Divine Right to Rule and the Bible

*(Jody Gray) Examples of how a person or a group of people claims authority aka the Right to Rule through use of The Bible and "claims" to Biblical Lineage (see, Related Blog Posts). The refusal of the Pope to grant Henry VIII an annulment of his marriage, led to Henry's break from the Church, which led to a separate Church of England and Henry being declared the "Supreme Head" and to the publication of the Great Bible (commissioned by Henry in 1535). (the 2nd Bible of the Church of England, the Bishops' Bible was completed in 1568). James VI took it a step farther, writing (1597-98) "Defense of the Right of Kings" asserting that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God. His King James Bible was begun in 1604 and completed in 1611.

 *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings Divine right of kings. The divine right of kings, divine right, or God's mandate is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It asserts that a monarch's subject to no earthly authority, deriving the right to rule directly from the will of God. The king is thus not subject to the will of his people, the aristocracy, or any other estate of the realm. It implies that only God can judge an unjust king and that any attempt to depose, dethrone or restrict his powers runs contrary to the will of God and may constitute a sacrilegious act. It is often expressed in the phrase "by the Grace of God", attached to the titles of a reigning monarch.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/By_the_Grace_of_God By the Grace of God, is an introductory part of the full styles of a monarch historically considered to be ruling by divine right. In the United Kingdom, for example, the phrase was added to the royal style in 1521 and has continued to be used to this day. According to the "Royal Proclamation reciting the altered Style and Titles of the Crown" of May 29, 1953, the latest such change of royal title, Elizabeth II's present full title is Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

History and rationale. Originally, it has a literal meaning: the divine will was invoked -notably by Christian monarchs -as legitimation (the only one above every earthly power) for the absolutist authority the monarch wielded. This is also known as the divine right of kings, that is, the endorsement of God for the monarch's reign.
  While the Christian Roman emperors during the late Dominate, especially in the East (as continued in Byzantium after the fall of Rome), came remarkably close to acting out the role of God's voice on earth, centralizing all power in their hands, e.g. reducing the Patriarch of Constantinople to their" (State) Minister of the Cult" and proclaiming their "universal" authority (in the Oriental tradition, as in Persia, but also in the original Muslim Caliphate), for most dynasties it would rather prove to be a never-ending battle up the hills of political resistance, both from rival power poles within their state (nobility, clergy, even within a dynasty) and from foreign powers claiming independence or even hegemony, usually constraining them in constitutional limitations (not necessarily written statues, more often a matter of customary law and established privileges).
  By custom, the phrase "by the Grace of God" is restricted to sovereign rulers; in the feudal logic, a vassal could not use it, because he held his fief not by the grace of God almighty, but by grant of a superior nobel, (in)directly from the crown...

 *(Jody Gray) Previously, I had researched "the Right to Rule" of Kings; below, is a section of the resulting Blog Post that relates to James VI of Scotland.

*Blog Post: Divine Right of Kings. http://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2017/06/divine-right-of-kings.html *The Scots textbooks of the divine right of kings were written in 1597–98 by James VI of Scotland before his accession to the English throne. His Basilikon Doron, a manual on the powers of a king...  The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth, for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods... Kings are also compared to fathers of families; for a king is truly parens patriae [parent of the country], the politic father of his people. -his reference to "God's lieutenants" is apparently a reference to the controversial text in Romans 13, where Paul refers to "God's ministers". (4) For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (5) Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (6) For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. (7) Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
James also had printed his Defense of the Right of Kings in the face of English theories of inalienable popular and clerical rights. The divine right of kings, or divine-right theory of kingship, is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God. The king is thus not subject to the will of his people, the aristocracy, or any other estate of the realm, including (in the view of some, especially in Protestant countries) the church. A weaker or more moderate form of this political theory does hold, however, that the king is subject to the church and the pope, although completely irreproachable in other ways; but according to this doctrine in its strong form, only God can judge an unjust king. The doctrine implies that any attempt to depose the king or to restrict his powers runs contrary to the will of God and may constitute a sacrilegious act.

