Final answer:
Bishop Bossuet's theory of government is predicated on the Divine Right of Kings, asserting that monarchs rule by God's mandate and are accountable only to the divine, which was a key component of the broader tradition of divine rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principles behind Bishop Bossuet's theory of government are rooted in the concept of the Divine Right of Kings. This theory contends that a monarch's right to rule is derived directly from God's will, thus positioning the king as God's earthly representative. Bossuet's arguments align with the broader tradition of divine rule, which grants legitimacy to a sovereign's authority based on their supposed selection by divine forces. During the era of absolutism, this concept reinforced the monarch's power and minimized the say of the people, positing that the monarch was answerable only to God. Within this context, any successful overthrow of a ruler was also seen as sanctioned by the divine, legitimizing the new ruler's reign. Bishop Bossuet thereby supported the idea that political and governmental authority was inherently connected to religious authority, thereby intertwining church and state.