Two Seemingly Different Rulers, but Also Alike A God has always played a significant role when building governments and generally in people’s lives during the medieval and early modern period. God not surprisingly played a prominent role and had a tremendous influence in both Queen Elizabeth I of England and King Louis XIV of France lives. Understanding the deep belief they had that God chose them to rule, their sole mission to uphold the Lord’s laws and to rule lawfully, and finally how God generally was intertwined into Elizabeth and Louis’ lives further aid in providing a deeper analysis on how they ruled their countries. Through the 16th, 17th, and 18th century Louis XIV and Elizabeth I relied heavily on the Divine Right Theory. This …show more content…
Bossuet believes “Rulers then act as the ministers of God and as his lieutenants on earth. It is through them that God exercises his empire…The service of God and the respect for kings are bound together.” The belief that a king made his laws with God in mind could have persuaded the subjects that if they question a law, they are ultimately questioning God. This could increase the the individual’s time in purgatory and even jeopardize their chance at salvation. Elizabeth’s stance on a higher-being influencing her regulations is very similar to Bossuet’s, she states, “…to make me an instrument of His holy will in delivering the state from danger and myself from dishonor, all that I challenge myself.” She is an instrument of God’s will. Whatever the supreme-being desires, she delivers to the best of her abilities. Elizabeth has to keep England safe and cannot bring shame onto herself, because these are the Lord’s wishes. Jean Domat, a French jurist whom was highly regarded by Louis, writes, “…He delegates to them, it is clear that they should use this power in accordance with the aims that divine providence and rule have established for them; and that the material and visible manifestations of their authority should reflect the operation of the will of God…” In order to effectively rule, each leader must accurately create and enforce laws that they believe God would approve of. God is found everywhere within the reign and is a prominent player when kings and queens like Louis XIV and Elizabeth I were in