Page "Divine right of kings" Paragraph 22

However, this overlooks those parts of scripture which provide for the doctrine of the " Two Swords " and for the medieval Roman Catholic concept of the powers of kings to protect the Christian Constitution of states, to defend and extend the boundaries of Christendom by lawful means only, to protect and defend the innocent, the weak, the poor and the vulnerable, and to protect the church and the papacy with the king's own life, if necessary.

The emperor was the first knight of Christendom, and the other Christian kings were his brother-knights sworn to Christian chivalry with its devotion to justice and charity.