 *King James Bible, was the third translation into English approved by the English Church authorities, commissioned in 1604 by King James VI of Scotland and I of England. James gave the translators instructions intended to ensure that the new version would conform to the ecclesiology and reflect the episcopal structure of the Church of England and its belief in an ordained clergy.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version King James Version (KJV) aka King James Bible (KJB) or the Authorized Version (AV), is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, begun in 1604 and completed in 1611... It was first printed by the King's Printer Robert Barker and was the third translation into English approved by the English Church authorities. The first had been the Great Bible, commissioned in the reign of King Henry VIII (1535), and the second had been the Bishops' Bible of 1568. In January 1604, James VI and I convened the Hampton Court Conference, where the new English version was conceived in response to the problems of the earlier translations perceived by Puritans, a faction of the Church of England. The translation is noted for its "majesty of style", and has been described as one of the most important books in English culture and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world.
  James gave the translators instructions intended to ensure that the new version would conform to the ecclesiology and reflect the episcopal structure of the Church of England and its belief in an ordained clergy. The translation was done by 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England... In the Book of Common Prayer (1662), the text of the Authorized Version replaced the text of the Great Bible for Epistle and Gospel readings... and as such was authorised by Act of Parliament.
  By the first half of the 18th century, the Authorized Version had become effectively unchallenged as the English translation used in Anglican and English Protestant churches... Over the course of the 18th century, the Authorized Version supplanted the Latin Vulgate (see, below) as the standard version of scripture for English-speaking scholars. With the development of stereotype printing at the beginning of the 19th century, this version of the Bible became the most widely printed book in history...

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac66 *History of Bible Translations.

In 382 the pope, Damasus, commissions Jerome to provide a definitive Latin version... (he) produces the Vulgate. This eventually becomes established as the Bible of the whole western church until the Reformation.
A restricted Bible: 8th-14 century AD. The text of Jerome's Vulgate is understood only by the learned, most of whom are priests. They prefer to corner the source of Christian truth, keeping for themselves the privilege of interpreting it for the people.
  The first authorized translation in England is that of Miles Coverdale, whose Bible of 1535 is dedicated to Henry VIII. Soon Henry commissions another version... This is the Great Bible...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulgate Vulgate, is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible that became the Catholic Church's officially promulgated (publicly promoted) Latin version of the Bible during the 16th century... The Clementine edition of the Vulgate of 1592 became the standard Bible text of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and remained so until 1979 when the Nova Vulgata was promulgated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Reformation English Reformation.

Based on Henry VIII's desire for an annulment of his marriage (first requested of Pope Clement VII in 1527), the English Reformation was at the outset more of a political affair than a theological dispute. The reality of political differences between Rome and England allowed growing theological disputes to come to the fore. Until the break with Rome, it was the Pope and general councils of the Church that decided doctrine. Church law was governed by canon law with final jurisdiction in Rome... The break with Rome was effected by a series of acts of Parliament passed between 1532 and 1534, among them the 1534 Act of Supremacy, which declared that Henry was the "Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England."

Related, Blog Posts.

*Blog Post: Biblical Lineage. http://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2018/03/biblical-lineage.html *
*Blog Post: Bible, Origins. http://historicalandmisc.blogspot.com/2017/06/bible-origins.html *
*

Biblical Lineage.

*(Jody Gray) this research was stimulated by an Ancestry.com member's Family Tree, specifically the "media" he had attached to Jean Stewart's profile page with references to “Descendants” of various biblical and legendary characters. This Jean Stewart is a descendant of the Royal House of Stuart.

