Royal touch

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Royal touch refers to the belief that the monarch of a country possesses the divine right or ability to cure diseases by the mere touch of their hand. This practice is most commonly associated with the monarchs of England and France, with the disease scrofula, also known as the King's Evil, being the ailment most frequently mentioned in historical accounts. The royal touch was part of the wider concept of the divine right of kings, which held that monarchs were appointed by and answerable only to God, and thus were imbued with special powers or qualities.

History

The practice of the royal touch dates back to the Early Middle Ages, with the first recorded instances occurring in England and France. It was widely believed that the touch of the king, who was seen as God's representative on Earth, could cure diseases due to the king's sacred nature. The ritual of touching individuals to cure them of scrofula became particularly prominent during the reign of King Edward the Confessor in England and King Philip I in France.

In England, the ceremony of touching for the King's Evil became an elaborate ritual, especially during the Stuart period. The monarch would touch the afflicted individuals, often giving them a gold coin called a "touch piece" as a token of the event. The practice reached its peak during the reign of Charles II, who is said to have touched over 90,000 people. The ritual declined in the 18th century and was eventually abandoned by the British monarchy, with the last recorded touch being performed by Queen Anne in 1712.

In France, the practice continued until the end of the Ancien Régime, with Louis XV and Louis XVI performing the ceremony up until the French Revolution. The belief in the royal touch as a cure for scrofula gradually diminished with the rise of scientific medicine and the decline of the divine right of kings as a political doctrine.

Theological and Political Implications

The royal touch was not merely a medical practice but also had significant theological and political implications. It served as a tangible demonstration of the monarch's divine right and their close relationship with God. By curing their subjects, the monarch was seen as a benevolent figure, reinforcing their legitimacy and authority. The practice also reflected the medieval worldview, where religion and monarchy were intertwined, and the health of the kingdom was linked to the sanctity of the king.

Criticism and Decline

The efficacy of the royal touch was questioned by some contemporaries, and it faced criticism from those who advocated for a more rational and scientific approach to medicine. The Enlightenment and the rise of empirical science contributed to the skepticism towards the royal touch. Additionally, the political changes brought about by the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, and the French Revolution challenged the absolute authority of the monarchy and the concept of the divine right of kings, leading to the decline of practices like the royal touch.

Legacy

While the practice of the royal touch has long since been abandoned, it remains a fascinating aspect of the history of medicine and monarchy. It illustrates the intersection of religion, politics, and medicine in the pre-modern world and serves as a reminder of the changing perceptions of disease and healing.