The medieval investiture from which the saying "put yourself in someone's hands" takes its origins
The interesting post the following was written by Emiliano Amici and published on his website sguardosulmedioevo.org; it concerns the origins of an expression that we all use.
Medieval investiture
The way of saying “ Put yourself in someone's hands ”Comes from the Middle Ages and indicates the loyalty oath of the vassal to the gentleman, ceremony born during the Carolingian epic in fact, with the " immixtio manuum ” (“ placing of hands ” ), the vassal put his hands in those of the feudal lord, binding each other.
The feudal system is not to be considered as a form of pyramidal power, but it was a sharing of prerogatives established according to a strict and sacred covenant by a master and a vassal. During the bright age of Charlemagne , wars represented the means by which it was possible to conquer large plots of land:the resulting division led to the need, for the sovereign, to have many other "minor" governors to administer the revenues in exchange for concessions and benefits The word homage comes from the Latin “ homagium ”(Word composed of homo and act ) which means how the noble let himself be guided by his master . We said noble, in fact only a person of high social standing could pay homage sanctioned during the ceremony that was to take place in a solemn manner under oath to fight for your master. gift he pronounced himself by placing a hand on the Gospels or on the relics of the most important saints; then the vassal kissed ( osculum ) the feudal lord over the mouth becoming “ man of mouth and hands " . The homage ceremony also changes the way of approaching prayer , no longer with open arms and hands facing the sky but with hands joined ( Article written by Emiliano Amici for sguardosulmedioevo.org).