Question

“The state of monarchy is the
supremest thing upon earth; for
kings are not only God's
lieutenants upon earth, and sit
upon God's throne, but even by
God himself are called gods.”
―King James I, Works (1609)
Which of the following people
would have been most likely to
agree with this statement?
Oliver Cromwell
Louis XIV
William of Orange
John Locke

Answer 1

Louis XIV would have been most likely to agree with the statement by King James I. Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King," epitomized the concept of absolute monarchy and believed in the divine right of kings, which holds that a monarch's authority comes directly from God. This notion aligns closely with the sentiments expressed in the quote.

In contrast, Oliver Cromwell was a leader of the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and opposed the monarchy. William of Orange, who took the throne in the Glorious Revolution, supported constitutional monarchy, which limited the powers of the king. John Locke was a philosopher who promoted ideas of individual rights and government with the consent of the governed, directly opposing the idea of divine right.