 

Media: The Royal Lines from Zarah and Pharez (published 1947). The Royal House of Zarah -Judah (The Scarlet Cord, Gen. 38.28): Cretan Kings; Trojan Kings; Frankish Kings; Scandinavian Kings... Melesian Kings; Kings of Ireland. The Royal House of Pharez -Judah: David, Solomon, Zedekiah (the King's daughter) Kings of Ireland... Nathan, The Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ... Levi Aaron (High Priest), Simon the Just, Joseph of Arimathea... Media, Biblical Family Tree, mentions: descendants of Noah (grandsons and great-grandsons); descendants of King David and his son King Solomon... descendant of Saul; descendant of the Prophet Isaiah; descendant of Caleb... Legendary aka Mythical lineage (see, below, Wikipedia pages): Descendant of King Arthur Pendragon (High-King) of Britain. Greek Mythology: Priam High King of Troy; descendant of Prometheus...
ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendragon Pendragon... is the epithet of Uther, father of King Arthur in medieval and modern Arthurian literature... In the Historia Regum Britanniae, one of the earliest texts of the Arthurian legend, only Uther is given the surname "Pendragon", which is explained by the author Geoffrey of Monmouth as literally meaning "dragon's head". *Dictionary, Pendragon, a title given to an ancient British or Welsh prince holding or claiming supreme power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus Prometheus, is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who is credited with the creation of a man from clay, and who defies the gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity... The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is a major theme of his mythology... The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, which would then grow back overnight to be eaten again the next day. (In ancient Greece, the liver was thought to be the seat of human emotions.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priam Priam, was the king of Troy during the Trojan War... It has been suggested by Hittite sources... that there is historical basis for the archetype of King Priam... There is a Family Tree, Trojan race.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_tree_of_the_Bible Family tree of the Bible. *(links) see also, Generations of Adam; Genealogies in the Bible; Genealogy of Jesus. And, Religious family trees: Biblical; Islamic (Muhammad); Polytheistic (Babylonian gods, Greek gods... Norse gods)

*https://genealogy.stackexchange.com/questions/2330/has-a-modern-genealogy-been-traced-back-to-a-biblical-person Has a modern genealogy been traced back to a biblical person? Question: I have heard claims that people have traced their genealogy back to King David of the Old Testament. But I've also heard that most (if not all) have major gaps or assumptions in the lineage. Is there any published genealogy that is properly sourced and considered to be effectively "proven" (in a professional genealogical sense) that traced one line back to a biblical character (any person) in the Old or New Testament?

(there are several answers, this is one) There is simply in the western and middle-eastern world no sources (never mind reliable sources) for lineages outside royalty that stretches back beyond the medieval. And not even these non-reliable pre- or early medieval lineages claims relations with biblical persons, as far as I am aware. However, some medieval royal houses did indeed claim to be from the house of David, and hence descended from David. I would guess that any modern claims to being a descendant of David comes from a suspected relation to these royal houses.
  But not even these claims can be traced back beyond a thousand years ago or so, meaning there are still some two thousand years of lineage unaccounted for.
  On a related note, the Danish royalty did use to claim to descend from Odin and had a made up lineage for this. So if you are related to them, you can claim to be related to gods... (Jody Gray) indeed, I have a couple claims to lineage to Odin, House of Wessex and House of Munson. (see, Odin).
  Another answer: Coincidentally, I was just reading the Summer issue of American Ancestors Magazine (see, http://www.americanancestors.org/american-ancestors-magazine/). It has an article on 'A Continental Collection' with several pages on 'Ancient Ancestry'. On page 40, it mentions a 1947 Register article as the beginning of the modern study of 'Ancient Ancestry' with a speculative line for Charlemagne back to ancient Rome. It also references one article titled 'Saint William, King David, and Makhir: A Controversial Medieval Descent'. So it appears there are some scholarly pursuits in this area albeit with 'Controversial' in the title. Anyone interested may want to pursue these articles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin Odin... In Old English texts, Odin holds a particular place as a euhemerized (mythological) ancestral figure among royalty; he is frequently referred to as a founding figure among various other German peoples... Over 170 names are recorded for Odin... Although the English kingdoms were converted as a result of Christianization of the Germanic peoples by the 7th century, Oden is frequently listed as a founding figure among the Old English royalty...

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon.htm English Monarchs, Saxon. The House of Wessex boasted of a descent from no less personage than the great Woden aka Odin himself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Muns%C3%B6 House of Munson aka House of Uppsala... (Ragnar Lodbrok) Aslaug, Ragnar's wife and mother of his sons, was the daughter of Sigurd, whose ancestor Sigi was a descendant of Odin... Therefore, the entire house of Munso (and all their descendants) are descended from Odin.
                        
