View source for Tricorne

{{short description|Hat with the brim turned up on three sides}}
{{Redirect|Tricorn|the fractal|Tricorn (mathematics)}}
{{Redirect|Three-cornered hat|the ballet|The Three-Cornered Hat{{!}}''The Three-Cornered Hat''}}
{{Infobox clothing type|image_file=Tricorne MET DP-642-001.jpg|caption=Italian tricorne hat, mid-18th century|title=Tricorne|type=Hat|introduced=17th century|material=Animal fiber}}
The '''tricorne''' or '''tricorn''' is a style of hat in a triangular shape, which became popular in Europe during the 18th century, falling out of style by the early 1800s. The word "tricorne" was not widely used until the mid-19th century. During the 18th century, hats of this general style were referred to as "cocked hats". 

At the peak of its popularity, the tricorne varied greatly in style and size, and was worn not only by the aristocracy, but also as common civilian dress, and as part of military and naval uniforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/hats.htm|title=Gentlemen of Fortune|website=Gentlemenoffortune.com|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> Typically made from animal fiber, the more expensive being of beaver-hair felt and the less expensive of wool felt, the hat's most distinguishing characteristic was that three sides of the brim were turned up (cocked) and either pinned, laced, or buttoned in place to form a triangle around the crown. The style served two purposes: first, it allowed stylish gentlemen to show off the most current fashions of their wigs, and thus their social status; and secondly, the cocked hat, with its folded brim, was much smaller than other hats, and therefore could be more easily tucked under an arm when going inside a building, where social etiquette dictates that a gentleman should remove his hat. Tricornes with laced sides could have the laces loosened and the sides dropped down to provide better protection from the weather, sun, and rain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.memorialhall.mass.edu/collection/itempage.jsp?itemid=6064&img=0&level=advanced&transcription=0|title=Digital Collection -Tricorn Hat|website=Memorialhall.mass.edu|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamsburgmarketplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductView?storeId=10001&jspStoreDir=wmarket&categoryId=14967&catalogId=12122&langId=-1|title=Cocked Hats|website=Williamsburgmarketplace.com|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref>

Tricornes had a rather broad [[brim (hat)|brim]], pinned up on either side of the head and at the back, producing a triangular shape. The hat was typically worn with one point facing forward, though it was not at all unusual for soldiers, who would often rest a rifle or musket on their right shoulder, to wear the tricorne pointed to the left to allow better clearance. The [[Hat#Parts of a hat|crown]] is low, unlike the [[Capotain|steeple hat]]s worn by the [[Puritans]] or the [[top hat]] of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kht.tul.cz/items/ZOTsp07-08/zotspk/ct_8_50_Tomkova.doc |title=Klobouky od minulosti po současnost a jejich výroba | language=cs | trans-title=Hats from past to present and their production |access-date=2008-09-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217200129/http://www.kht.tul.cz/items/ZOTsp07-08/zotspk/ct_8_50_Tomkova.doc | format=DOC | archive-date=2008-12-17 }} 
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Tricornes ranged from the very simple and cheap to the extravagant, occasionally incorporating gold or silver [[lace]] trimming and feathers. In addition, military and naval versions usually bore a [[cockade]] or other national emblem at the front. This style of hat remains in use in several countries to the present day as an item of [[ceremonial dress]].

==History==
[[File:Mousquetaires-de-la-maison-du-roi-.jpg|thumb|French [[Musketeers of the Guard]] wearing tricorne hats in 1688.]]

The tricorne appeared as a result of the evolution of the [[cavalier hat|broad-brim round hat]] used by Spanish soldiers in [[Flanders]] during the 17th century.<ref>Castells, Albert. "Los tercios viejos y la presencia española en Flandes", Espasa, Madrid, 1997</ref> By pledging (binding) the brims, a triangular shape was obtained. This shape was favored by Spanish soldiers, as when standing at arms, their muskets could be held at their shoulders right or left without hitting the [[hat brim]]. [[War of Devolution|War broke out]] between France and Spain in 1667 over the [[Spanish Netherlands]], and during the subsequent struggle, its use spread to the French armies. The style was brought back to France, where its usage spread to the French population and the royal court of King [[Louis XIV]], who made it fashionable throughout Europe, both as civilian and military wear. By the end of the 17th century, the tricorne was popular in both civilian fashion and in military uniforms. It remained one of the predominant European styles of hat throughout the 18th century. In the United States, only [[List of presidents of the United States#Presidents|the first five presidents]], from [[George Washington]] to [[James Monroe]], wore this style of hat according to the [[1775–1795 in Western fashion#Men's fashion|fashion of the 18th century]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Digital History, Steven Mintz |url=http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=567 |title=Digital History |publisher=Digitalhistory.uh.edu |access-date=20 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723065559/http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=567 |archive-date=23 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Whitcomb|first1=John|last2=Whitcomb|first2=Claire|title=Real life at the White House: 200 years of daily life at America's most famous residence|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-0-415-93951-5|edition=1st Routledge pbk.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p1unoHtahSsC&pg=PA37|date=May 3, 2002|access-date=April 20, 2010}}</ref> James Monroe earned [[List of nicknames of presidents of the United States|the nickname "The Last Cocked Hat"]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.potus.com/jmonroe.html |title=James Monroe |author=Robert S. Summer |work=Presidents of the United States |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> because of this.

