FLOSSI: THE PRESIDENTIAL KISS TEST
The tradition of kissing the ring of a sovereign or high-ranking leader dates back to ancient civilizations and was used as a gesture of respect, submission, or fealty. Historically, it has been particularly prominent in royal courts, religious institutions, and nobility.
Ancient Civilizations: A Symbol of Submission
In the Persian Empire (c. 500 BCE) under the Achaemenid dynasty, subjects were required to prostrate themselves (proskynesis) and sometimes kiss the hand or ring of the emperor to show absolute loyalty.
Ancient Rome (c. 100 BCE—400 CE): Roman senators and officials kissed the emperor's ring as a sign of political allegiance. Julius Caesar and later emperors used rings to seal documents, reinforcing their divine authority.
Medieval Europe: Fealty and Divine Right
By the Middle Ages (500–1500 CE), the practice became standard in European monarchies. Kings and emperors often wore signet rings that symbolized their divine right to rule.
Nobles and clergy were expected to kiss the monarch's ring when swearing oaths of loyalty or vassalage.
The Holy Roman Emperors (800–1806 CE) and the French and English kings maintained this tradition to reinforce hierarchical order and submission.
The Catholic Church: The Papal Ring Tradition
The Pope’s Fisherman’s Ring is perhaps this practice's most famous religious adaptation.
Since at least the 9th century, Catholic believers and clergy have kissed the Pope’s ring as a sign of obedience and respect for his authority as the successor of Saint Peter.
Cardinals and bishops also received ring kisses as a gesture of recognition of their spiritual status.
Renaissance and Beyond: Political & Diplomatic Custom
During the Renaissance (15th–17th centuries), ambassadors and dignitaries often kissed the ring of foreign rulers during diplomatic visits as a sign of goodwill.
Even in France under Louis XIV (the Sun King), courtiers performed this ritual to demonstrate their place in the monarchy’s hierarchy.
Decline in Modern Times
By the 19th and 20th centuries, the practice of kissing a monarch's ring gradually disappeared in secular governments.
However, it persists in religious circles, particularly in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Islamic traditions.
In Britain, formal bowing and hand-kissing were once common, but Queen Elizabeth II discouraged ring-kissing, preferring a simple bow or handshake.
