Speculation has been going on for some time, but now we have reached a turning point that cannot be ignored. Monarchy as we know it traces its origins to the Germanic tribes that invaded the Roman Empire and set up states that have endured in recognisable forms to the present day. The kings and chiefs of those tribes were often regarded as shamans, even as descendants of gods, who had special spiritual powers that bound the people together. When they became Christian, those rulers had to abandon such pretensions, but the Church filled the void thus created by claiming the right to legitimise monarchs as servants of Christ, endued by Him with the power and authority to govern their people in secular affairs.