SUPREMACY, ROYAL (OF. suprematic, Fr. suprdmnatie, from OF. supreme, Fr. supreme, su preme, from Lat. supremim highest, superlative of superus, high, from super, Gk. brep, hyper, Skt. upari, Goth. afar, OHG. ubar, vbcr, AS. ofer, Eng. over). A phrase specifically applied to the relation of the sovereign of England to the established Church of that coun try. During the Reformation the supremacy of the Pope was abolished in England. and the act passed in 1534 declared the King to be the "only supreme head on earth of the Church of Eng land." The Government at the same time issued an explanation of this language to the effect that it was intended to recognize in the sovereign the authority of a governor without spiritual juris diction, and not to "take any pourer from the successors of the Apostles that was given them by God." 'Under Queen Mary this Aet of Supre macy was repealed in 1554. hut this repeal was itself repealed by Queen Elizabeth in 1559, who, however, did not make use of the words 'supreme head.' In her injunctions she explained the su
premacy of the Crown to be "that which is and was of ancient time due to the Imperial Crown of this realm. that is, under God to have the sovereignty and rule over all manner of persons born within those her realms of what estate either ecclesiastical or temporal soever they may be so as no other foreign power shall or ought to have any superiority over them." The governing and visitorial power of the sovereign, under the safoguard of an organ ized court of justice• has since been continuously recognized by the Church of England. By suc cessive statutes an oath as to royal supremacy was appointed to be taken by the holders of public offices with the oaths of allegiance and abjuration. A royal supremacy similar in character is a prerogative of the Czar of All the Russias, also of the Protestant princes of Ger many, and of the sovereigns of Ilolland, Den mark, Norway, and Sweden.