Authors : Puteh Noraihan Binti A Rahman and Zahir Bin Ahmad
Abstract: The idea of kingship existed since the human race desired the communal leader. Leadership, politics and governance skills were essentially discussed by the political scientists and historians throughout time. The fundamental notions of serving kings vary depending on the communal interest but most of them are correlated with doctrinal and supernatural notions. This study is intended to demonstrate the analysis between medieval Europeans’ and Malays’ ideas of kingship in the sphere of divine right and authority of the kings. This study aims at identifying the difference of divine-king concept between the European and Malay communities. The secondary aim is to examine how the divine-right belief has impacted greatly on these two civilizations. The last purpose is to demonstrate a unique cult known as dewa-raja which was created by the Malays as a reflection of their divine-right doctrine. Qualitative data literary and archival works about Western and Malay political philosophy, cultural history and their social anthropology were consulted. Researcher has used “divine-right theory” and neo-historicism approach. Divine-right theory and concept between Western and Malays were different. The Malays initiated dewa-raja cult based on rituals conducted towards their king. The research is restricted to the Frankish empire and Malay kingship. The unique amalgamation process between secularism and spiritualism in both civilizations to be realized.
Puteh Noraihan Binti A Rahman and Zahir Bin Ahmad, 2016. The Divine Rights of Kings: A Comparative Study of Medieval European Kingship and Malay World “Devaraja”. The Social Sciences, 11: 2580-2589.