(Jody Gray) New, to me, reference to Queen Elizabeth II being a descendant of the biblical, King David (British-Israelites) and a connection of King Zedekiah's daughter who traveled to Ireland...
*http://www.biblemysteries.com/library/queen.htm Bible Mysteries. Does Queen Elizabeth II sit on a throne of David?  The British-Israelites, represented by The Covenant Publishing Company in London and Destiny Publishers in Massachusetts, have long claimed that Queen Elizabeth II. is descended from King David of Israel and sits on his throne today. Herbert W. Armstrong -- founder of the Worldwide Church of God -- picked up on this idea in the 1920s and made it one of the principal doctrines in the Church's theology. Now dropped by the Worldwide Church of God, the idea remains alive in the Church of God International and the so-called Philadelphia Church of God.

*https://www.thetrumpet.com/13074-the-inspiring-truth-about-queen-elizabeth-the-longest-reigning-monarch-in-english-history *the Trumpet. The inspiring truth about Queen Elizabeth the longest reigning monarch in English history. pub. 2015. ...Sure enough, historians have tracked down what became of that throne. The history after Solomon down through the kings that reigned in Jerusalem until the fall of the kingdom of Judah recorded in the bible -over 400 years after God made that promise. But you can follow it even further -through one of the daughters of the last king of Judah, Zedekiah. When Judah went into captivity in 585 B.C., King Zedekiah's daughter traveled to Ireland. Thus the royal line was preserved -and transplanted to the British Isles... "For over 70 years we have proven repeatedly and in convincing detail that Britain descends from ancient Israel, specifically the tribe of Joseph,"  wrote Mr. Flurry. "Among the descendants of Israel, England has by far the most enduring and prestigious monarchy. The reason for this is simple and stunning: "England's royal family descends from King David."...

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Philadelphia_Trumpet The Philadelphia Trumpet. Publisher, Philadelphia Church of God. Country, United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Church_of_God#Founders Philadelphia Church of God... The PCG traces its roots to the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), founded by Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986), and it teaches new revelation that its founder, Gerald Flurry, claims to be shown by God from the Bible since Armstrong's death. It was founded with the stated purpose of continuing Armstrong's teachings, which were re-evaluated and subsequently rejected by WCG after Armstrong's death, as it came to accept Biblically orthodox Christian teachings, such as the trinity (the triune nature of the one true God). Armstrong had rejected the trinity doctrine in favor of his own view, that God is not one but multiple 'god beings' (i.e. a 'family' of gods) into which 'family' according to Armstrong, humans, "upon true conversion and spiritual growth", may be born.
Founder. Gerald Flurry... is also founder... of Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond, Oklahoma... formerly served as a pastor in the Worldwide Church of God, before being disfellowshipped for what he described as "resisting sweeping doctrinal changes." ...(He) went on to found his own church organization, the Philadelphia Church of God, in 1989. In 1993, Flurry was arrested for drunk driving and was also accused of trying to bribe a police officer into letting him go. He was never charged with bribery.
The Key of David. is a weekly religious television program hosted by Gerald Flurry, in which he discusses world events and issues from his perspective of the Bible and its prophecies, covering topics such as the human mind, politics and war... aired in Africa, Australasia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Philippines, and the United States. Link, See also, Armstrongism.

(Jody Gray) Also, new to me, reference to Queen Elizabeth II being a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad...

