Which belief was essential to the structure of absolute monarchy?

The belief that was essential to the structure of absolute monarchy is the divine right of kings. This doctrine asserted that monarchs derived their authority directly from God, meaning that their legitimacy to rule was not subject to the will of the people or any earthly authority. By this belief, kings and queens were seen as God's appointed rulers, and thus their decisions were considered to be ordained and correct, placing monarchs above accountability to their subjects.

This idea solidified the concentration of power in the hands of the monarch, allowing them to govern without the need for consent from their people, and it justified the often autocratic rule characteristic of absolute monarchies. Not only did it support the notion of an unchallenged sovereign authority, but it also contributed to the social and political hierarchies of the time, where questioning the king’s authority was akin to questioning divine order.

In contrast, the other choices highlight concepts that promote shared governance or limit the monarch's power, which directly oppose the idea of absolute monarchy where power is centralized and unchallenged.