During the Early Modern period, how did kings and queens maintain their power?

During the Early Modern period, kings and queens effectively maintained their power primarily through the concept of divine right and the establishment of centralized governance. The divine right of kings was a pivotal ideology that suggested monarchs were given the authority to rule directly by God, which not only legitimized their rule but also discouraged challenges to their authority since questioning a king's legitimacy was akin to questioning divine will.

Centralized governance played an essential role as it allowed monarchs to consolidate power and reduce the influence of nobles and regional lords. By streamlining administration and governance, kings and queens could exert control over taxation, law, and military matters more directly. This system often involved the establishment of bureaucracies and a professional army, thus enabling rulers to manage their realms more effectively.

In contrast, military strength, while important, could not sustain long-term governance without the legitimacy provided by divine right and a robust administrative system. Similarly, promoting feudal systems would have undermined the trend toward centralization, as those systems typically empowered local lords. Alliances with the Church were significant, but they were part of a broader strategy that included the divine right and not the sole means of maintaining power. This multifaceted approach characterized the political landscape of the Early Modern period, highlighting the