By the Grace of God (Latin: Dei Gratia, abbreviated D.G.) is a formulaic phrase used especially in Christian monarchies as an introductory part of the full styles of a monarch. For example in England and later the United Kingdom, the phrase was formally added to the royal style in 1521 and continues to be used. For example, on UK coinage, the abbreviation DG appears today.
Originally, it had a literal meaning: the divine right of kings was invoked—notably by Christian monarchs—as legitimation (the only one above every sublunary power) for the absolutist authority the monarch wielded, that is, the endorsement of God for the monarch's reign.
By custom, the phrase "by the Grace of God" is restricted to sovereign rulers; in the feudal logic, a vassal held fief not by the grace of God, but by grant of a superior noble. Yet this did not stop kings using it, even when they did homage to the pope (as viceregent of God) or another ruler, such as the Kingdom of Bavaria, a state of the Holy Roman Empire.
Parallels exist in other civilizations, e.g. Mandate of Heaven of the Chinese empire, where for centuries the official decrees by the emperors of China invariably began with the phrase 「奉天承運皇帝，詔曰」 which is translated as "The Emperor, by the Grace of Heaven, decrees".
The phrase was used in Luxembourg until 2000, when Henri, the current grand duke, decided to drop it. During the 20th century dictatorship of Francisco Franco in Spain, Spanish coins bore a legend identifying him as Francisco Franco Caudillo de España por la G de Dios ("Francisco Franco Caudillo of Spain by the G(race) of God").
The phrase is not used in the monarchies of Belgium, Luxembourg (Jean, abdicated 2000), Norway (Haakon VII, died 1957) and Sweden (Gustav VI Adolf, died 1973). In Spain, article 56(2) of the 1978 constitution, states that the title of the King of Spain is simply "King of Spain" (Rey de España) but that he "can use the titles that correspond to the Crown". As a result, the King of Spain may use "by the grace of God", but this is not used on official documents.
Variant examplesEdit
In some cases, the formula was combined with a reference to another legitimation, especially such democratic notions as the social contract, e.g.
Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was crowned Napoléon III, Emperor of the French, By the Grace of God and the Will of the Nation (Par la Grâce de Dieu, et la Volonté Nationale) after a plebiscite organised among the French people.
Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protectorby the Grace of God, and the Republic, denoting that he was chosen by God to rule but he was put there by the people of the 'Commonwealth' (British republic).
Agustín de Iturbide of Mexico was styled Agustín I, By the Providence of God, Constitutional Emperor of Mexico. Mexico's second emperor, Maximilian, used the style "By the Grace of God and Will of the People, Emperor of Mexico."
By the Grace of God and the Will of the Nation (Per Grazia di Dio e Volontà della Nazione) in the Kingdom of Italy, as well as in the Italian Empire, where the king was styled By the Grace of God and the Will of the [Italian] Nation King of Italy, King of Albania, Emperor of Ethiopia which though omitted the titularity as King of Cyprus and Jerusalem which had instead styled the House of Savoy previously and along with Duke of Savoia, King of Sardinia, Prince of Piedmont
Sovereigns of the Kingdom of Hawai'i were styled "By the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Islands, King (or Queen)"
Brazilian emperors used the style "By the Grace of God and Unanimous Acclamation of the Peoples, Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil" ("Pela Graça de Deus e Unânime Aclamação dos Povos, Imperador Constitucional e Defensor Perpétuo do Brasil") in the constitutional Empire of Brazil.
grace, this, article, about, regal, styles, other, uses, disambiguation, gratia, redirects, here, other, uses, gratia, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improv. This article is about regal styles For other uses see By the Grace of God disambiguation Dei Gratia redirects here For other uses see Dei Gratia disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message By the Grace of God Latin Dei Gratia abbreviated D G is a formulaic phrase used especially in Christian monarchies as an introductory part of the full styles of a monarch For example in England and later the United Kingdom the phrase was formally added to the royal style in 1521 and continues to be used For example on UK coinage the abbreviation DG appears today Contents 1 History and rationale 2 Contemporary usage 3 Variant examples 4 See alsoHistory and rationale EditMain article Divine right of kings Originally it had a literal meaning the divine right of kings was invoked notably by Christian monarchs as legitimation the only one above every sublunary power for the absolutist authority the monarch wielded that is the endorsement of God for the monarch s reign By custom the phrase by the Grace of God is restricted to sovereign rulers in the feudal logic a vassal held fief not by the grace of God but by grant of a superior noble Yet this did not stop kings using it even when they did homage to the pope as viceregent of God or another ruler such as the Kingdom of Bavaria a state of the Holy Roman Empire Parallels exist in other civilizations e g Mandate of Heaven of the Chinese empire where for centuries the official decrees by the emperors of China invariably began with the phrase 奉天承運皇帝 詔曰 which is translated as The Emperor by the Grace of Heaven decrees Contemporary usage EditThe traditional phrase by the grace of God is still included in the full titles and styles of the monarchs of Denmark Liechtenstein the Netherlands Monaco and the United Kingdom In other Commonwealth realms who share the same monarch with the United Kingdom the style is used in Antigua and Barbuda Australia The Bahamas Belize Canada Grenada Jamaica New Zealand Solomon Islands St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines and Tuvalu Papua New Guinea does not use the style The phrase was used in Luxembourg until 2000 when Henri the current grand duke decided to drop it During the 20th century dictatorship of Francisco Franco in Spain Spanish coins bore a legend identifying him as Francisco Franco Caudillo de Espana por la G de Dios Francisco Franco Caudillo of Spain by the G race of God The phrase is not used in the monarchies of Belgium Luxembourg Jean abdicated 2000 Norway Haakon VII died 1957 and Sweden Gustav VI Adolf died 1973 In Spain article 56 2 of the 1978 constitution states that the title of the King of Spain is simply King of Spain Rey de Espana but that he can use the titles that correspond to the Crown As a result the King of Spain may use by the grace of God but this is not used on official documents Variant examples EditIn some cases the formula was combined with a reference to another legitimation especially such democratic notions as the social contract e g Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Napoleon III Emperor of the French By the Grace of God and the Will of the Nation Par la Grace de Dieu et la Volonte Nationale after a plebiscite organised among the French people Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector by the Grace of God and the Republic denoting that he was chosen by God to rule but he was put there by the people of the Commonwealth British republic Agustin de Iturbide of Mexico was styled Agustin I By the Providence of God Constitutional Emperor of Mexico Mexico s second emperor Maximilian used the style By the Grace of God and Will of the People Emperor of Mexico By the Grace of God and the Will of the Nation Per Grazia di Dio e Volonta della Nazione in the Kingdom of Italy as well as in the Italian Empire where the king was styled By the Grace of God and the Will of the Italian Nation King of Italy King of Albania Emperor of Ethiopia which though omitted the titularity as King of Cyprus and Jerusalem which had instead styled the House of Savoy previously and along with Duke of Savoia King of Sardinia Prince of Piedmont By the Grace of God and the Will of People in the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia The same title was used in the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth when starting with King Henryk Walezy and ending with King Stanislaw August Poniatowski the king was chosen by the noblemen in a free election Sovereigns of the Kingdom of Hawai i were styled By the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Islands King or Queen Brazilian emperors used the style By the Grace of God and Unanimous Acclamation of the Peoples Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil Pela Graca de Deus e Unanime Aclamacao dos Povos Imperador Constitucional e Defensor Perpetuo do Brasil in the constitutional Empire of Brazil See also EditBillah Dei Gratia Regina discussing the use of the phrase on coins Mandate of Heaven Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title By the Grace of God amp oldid 1173411186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
