Napoleon’s hat
Pascal from Berlin asked:
“Maybe I missed this aspect of Napoleon already mentioned in one of your episode, but if you didn’t, could talk a little bit about that distinct hat Napoleon is often shown with on pictures of him. Maybe it is a modern invention and has nothing to do with the historical figure.”
Actually, Pascal, the kind of hat Napoleon wore was fairly common with European and American military and naval officers in the 18th and 19th century and it’s called a bicorne or bicorn. It was actually based on the tricorne which was popular in the 17th century. Much like the famous “hand inside jacket” pose, Napoleon wasn’t unique, it’s just that his celebrity status, then and now, makes most of us associate him with such images.
Here’s a photo of one of Napoleon’s actual hats that he wore in 1799, the year he became a Consul.
You can read more about the bicorn’s history here. Thanks for the question Pascal!
April 21st, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I was looking through my book, Ugo Pericoli ‘1815 The Armies of Waterloo’ and observing the Bicorne’s use. As far as I can tell the French were the only armies to wear the bicorne sideways. Whether this began because of Napoleon’s influence flowing through or whether it was practiced even in the early revolutionary armies and the royalist forces earlier I’m unsure. It seems the lower ranked officers mostly war the Bicorne sideways but so too did Marshals in full dress. That said when I’ve watched films the Marshals often wear their bicorne long ways as well and I think I’ve seen even unranked soldiers wear a bicorne sideways. Generals though whether they be Major-General, Lieutenant-General or General of Division seem to wear the bicorne long ways. Perhaps because Napoleon was usually surrounded by Generals as his aide-de-camps and what not it made Napoleon’s habit of wearing the Bicorne sideways seem comparatively more unique.
Then again perhaps there was not firm rule; soldiers just chose to wear the bicorne which ever way they liked. Its said Napoleon wore his sideways so he would stand out and be easily identifiable and also as a sign of solidarity with the lower ranks. Its also why he dressed comparatively austere particularly when compared to marshals like Murat.
August 19th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Hey!
If there is anyone out there who know where I can buy a Napoleon hat. Copy of course. Or maybe a link to where I can buy it?
August 19th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
No Tom, I have been looking for YEARS. However, I recently met the husband of a milliner and she was making tricorns, so I suspect she could also make a bicorn. So perhaps investigate your local milliners, especially someone with a historical bent?
August 20th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Thanks Cameron, I will do that..
April 14th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
hear my last name is a great thinng