The tricorne quickly declined in use at the end of the 18th century. It evolved into the [[bicorne]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/cocked-hat.html|title=Cocked Hat|website=Infoplease.com|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> which was widely used by military officers in Europe from the 1790s until [[World War I]], not completely fading out of style until [[World War II]]. For enlisted soldiers, the tricorne was replaced by the [[shako]] at the turn of the 19th century, which had become the new dominant style of military headgear from 1800 on.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kannik |first=Prebben |title=Military Uniforms in Colour |year=1968 |url=https://archive.org/details/militaryuniforms00kann/page/268 |publisher=Blandford Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/militaryuniforms00kann/page/268 268] |isbn=0-7137-0482-9 |url-access=registration }}</ref> Also at the turn of the 19th century, as the fashionable hat for civilian men, the tricorne was overtaken by the [[top hat]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Baclawski |first=Karen |date=1995 |title=The Guide to Historic Costume |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5YYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22tricorn%22+top+hat |publisher=Drama Book Publishers |pages=211–212 |isbn=978-0896762138 }}</ref> In 1917, the [[Women's Royal Naval Service]] introduced a smaller, modernised version of the tricorne for female officers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Preston |first=Antony |date=1987 |title=History of the Royal Navy in the 20th century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EaXfAAAAMAAJ&q=royal+navy+uniform+%22tricorn%22 |publisher=Presidio Pr |page=71 |isbn=978-0891412830 }}</ref>
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==Modern usage and legacy==
<gallery>
File:Alabardero.JPG|''Alabardero'' ([[Halberdier]]) of the [[Royal Guard (Spain)|Spanish Royal Guard]]
Guardia Civil a caballo Dos de Mayo 2008 n5.jpg|Horse Guard of the [[Guardia Civil]] wearing a stylized tricorne during a ceremony in [[Madrid]], Spain
Koninklijk Koetsier 2013 74.JPG|Tricorne as worn at the {{Ill|[[Royal court]] of the Netherlands
File:Defense.gov photo essay 110630-F-RG147-559.jpg|Tricorne worn by U.S. Army [[Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps]]
Chelsea-pensioners.jpg|[[Chelsea Pensioner]]s wearing their tricorne hats
File:Seaton Town Cryer - panoramio.jpg|The [[town crier]] of [[Seaton, Devon|Seaton]] in Devon, 2013
File:Ken Foster crop.jpg|[[Lord Mayor of Plymouth]], 2009
</gallery>

Tricornes survive today as part of the traditional dress of the [[Chelsea Pensioner]]s (UK)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/|title=Royal Hospital Chelsea|website=Chelsea-pensioners.co.uk|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> and the [[Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps]] of the United States Army,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mil/fifeanddrum/about.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722094033/http://www.army.mil/fifeanddrum/about.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 22, 2012|title=About the Corps|website=Army.mil/fifeanddrum/about.com|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> and the distinctive hat<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://people.zeelandnet.nl/tberry/hatpics/gc.JPG | title=Some black shape | access-date=2024-07-18}}</ref> of the Spanish [[guardia Civil (Spain)|Guardia Civil]], called a ''tricornio'' in Spanish, originates from the tricorne. In the UK, a black feathered tricorne hat is part of the ceremonial dress of most [[Lord Mayor|Lord Mayors]]; at the annual [[Lord Mayor's Show]] in November, the newly elected [[Lord Mayor of the City of London]] can usually be seen enthusiastically waving his tricorne at the crowds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/|title=The Lord Mayor's Show|website=Lordmayorsshow.org|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> In the British Parliament until recently, both the [[Lord Chancellor]] and the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] used to carry plain black tricornes as part of their formal dress each day when on duty; only on rare occasions was it worn (on top of the full bottomed wig): by the Lord Chancellor when acting as a [[Lord Commissioner]] of the Sovereign, and by the Speaker when rebuking a Member at the Bar of the House. During the Introduction Ceremony, new members of the [[House of Lords]] were required to doff (remove and replace) a tricorne hat three times before the Lord Chancellor; however, hats were removed from the ritual in 1998.<ref>{{cite book |last=Crewe |first=Emma |date=2005 |title=Lords of Parliament: Manners, Rituals and Politics |publisher=Manchester University Press |pages=204–207 |isbn=978-0719072079 }}</ref>
[[File:US Army 52416 The American Soldier, 1781.jpg|left|thumb|250x250px|The American Soldier: Set 1, U.S. Center of Military History. Note: The troops in this painting wear the uniforms prescribed in the regulations of 1779 and supplied at the time of the Yorktown campaign -- blue coats with distinctive facings for the infantry regiments from four groups of states: New England; New York and]]
In the United States, the tricorne is associated with the [[American Revolution]] and American [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriots]] of that era, especially [[Minutemen (militia)|Minutemen]] (militia members of the [[Thirteen Colonies|American Colonies]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/headgear.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529160026/http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/headgear.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 29, 2012|title=Revolutionary War – Headgear|website=Revolutionarywararchives.org|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> as well as the Continental Army who wore black tricorne hats of black felt. Participants in re-enactment events often don tricornes, and they also can be seen in sports culture as worn by fans of teams with Revolutionary names, such as the [[New England Patriots]] (an [[American football]] team),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/|title=New England Patriots}}</ref> the [[New England Revolution]] (a [[Major League Soccer]] team),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/|title=New England Revolution|website=Revolutionsoccer.net|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> the [[United States men's national soccer team]], the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://umassathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/umas-m-footbl-body.html|title=University of Massachusetts Official Athletic Site – Football|website=Umassathletics.cstv.com|access-date=20 October 2017}}</ref> and the [[George Washington University]]. The [[Tea Party movement]] also uses the tricorne as an icon to associate itself with the American Revolution.<ref>{{cite book|last=Van Dyke|first=Nella|date=2014|title=Understanding the Tea Party Movement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BQCgCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4|location=New York|publisher=Routledge|page=4 |isbn=978-1409465232}}</ref>

