English Literature GCSE
Divine Right of Kings
What Divine Right of Kings means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for Eduqas, OCR.
Definitions of Divine Right of Kings
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
The political and theological doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God and are accountable only to God, not to their subjects. This was a central belief in Elizabethan England. In Henry V, Henry's concern with legitimacy ('May I with right and conscience make this claim?') reflects this doctrine.
The belief that a monarch derives their right to rule directly from the will of God.
Topics that use Divine Right of Kings
Related terms
Using Divine Right of Kings in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
Practise English Literature questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
Start free
All English Literature GCSE terms7 days Premium · Then free forever · No card, no charge