Religion succeeded in living without the kings, but the kings could not exist without religion.

The fortunate warrior, the conqueror who founded a throne, had no need of a priest.

The fame of his exploits and his sword were enough for him, but as death drew near he thought of his heirs, who would be unable to dispose of glory and fear to make themselves respected as he had done, and he drew near to the priest, taking God as a mysterious ally who would watch over the preservation of the throne.

The founder of a dynasty reigned 'by the grace of strength' but his descendants reigned 'by the grace of God.' The king and the Church were everything for the Spanish people.

Faith had made them slaves by a moral chain that no revolutions could break; its logic was indisputable--the belief in a personal God, who busied Himself with the most minute concerns of the world, and granted His grace to the king that he might reign, obliged them to obey under pain of going to hell.