Why did King James I of England not rule by divine right. He truly believed in it and published works on the topic. I cannot seem to find any information on why he did not rule in this manner. Please provide links or cite the works that you use so I can look it up for my research.
The English people wouldn't let him. They had beheaded his father for trying the same thing.When James ,who was Catholic, produced an heir, the english replaced him with a nephew, William of orange - a Dutchman, who was protestant and who had no delusions about who gave him his crown. England was on its way to constitutional monarchy where the king (or queen) is head of state by public affirmation.