How did monarchies legitimize their authority in ancient times?

by using force

by using money

by claiming divine right

by claiming intellectual superiority

By claiming divine right.

Many monarchies claimed to be on the side of god. In fact in China, there was the idea of the "Mandate of Heaven." Some Egyptian Pharaohs and Roman Emperors claimed to be gods, and were worshiped as such. Mayan rulers claimed to control the water in a very dry environment.