Answer:
The doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was a belief that monarchs were appointed by God to rule and were therefore accountable only to God. It was used to justify the absolute power of kings and their right to rule without interference from any other authority, including the church or the people. This belief became prominent in England during the reign of James I, who believed that he was chosen by God to rule and that his authority was absolute.
James I believed that the power of the king was derived from God and that the king had the right to rule without interference from parliament or the people. He argued that the king was accountable only to God and that any attempt to limit the king's power was a violation of God's law. This belief in the divine right of kings led to conflicts with parliament over issues of taxation and the authority of the king.
Charles I, James I's son, also believed in the divine right of kings and was determined to maintain his absolute authority over the country. He dissolved parliament and ruled as an absolute monarch, ignoring the rights of the people and violating the law. This led to a civil war between the royalists, who supported the king, and the parliamentarians, who sought to limit the power of the monarchy.
After the execution of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell became the Lord Protector of England and established a republic. Cromwell was a Puritan and believed that God had chosen him to lead the country. He also believed in the divine right of kings but argued that this right was only granted to those who ruled justly and in accordance with God's laws. Cromwell's government was authoritarian but was based on the idea of popular sovereignty, with power being vested in the people rather than the monarch.
In conclusion, the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was a belief that monarchs were appointed by God to rule and were therefore accountable only to God. It had a profound impact on the monarchy in England under James I, Charles I, and Oliver Cromwell. James I and Charles I believed in the absolute power of the monarchy and their right to rule without interference from any other authority. Cromwell also believed in the divine right of kings but argued that this right was granted only to those who ruled justly and in accordance with God's laws. The doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was a justification for the absolute power of monarchs, and it had a profound impact on the history of England.