E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fifth-Monarchy Men.
A sect of English fanatics in the days of the Puritans, who maintained that Jesus Christ was about to come a second time to the earth, and establish the fifth universal monarchy. The four preceding monarchies were the Assyrian, the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman. In politics, the Fifth-Monarchy Men were arrant Radicals and levellers.
