Divine Right - GCSE History Definition

In GCSE History, Divine Right is the idea that a king or queen gets their power from God, not from the people. This meant they believed they had the God-given right to rule, and no one had the right to question or challenge them. Elizabeth I stated her Divine Right strongly because some people thought she was illegitimate due to the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn. By saying her power came from God, Elizabeth strengthened her position as queen and gained more authority. Charles I strongly believed in Divine Right and tried to rule without Parliament. This helped cause the English Civil War, where he was eventually put on trial and executed. Understanding Divine Right helps students see why conflict grew between monarchs and the people, and how power began to shift away from kings and queens during this period.