*https://observer.news/world/study-reveals-queen-elizabeth-ii-descendant-prophet-muhammad/ Observer, pub 2017, by Charlene Wong. Study reveals Queen Elizabeth II is a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. England -according to a study in 1986 by  Burke Peerage, one of the top genealogical publishers of the world, Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom -the world's oldest living monarch -is a descendant of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, specifically, the 43rd great-granddaughter of the Prophet. Burke Peerage has provided authoritive genealogical records of historical families for more than 190 years...
United Press International. October 10, 1986. Moslems in Buckingham Palace. Brooks-Baker said the British royal family is descended from Mohammed through the Arab kings of Seville, who once ruled Spain. By marriage, their blood passed to the European kings of Portugal and Castille, and through them to England's 15th century King Edward IV.
Background. The Umayyad Caliphate was an Arab caliphate established after the death of Prophet Muhammad... at its peak, ruled over 15 million km2 from the Caucasus (Eurasia) to the Iberian Peninsula (Muslim Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar). It was the fifth largest empire in history, governing 62 million people (29% of the world's population at the time).
The Lineage... Al-Qasim had a daughter Zaida... who fled to King Alfonso VI's court -the Spanish King of Leon, Castille and Galicia... Zaida converted to Roman Catholicism and married King Alfonso VI. She adopted the name Isabella after her baptism... Two centuries later in 1352, a descendant... Maria de Padilla had children with King Peter of Castille. The king fathered four children with her, two of whom married sons of King Edward III of England.
  Generations later, Queen Elizabeth was born, bringing with her a colourful lineage of royalty from both the Western and Eastern civilisation.
Conclusion. It is a complicated process to trace the ancestral route of an individual over the course of centuries, but logic in genealogy would dictate that if we go back many years, the duplication of ancestors would be massive.
  To put it in perspective, assuming you were born in 1947, you should have had 1,024 ninth great-grandparents prior. This takes us back to 1700s -around the time of the British first settlements in North America. If we go back even further to the 1500s, an average child born in 1947 would have had 60,000 ancestors.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Observer New York Observer. *noteworthy, this is not a "religious" publication, it focuses on culture, real estate, media, politics and the entertainment and publishing industries.

(Jody Gray) for me, the above entry, is the best conclusion for my research on the Biblical Lineage Charts. I have 4405 people in my Gray-Piper Tree (which is only my father's side); to name a few of my Noble ancestors: Henry II King of England (3rd cousin 26x removed). William I of Normandy King of England (28th great-uncle). Charlemagne (37th great-grandfather). Hugh Capet (30th great-grandfather). Rurik (33rd great-grandfather). Alfred the Great (35th great-grandfather) Robert I (5th cousin 22x removed). Henry the Fowler, progenitor of the Ottonian Dynasty ( 32nd great-grandfather). Famous Viking Leaders: Rollo, 1st Count of Normandy (32nd great-grandfather). Ragnar Sigurdsson Lodbrok (37th great-grandfather). And, these ancestors are from countries match my DNA results. I've included my ancient great-parents in my family tree because they have made it more interesting, for me, to learn world history and geography. I don't consider being related to them  makes me anymore "special" than anyone else (ancient nobility and religious leaders committed horrible acts of violence against their fellow human beings). If I have any pride in my heritage it is tied to the family I grew up with, who I've always referred to as "good people" (not out to hurt anyone); and, my father, a farmer, whose life was based on his desire to farm, to marry the woman he fell in love with and have children with her. He had a strong, natural faith in God, but he didn't feel any need to challenge anyone else's religious beliefs.

*(Jody Gray) one last item, attached to Jean Stewart's profile page by the same Ancestry.com member, tied into biblical lineage. Media, Icon, Zarah's Red Hand of Ulster Descendant of Zarah son of Judah-Genesis 38: 27-30. (Jody Gray) I found different interpretations; the first one relates to Judean origins, sons of Pharez of Judah, and, Ulster, Ireland -specifically, the binding Zarah's hand with a "scarlet thread" -founder of Ulster.

