Defensio Regia pro Carolo I

work by Salmasius

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June 25, 2026

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Defensio Regia pro Carolo I (Defense of the Reign of Charles I) was a work written by the French classical scholar Claudius Salmasius during the English Civil Wars. Published anonymously in 1649, the book defended absolute monarchy and condemned the English Parliament's government, contradicting Salmasius's earlier views. This work supported the doctrine of the divine right of kings, which asserted that monarchs derived their authority directly from God and were not accountable to earthly powers. The publication provoked a strong rebuttal from John Milton, who defended the English people's right to govern themselves.12

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Claudius Salmasius
At whose instigation he wrote Defensio Regia pro Carolo I (“Defense of the Reign of Charles I”), which was published anonymously in November 1649, is not clear, but it seems certain that Charles II paid for the printing. The work contains, in contradiction to Salmasius’ earlier views, a defense of…
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At whose instigation he wrote Defensio Regia pro Carolo I (“Defense of the Reign of Charles I”), which was published anonymously in November 1649, is not clear, but it seems certain that Charles II paid for the printing. The work contains, in contradiction to Salmasius’ earlier views, a defense of…
Read More