Question

what does it mean to say that louis xiv believed that he was king by divine right? how did this affect the way that he governed?

Explanation:

Divine right of kings is a political and religious doctrine that frames monarchs as God's chosen representatives on Earth. For Louis XIV, this belief justified his absolute monarchy: he concentrated all governing power in himself, eliminated checks on his rule from the French nobility or estates-general, used symbolic displays like Versailles to assert his dominance, and made all major state decisions without needing consent from other groups, as he viewed his rule as divinely ordained.

Answer:

1. Divine right meaning: Louis XIV believed his authority to rule came directly from God, not from the people, nobility, or any earthly body, and he was accountable only to God.
2. Impact on governance: He centralized absolute power, suppressed noble opposition, built the Palace of Versailles to control the nobility, and ruled with complete authority without sharing power with representative bodies.