What is the earliest known account of the modern military salute?
Upvote:3
During the 17th Century, military records detail that the 'formal act of saluting was to be by removal of headdress' For some time after, hat raising became an accepted form of the military salute, but in the 18th Century the Coldstream Guards amended this procedure. They were instructed to 'clap their hands to their hats and bow as they pass by'. This was quickly adopted by other Regiments as wear and tear on the hats by constant removal and replacing was a matter of great concern. By the early 19th Century, the salute had evolved further with the open hand, palm to the front, and this has remained the case since then.
Source: The Royal Air Force.
Upvote:4
Exemplary answer
Somebody who will provide similar answer, with dated primary sources, will receive additional bounty.
This drawing from Wikipedia shows two British soldiers (an officer and a sergeant) in 1848. Please note he's saluting with the left hand.
This drawing (presumably dated the same period) shows two French soldiers from Napoleonic era:
Sources referring to older times I could find seem to look differently (this painting is by E. Percy Moran, painter who however lived in 19th/20th centuries, so this does not count as the oldest one):
Anyone who will find a primary source dated before 1840s., will receive the bounty. The oldest source is the winner.
Upvote:6
APPENDIX A - SALUTING
The origin of the Hand Salute is uncertain. Some historians believe it began in late Roman times when assassinations were common. A citizen who wanted to see a public official had to approach with his right hand raised to show that he did not hold a weapon. Knights in armor raised visors with the right hand when meeting a comrade. (Paragraph break here is mine, to highlight the answer to the question)
This practice gradually became a way of showing respect and, in early American history, sometimes involved removing the hat. By 1820, the motion was modified to touching the hat, and since then it has become the Hand Salute used today.
Obviously, this manual is discussing the custom in the US military. But the evolution of the gesture as stated there was not confined to the United States, and is arguably applicable to military forces at large.
Interestingly, as I was finishing an edit to this answer after posting the source, I saw a notice that another answer had been posted in the interim while I was editing. The answer cites the RAF site, which also gives the same approximate date of "early 19th Century", thereby confirming this last point.
Although Wikipedia cavalierly brushes off the British and US military manuals, such official documents as the one displayed here are generally quite well researched by serious historians, and/or based on known military traditions, and in a court of law, such documents are often considered substantial evidence. Regardless, both the US and British military references agree that the custom first arose in the early 19th century.
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