Contrary to what the rulers wanted or to how the rulers behaved? There is a difference between acting with charity, equality and kindness and seeing them as desirable qualities in your subjects.

I was thinking of the the moral codes laid down by churches and how they have been used to keep the masses in check. The concept that moral absolutes exist, and that a church has sole authority on what constitutes good and evil, works independently from the specific values as a tool for exercising power.