Which of the following statements concerning ideas about the relationship between medieval kings and their subjects is correct?
A)Law should be imposed on inferiors by an absolute monarch.
B)Kings were not bound by the law.
C)Law required a collaboration between the king and his subjects.
D)Lords had no right to resist a monarch who violated his agreements.
E)The power of representative assemblies exceeded the power of kings.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Many medieval legal systems required a collaboration between the king and his subjects. In England, for example, the king could not simply make or change laws on his own; he needed the consent of his advisors or counselors, who represented the interests of different groups within society. The Magna Carta, a famous English legal document from 1215, established the principle that the king was subject to the law and could not act arbitrarily or without regard for the rights of his subjects. While there were certainly medieval thinkers who believed in the divine right of kings or absolute monarchy, this view was not universally held. Similarly, while lords and other nobles were expected to be loyal to their monarch, they also had rights and privileges that were protected by law, and they could sometimes challenge or resist the king's authority if they believed that he was acting unfairly. Overall, medieval ideas about the relationship between kings and their subjects were complex, and varied depending on time and place.

Which of the Following Statements Concerning Ideas About the Relationship