http://www.britam.org/traditions11.html *Britam.org. Various Traditions #11 by Yair Davidiy adapted from: "Lost Israelite Identity. The Israelite Origin of Celtic Races" (1996). ...Irish sources do state that a portion of their ancestors had been captives of Greece and had freed themselves. They also refer to the possible Judean origins, in part.
The Red Hands of Ulster. Previously we discussed the presence amongst the Ancient Irish and Scottish of the descendants of Yair and the lari. Yair was counted with Menasseh but actually born to Segub son of Hezron son of Pharez of Judah... Calcol was also counted amongst the ancestors of the Irish. Camden (1551-1623) stated that Calcol of Judah sailed from Egypt to Spain (where the city of Zaragossa was named after Zerah), and then on to Ireland where he founded Ulladh. (i.e. Ulster has actually a name similar (in some types of Hebrew pronunciation) to that of Eladah of Ephraim... There was also a Tamarus River in northwest Spain where the Gaels had sojourned before moving to Ireland Britain.
  Zerah and Pharez were twins. The manner of their birth is described in the Bible. [Genesis 38:28] And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, this came out first... and his name was called Zarah.
  The present day official symbol of Northern Ireland (Ulster) is a scarlet hand superimposed upon the Star of David which universally is taken as representing The Tribe of Judah and appears upon the flag of the modern State of Israel. The Star of David has twelve junction-points and shows how the Tribes of Israel were encamped around the Tabernacle when they came out of Egypt... The red hand has been interpreted to represent Zarah of Judah father of Calcol who according to the legend quoted above sailed to Ireland and founded Uladh (i.e. Ulster).
Bennett states that, "the ancient and traditional emblem of Ulster was and still is a Red Hand circled by a Scarlet Cord". "Three of Ulster's six counties, as well as the towns of Bangor and Dungannon, have the Red Hand as part of their official emblems".
From Ireland, the Scots migrated to Scotland, and the Red Hand, says Bennett: "appears in the Arms of several of the old families and in those of at least fourteen of the Clan Chiefs: Davison, MacBain, MacNeil, MacNaughton, MacPherson, MacGillivray, MacDonald of Sleat, Clanranald, and Shaw of Rothiemuchus".
*Biblical Brit-Am: A regular Commentary of Scriptures that strives to give an overall picture while emphasizing Biblical passages that more directly concern Brit-Am beliefs concerning the Lost Ten Tribes.
*Yair Davidiy, (Amazon.com Books) Chosen People: The Descendants of Joseph and the Ten Tribes Amongst English Speaking Nations and the Jews of Judah. 2015.

(Jody Gray) the wikipedia page, below; doesn't contain any reference to biblical lineage, i.e. "descendant of Zarah son of Judah"... only historians debating the origin of the Red Hand of Ulster as an Irish symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hand_of_Ulster Red Hand of Ulster, is an Irish symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster. Historical background. is rooted in Gaelic culture however its real origin and meaning is unknown, but it is believed to date back to pagan times... is first documented in surviving records in the 13th-century where it was used by the Hiberno-Norman de Burgh earls of Ulster. It was Walter de Burgh who became the first Earl of Ulster in 1243 who combined the de Burgh cross with the Red Hand to create a flag that represented the Earldom of Ulster and later became the modern Flag of Ulster.
  It was afterwards adopted by the O'Neills upon their assumption of the supremacy of the ancient Ulaid kingship, inventing the title Rex Ultonie (king of Ulster) for themselves in 1317 and then claiming it unopposed from 1345 onwards...
Possible origins. ...Historian Francis J. Bigger... stating that he does not know of its exact origin surmises that it may have been for them a symbol signifying assistance and strength, whilst also suggesting that the ancient Phoenicians may have brought the symbol to Ireland. ... it is suggested by a writer into the All Ireland Review called "M.M" that it is named after the founder of the Clanna Rudraige... it is then theorised that Rudraige's name may men "Red-wrist"... there are other legendary figures mentioned as "origins"... In another legend which has become widespread, the first man to lay his hand on the province of Ulster would have claim to it. As a result the warriors rushed towards land with one chopping off his hand and throwing it over his comrades and thus winning the land...
Similar symbols. ...The Dextera Dei is suggested by Francis J. Bigger as representing the old-world figurative expression of signifying strength and power, and such hand symbols can be found in ancient civilizations... It is also used by Jews, Muslims, and can be found in use in Palestine and Morocco... Another historian, F.J. Elworthy, according to Bigger, conclusively proved the ancient character and widespread usage of the symbol amongst early pagan civilisations.
Modern usage. ...The arms of The Irish Society that carried out the Plantation of Ulster feature the Red Hand.
*