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Foundations of Absolutism: Divine Right and Sovereignty

Foundational

Explores the theoretical underpinnings of European absolutism, focusing on the key political theories and philosophers who justified the concentration of power in a single monarch. This includes the concepts of divine right of kings and state sovereignty.

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High School (Grades 9-12) / High School AP History & Civics / AP European History / Absolutism and Constitutionalism
Next Steps in Absolutism and Constitutionalism
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The Glorious Revolution and the English Bill of Rights
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Foundations of Absolutism: Divine Right and Sovereignty

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What is the core definition of absolutism as a political system?
Absolutism is a system of government where a monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government; their power is not limited by a constitution or law. The ruler is, in theory, an absolute dictator.
What is the theory of the 'divine right of kings'?
The doctrine that a monarch derives their right to rule directly from the will of God, not from the consent of the people, parliament, or any other temporal authority. To challenge the monarch was to challenge God.
Which French political philosopher is most associated with the early modern concept of 'sovereignty'?
Jean Bodin. In his work 'Six Books of the Commonwealth' (\(1576\)), he argued that sovereignty must be absolute, indivisible, and perpetual to maintain order in a state.
Who was Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet and how did he support French absolutism?
Bossuet was a French bishop, theologian, and court preacher to Louis XIV. He was the foremost advocate of the divine right of kings, arguing in 'Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture' that monarchy was the most natural and God-ordained form of government.
According to Bishop Bossuet, what were the four essential characteristics of royal authority?
He argued royal authority was sacred (from God), paternal (the king as a father to his people), absolute (unrestrained by law), and subject to reason (the king should rule with wisdom and prudence for the public good).
How did Thomas Hobbes's philosophy in 'Leviathan' differ from, but still support, a strong central ruler?
Unlike the divine right theorists, Hobbes based his argument on a secular social contract. He argued that to escape a brutal 'state of nature,' people must surrender their rights to an absolute sovereign (the Leviathan) who maintains order and security. The justification was rational, not divine.
What was the role of the monarch in an absolutist state regarding law?
The monarch was considered to be the source of all law ('rex lex' or 'the king is law'). They were not bound by the laws and legal precedents of previous rulers, though they were expected to rule according to reason and custom for the good of the state.
In what ways was the power of an 'absolute' monarch practically limited?
Despite the theory, monarchs were practically limited by things like the power of regional nobles, traditional laws and customs, the influence of the church, and the technological and logistical challenges of enforcing their will over a large territory.
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