The completed sentence is: "The principle that kings and queens rule by divine right was challenged during the Glorious Revolution."
The Glorious Revolution, which occurred in 1688 in England, was a pivotal event that challenged the concept of divine right of kings. This idea, deeply rooted in medieval Europe, posited that monarchs derived their authority to rule directly from God, not from any earthly authority, and thus were not accountable to their subjects. This belief was central to the absolute power exercised by many European monarchs.
However, during the Glorious Revolution, King James II of England, a Catholic monarch, was deposed, and his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange were invited to take the throne. This transition of power was relatively peaceful and bloodless, hence the term "Glorious". One of the key aspects of this revolution was the significant shift in the balance of power from the monarchy to Parliament. This shift was formalized in the Bill of Rights of 1689, which laid down limits on the powers of the monarch and set out the rights of Parliament, including the requirement for regular parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech within Parliament.
This event marked a turning point in the history of the British monarchy and is seen as an early step towards modern constitutional monarchy. The Glorious Revolution significantly diminished the idea of the divine right of kings and paved the way for the development of a more democratic and constitutional form of governance, influencing not only Britain but also the political development of other nations.