The uncertain origins of the military hand salute

Saluting is one of the few military traditions that everyone knows about. However, the origins of this well-known tradition aren’t clear and its history isn’t well documented before the 18th century. We might not be able to give you the true and complete history, but we can, at the very least, trace parts of the tradition’s history.

The Roman salute 

The Roman salute is very misunderstood. It wasn’t necessarily used the same way we use a salute nowadays but as a sign of respect and loyalty to a specific person; further, it wasn’t only used by military members as civilians would also often hail the emperor. 

Roman salute is often the name given to the salute used by fascist and authoritarian regimes like Nazi Germany, yet the two are different. The salute used by these regimes was with a straight arm extended upward and out and with the fingers held together; it is more akin to the Bellamy salute, which was designed in 1892 to be used while schoolchildren said the pledge of allegiance. 

No sources describe the Romans using that type of salute. Instead, the Romans saluted with the right hand gestured upwards. The elbow was often bent and didn’t go higher than chest height. Lastly, hand orientation appears to have been informal, with Trajan’s Column in Rome portraying hands with the palm sideways, up, down, and even with the fingers folded inward toward the palm. 

Related: Battle priests – These are the 5 most famous holy men at war

Of knights and chivalry 

According to a theory, the salute, as we know it, comes from medieval knights. When a knight would pass another knight, a commander, or a military force he would use his right hand to raise his visor and show his face. The idea was that he used the right arm to show he wasn’t holding a weapon, and showing his face typically meant he was unafraid and noncombative.

While the modern salute may derive from this medieval practice, there are more plausible theories. 

The modern salute 

Records of the modern salute date to the 18th century. Before that, there was a tradition that soldiers would remove their hats in passing, or when they entered a room, as a sign of respect for a superior officer.

However, as headgear became more ornate, it became more difficult and impractical to remove. So the tradition transformed into raising the hand to the hat’s visor. A British Order book from 1745 states: “The men are ordered not to pull off their hats when they pass an officer or to speak to them, but only to clap up their hands to their hats and bow as they pass.” Typically, the right hand was raised with the palm facing the superior until it reached the brim of the hat. This tradition spread across Europe and into the newly formed United States.

Today, while many European countries still keep the palm upward and toward the saluted, the United States keeps the palm oriented downward.

The American style appears to date back to the British naval salute. Deckhands would be working hand and become filthy. It was considered disrespectful to show them dirty hands, so they began to salute with their palms facing downward. (If you know anything about officers, they are a sensitive bunch.) 

It’s odd that the history of the salute isn’t well known and that its origins are uncertain. The salute has continued to evolve and has several different types – there is a rifle, sword, and even the famed 21-gun salute – but continues to be a sign of respect and a greeting. The next major modification will likely come from the Space Force – saluting in a space suit just seems difficult. 

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