About Kingship

[rturner76]

In these late years of Queen Elizabeth II, I have been "researching" European (Mostly English) Royalty. It was believed the King was god's representative on Earth. A good thing to have people believe if you want to retain power.

Still, there were good kings (and queens), pious kings, warrior kings, debaucherous kings, and they vary just like people.

The question is, which king or queen past, present, or future, is your favorite? Why?

There are many that stand out. 1 that I think of is Alfred The Great. Because (through war and politics), he united "England" namely the Anglo-Saxons. He also dealt with the northern invaders who almost took the whole country. He Christianized the Northern invaders and the Pagan Anglo-Saxons.

I know some are offended even by the notion of Kingship. Still, it was the way of things for thousands of years. So anybody who wants to discuss royalty or a particular royal (worldwide) past, present, or future. Please contribute. There are other kings I would like to discuss.

People who live in a country with a King, please share how you feel about or view your monarch?

 

[Abaxvahl]

In these late years of Queen Elizabeth II, I have been "researching" European (Mostly English) Royalty. It was believed the King was god's representative on Earth. A good thing to have people believe if you want to retain power.

Still, there were good kings (and queens), pious kings, warrior kings, debaucherous kings, and they vary just like people.

The question is, which king or queen past, present, or future, is your favorite? Why?

There are many that stand out. 1 that I think of is Alfred The Great. Because (through war and politics), he united "England" namely the Anglo-Saxons. He also dealt with the northern invaders who almost took the whole country. He Christianized the Northern invaders and the Pagan Anglo-Saxons.

I know some are offended even by the notion of Kingship. Still, it was the way of things for thousands of years. So anybody who wants to discuss royalty or a particular royal (worldwide) past, present, or future. Please contribute. There are other kings I would like to discuss.

People who live in a country with a King, please share how you feel about or view your monarch?

I haven't read the histories of many rulers explicitly but other than the righteous Kings in the Scriptures my two favorites that I know something about are: Urukagina (ancient Sumerian king who had reformed which helped the poor) and the Emperor Justinian the Great (who helped defend the true Gospel and wrote a beautiful code of Law).

 

[Albion]

In these late years of Queen Elizabeth II, I have been "researching" European (Mostly English) Royalty...
The question is, which king or queen past, present, or future, is your favorite? Why?

Confining the question to the UK for the sake of narrowing the field to something manageable, I am tempted to vote for Elizabeth II, or perhaps Edward VII.

Both did so much to build or restore respect for the monarchy (and therefore also for their country's institutions generally) during periods when it was losing popular support, that although some would say their efforts and accomplishments were not glamorous or dramatic, their reigns are success stories.

There are plenty of other monarchs who had power and it wasn't particularly endangered, but whose careers were nothing special.

 

[rturner76]

I haven't read the histories of many rulers explicitly but other than the righteous Kings in the Scriptures my two favorites that I know something about are: Urukagina (ancient Sumerian king who had reformed which helped the poor) and the Emperor Justinian the Great (who helped defend the true Gospel and wrote a beautiful code of Law).

Another Emperor that was very effective was Charlemagne. He basically united Germany. France, and Italy. Through wars of conquest of course. But he built churches, monasteries, and made the first public schools for "low born" people.

 

[rturner76]

Confining the question to the UK for the sake of narrowing the field to something manageable, I am tempted to vote for Elizabeth II, or perhaps Edward VII.

Both did so much to build or restore respect for the monarchy (and therefore also for their country's institutions generally) during periods when it was losing popular support, that although some would say their efforts and accomplishments were not glamorous or dramatic, their reigns are success stories.

There are plenty of other monarchs who had power and it wasn't particularly endangered, but whose careers were nothing special.

I was watching a documentary series about the castles and palaces the royals built over the years. I never realized how absolutely wealthy some of those monarchs were. Like when Henry VIII sold off and looted all of the Monasteries and their massive amount of land and treasures. He ended up building or rebuilding palace after palace with all state of the art )back then) technology and architecture, artists and sculptors. Hundreds even thousands of craftsmen on the payroll for dozens of years. He had unimaginable money. On top of all of that, he built a huge navy. Elizabeth I added more to the navy and Britain and ruled the waves ever since (until the USA caught up anyway)

 

[o_mlly]

In these late years of Queen Elizabeth II, I have been "researching" European (Mostly English) Royalty. It was believed the King was god's representative on Earth. A good thing to have people believe if you want to retain power.

Still, there were good kings (and queens), pious kings, warrior kings, debaucherous kings, and they vary just like people.

The question is, which king or queen past, present, or future, is your favorite? Why?

There are many that stand out. 1 that I think of is Alfred The Great. Because (through war and politics), he united "England" namely the Anglo-Saxons. He also dealt with the northern invaders who almost took the whole country. He Christianized the Northern invaders and the Pagan Anglo-Saxons.

I know some are offended even by the notion of Kingship. Still, it was the way of things for thousands of years. So anybody who wants to discuss royalty or a particular royal (worldwide) past, present, or future. Please contribute. There are other kings I would like to discuss.

People who live in a country with a King, please share how you feel about or view your monarch?

Reading 1 Samuel 8:10-18 reveals what God thought about kings (or anyone whose ambition is to exercise their will to power over His people). In their weakness, some prefer a false sense of security rather than personal freedom. Then, as now, the people get the government they deserve.

 

[J_B_]

The question is, which king or queen past, present, or future, is your favorite? Why?

There are many that stand out. 1 that I think of is Alfred The Great. Because (through war and politics), he united "England" namely the Anglo-Saxons. He also dealt with the northern invaders who almost took the whole country. He Christianized the Northern invaders and the Pagan Anglo-Saxons.

You seem to be focused on England. In that regard, Alfred is a good one. I also like Henry V.

But outside England, how about David (Israel), or Constantine (Byzantium/Rome)?

Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty of China.

I can't say I really know that much about Akhenaten of Egypt, but he's always intrigued me.

People who live in a country with a King, please share how you feel about or view your monarch?

There have been some American Presidents who thought they were king. Does that count? As you said, there are both good and bad. There isn't an ideal form of government that prevents bad government.

 

[rturner76]

You seem to be focused on England. In that regard, Alfred is a good one. I also like Henry V.

But outside England, how about David (Israel), or Constantine (Byzantium/Rome)?

Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty of China.

I can't say I really know that much about Akhenaten of Egypt, but he's always intrigued me.



There have been some American Presidents who thought they were king. Does that count? As you said, there are both good and bad. There isn't an ideal form of government that prevents bad government.

Yes, King Solomon comes to mind of the ancient kings. I also like Queen Nefertiti of Egypt. She got her people to worship one God (for a while).