The concept of the "Divine Right of Kings" justified what?

The concept of the "Divine Right of Kings" underpinned the belief that monarchs derived their authority directly from God, rather than from any social contract or the consent of the governed. This ideology posited that kings were appointed by God to rule over their subjects, and thus their decisions could not be questioned or opposed by earthly authorities. Monarchs invoking this principle maintained that their reign was legitimate and that any challenge to their rule was not just a political act, but also a challenge to divine authority.

In historical contexts where this doctrine was prevalent, it reinforced absolute monarchy and contributed to the centralization of power in the hands of a single ruler. In contrast, the other options reflect ideas that emerged later, advocating for popular sovereignty and governance structures that limit the power of any one individual or institution, which are not aligned with the Divine Right concept.