View source for Kontusz

{{Short description|Long coat with hanging sleeves worn with a sash  by Hungarian and Polish-Lithuanian noblemen}}
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{{More footnotes|date=November 2021}}

[[Image:Stanislaw Antoni Szczuka (1652 1654-1710).jpg|thumb|Polish noble [[Stanisław Antoni Szczuka]] (1652–1710) in a representative national Polish outfit. A red ''kontusz'' tied with a ''[[pas kontuszowy]]''. Underneath a ''[[żupan]]'' with a low collar. Left hand holds a fur cap with a low band. Characteristic hair and moustache. Unknown artist.]]
[[Image:18. Ukr shlachtych.jpg|thumb|Noble [[Zaporozhian Cossacks|Ukrainian Cossack]] in a yellow ''[[żupan]]'' and red ''kontusz''.]]
A '''''kontusz''''' ({{langx|pl|kontusz}}, {{plural form|''kontusze''}}; {{langx|uk|кунтуш|kuntush}}; {{langx|lt|kontušas}}; originally from {{langx|hu|köntös}}, {{lit|robe}}) is a type of outer garment worn by the Hungarian and Polish–Lithuanian male [[szlachta|nobility]]. It became popular in the 16th century and came to the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] rule via Hungary from Turkey. In the 17th century, worn over an inner garment (''[[żupan]]''), the ''kontusz'' became a notable element of male Polish national and [[Zaporozhian Cossacks|Zaporozhian Cossack]] attire.

The ''kontusz'' was a long robe, usually reaching to below the knees, with a set of decorative buttons down the front. The sleeves were long and loose, on hot days worn untied, thrown on the back. In winter a fur lining could be attached to the ''kontusz'', or a [[Delia (clothing)|delia]] worn over it. The ''kontusz'' was usually of a vivid colour, and the lining was of a contrasting hue. The ''kontusz'' was tied with a long, wide sash called a ''[[pas kontuszowy]]''.

The ''kontusz'' was more of a decorative garment than a practical one. Tradition states that the first ''kontusze'' were worn by szlachta who captured them from [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] to display as loot, which itself possibly originated from Mongol Haiqing which had openings in armpit.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} 

Throwing ''kontusz'' sleeves on one's back and stroking one's [[moustache]] was considered to be a signal of readiness for a fight.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

In 1776, [[Sejm]] [[Deputy (legislator)|deputies]] from different [[voivodeships of Poland]] were obliged to wear different coloured [[żupan]]y and ''kontusze'' denoting their [[voivodeship]]s.

In Poland, the ''kontusz'' was worn mainly by the nobility, but it was also adopted by the [[Zaporozhian Cossacks|Zaporozhian cossack]]s when Ukraine and [[Ruthenia]] were under Polish rule.

== See also ==
* [[Delia (clothing)]]
* [[Pas kontuszowy]]
* [[Sukmana]]
* [[Żupan]]

== Sources ==
* Jan Samek: ''Polskie Rzemiosło Artystyczne'', Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe, Warszawa 1984, {{ISBN|83-221-0170-8}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Long frock-coat Kontusz}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060617022627/http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/patterns/kontuszp.html Short description, sketch]

{{National symbols of Poland}}

[[Category:Polish clothing]]
[[Category:Lithuanian clothing]]
[[Category:Lithuanian nobility]]
[[Category:Belarusian clothing]]
[[Category:Ukrainian folk clothing]]
[[Category:Coats (clothing)]]
[[Category:Turkish inventions]]
[[Category:Robes and cloaks]]


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