Legal Definitions - manualis obedientia

Manualis obedientia refers to a formal promise of obedience or loyalty that is made under oath. Historically, this often involved a physical gesture, such as placing a hand on a sacred text or performing a symbolic act, to emphasize the solemnity and binding nature of the commitment.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Feudal Allegiance: In medieval times, a knight pledging fealty to a lord would often kneel, place his hands between the lord's, and swear an oath to serve and obey. This physical act, combined with the solemn vow, represented his manualis obedientia, signifying a deep and sworn commitment to the lord's authority and commands.
• Military Oath of Office: When a new officer is commissioned into the armed forces, they typically place their hand on a sacred text or raise their right hand while reciting an oath. This oath includes a promise to support and defend the Constitution and to obey the orders of superior officers. This formal, sworn commitment to duty and obedience, accompanied by a symbolic gesture, is a modern manifestation of manualis obedientia.
• Religious Vows: A person joining a monastic order often takes solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to their abbot or abbess and the rules of the order. This oath is frequently accompanied by a symbolic act, such as prostrating themselves or receiving a habit, signifying their complete and sworn submission to the order's authority and spiritual guidance. This act of profound, sworn obedience is a clear example of manualis obedientia.