremacy · command · entitlement · absolute · unquestionable
ordained
Officially appointed to ministry
- sanctionedFormally approved or penalized
- anointedBlessed with sacred oil
- blessedReceiving divine favor
sacred · holy · consecrated · heavenly · providential · spiritual · godly · transcendent · eternal · supreme
- empireempire, emperor, empress, imperial, imperial regalia
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- monarchyking, queen, prince, princess, crown
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- royaltyking, queen, prince, princess, kings
- monarchiesmonarch, monarchy, kingdom, realm, sultanate
divine rightpopular sovereignty
Populace holds ultimate authority
consent of the governed · social contract · democracy · republicanism · self-determination
divine rightconstitutional monarchy
Royalty limited by charter
limited government · rule of law · checks and balances · separation of powers · representative government
right, divine, divinity, divination, diviner, divining, divined, divinely, diviners