In Spain, the traditional headdress of the [[Guardia Civil]], the oldest law enforcement agency covering the whole country, is the ''tricornio'' hat, originally a tricorne. Its use now is reserved for parades or ceremonies. The Royal Corps of Halberdiers within the [[Spanish Royal Guard]] wear blue and white with a silver ribbon tricorne as part of their formal dress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardiareal.org/Menu/Simbolos/uniformidad/historicos/|title=Uniformes de carácter histórico|website=guardiareal.org|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

In France, synagogue officiants (usually not rabbis) wear the tricorne on formal occasions. In the French Navy and Air Force, tricornes are still worn by women as a piece of uniform.

The tricorne is a key feature in the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[University of Minho]]'s academic dress. Its origins are as far as the 18th century, as being the academic dress of Colégio de Estudos Superiores de S. Paulo, as depicted by tile panels in the [[Archbishop's Palace of Braga]] (now Rectorate of the University of Minho). Designated by "Tricórnio" (Portuguese for "tricorne"), this academic dress was redesigned and officially set in 1989.

In Canada, the tricorne is part of the ceremonial wear of the Speakers, both in the federal Parliament and in some provincial legislatures.  It is also part of the ceremonial dress for justices of the Supreme Court of Canada.

In 1981, the milliner [[John Boyd (Milliner)|John Boyd]] made a famous pink tricorne hat for [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]. This style became known as the "Lady Di" design and was copied worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/john-boyd/|title=John Boyd|work=The FMD - FashionModelDirectory.com}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="170px" heights="170px">


File:Louis XIV 1685 Best.jpg|Figure of [[Louis XIV]] {{circa|1685}}
File:02 178 Vinkhuijzen Book illustrations of Historical description of the clothes and weapons of Russian troops.jpg|Russian soldier, {{circa|1700}}
File:900-231 Herzog Carl Alexander.jpg|[[Charles Alexander, Duke of Württemberg|Charles Alexander]], {{circa|1733}}–1737
File:1st Viscount Gage.jpg|[[Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage|Thomas Gage]], 1743
File:Frederic II de prusse.jpg|[[Frederick the Great]] wearing a tricorne, {{circa|1750}}
File:Catherine II tricorne.jpg|[[Catherine the Great]], {{circa|1760}}
File:Washington 1772.jpg|Colonel [[George Washington]], 1772
File:John Trumbull - The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781 - 1832.4 - Yale University Art Gallery.jpg|[[John Trumbull|Trumbull's]] depiction of the [[Siege of Yorktown|1781 surrender]] of [[Lord Cornwallis]] at Yorktown
File:Carlos III cazador.jpg|[[Charles III of Spain]], {{circa|1786}}–88
File:Картинка № 9 к статье «Петр I Алексеевич Великий». Военная энциклопедия Сытина. Том № 18. (Санкт-Петербург, 1911-1915).jpg|[[Peter the Great]] 
File:James Lowther Vanity Fair 24 October 1906.jpg|The British [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] carrying his tricorne, 1906.
File:Women's Royal Naval Service. November 1942, Admiralty. Uniforms of the WRNS. A12614 2.jpg|The [[Women's Royal Naval Service]] modernised version of the tricorne in 1942.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Beaver hat]]
* [[Bicorne]]
* [[Cap]]
* [[Chapeau]]
* [[List of hat styles]]
* [[List of headgear]]
* [[Headgear of the United States Army]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commonscat-inline}}

{{Hats}}

[[Category:17th-century fashion]]
[[Category:18th-century fashion]]
[[Category:19th-century fashion]]
[[Category:Hats]]
[[Category:Military uniforms]]
[[Category:Maritime culture]]
[[Category:Military hats]]