Salute State

QUESTION =  What is a ‘Salute State’?

ANSWER = A Salute state was a princely state in India during the time of  British rule which had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown (as paramount ruler); i.e., the protocolary privilege for its ruler to be greeted—originally by Royal Navy ships, later also on land—with a number of cannon shots, as recognition of the state's relative status.

At the time of Indian independence and partition in 1947, 122 of the roughly 565 princely states were classified as "salute states." The rulers of the five premier states - Hyderabad, Mysore, Baroda, Jammu & Kashmir and Gwalior - received 21-gun salutes. Rulers with gun salutes of 11 guns or above, whether the salute was hereditary or local only, were entitled to the style of Highness; the Nizam of Hyderabad was granted the unique style of Exalted Highness. In 1948, all rulers of nine-gun salute states were also granted the style of Highness. Exalted Highness is a rare hybrid of the style Highness. It is used as the style of the Nizams of Hyderabad &  Berar conferred by the British Government.