The notion of the "Mandate of Heaven" was particularly useful to a ruler that ________.

Question

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The Mandate of Heaven was a concept in ancient Chinese political philosophy that stated that the ruling monarch was given the divine right to rule as long as he upheld justice and the welfare of the people. If a ruler lost the Mandate of Heaven, due to poor governance or natural disasters, another person could overthrow him and take over the throne. This concept was particularly useful to a usurper who could claim that he had the Mandate of Heaven and was therefore justified in his takeover.

The Notion of the "Mandate of Heaven" Was Particularly Useful