Which ceremony demonstrated divine endorsement of William's kingship?

• A. Wearing the crown three times a year on Easter and Christmas
• B. Coronation with sacred oil anointing
• C. Annual journeys around the country with his royal court
• D. Issuing writs to law code as a trademark

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is the sacred legitimation of a king’s rule through religious ceremony. In medieval England, a king’s authority was not just political but also divine in its source. The ceremony that publicly signified this divine endorsement is the coronation with sacred oil by a high-ranking churchman. The anointing with holy oil symbolized God’s choice and blessing, sealing the king’s authority in a sacred act witnessed by church and realm. For William, this moment—his coronation accompanied by holy anointing—made his kingship appear sanctioned by God, crucial for legitimizing his rule after the Norman Conquest.

Wearing the crown on specific days, undertaking royal journeys, or issuing writs are important royal functions or rituals, but they do not communicate divine sanction in the same sacramental way.