Absolute Monarchy

Excerpts from an essay written by Bishop Bossuet in 1679

“There are four characteristics or qualities essential to royal authority:

First of all royal authority is sacred [comes from heaven];

Secondly it is paternal [like a father];

Thirdly it is absolute;

Fourthly it is subject to reason.”

God establishes kings to be his ministers and to rule over his peoples, and all power comes from God.

Kings must respect their own power, and employ [use] it only for the public good. Their power, coming from on high must be used with fear and caution as a thing that comes from God and for which God will hold them accountable…Kings must therefore tremble in using the power that God gives to them, and ponder over how horrible is the crime of misusing a power that comes from God.”