Empire Collections

Napoleon's bicorne

Reference : BICORNE

Bicorne with epee (under plexiglas case)

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There you are, Legendary! "says the Prince of Metternich to the "little hat" in a famous scene from Rostand's L'Aiglon.

 

 

In the collective psyche, Napoleon and his hat are one and the same. Never has a symbol better represented a historical figure. Bonaparte adopted it as early as the Consulate when he composed his silhouette. He opted for two military uniforms, those of the grenadiers on foot and the chasseurs à cheval of the Guard, but chose to wear the bicorne hat in a personal way. While most officers wore it "en colonne", perpendicular to the shoulders, Napoleon wore it "en bataille", i.e. with the wings parallel to the shoulders. This simple and sober outfit contrasts with the colourful uniforms of the great officers and their feathered hats. It ensures that he is immediately recognised by his troops on the battlefield.

 

One of the oldest known hats is the one worn by the First Consul at the battle of Marengo and now kept in the Musée de l'Armée. Until the end of the Empire, the shapes and sizes varied slightly, but the general appearance remained the same. Like the hat maker Poupard, he delivered four "French hats" each year, made of felt or black beaver, with no other decoration than a tricolour cockade slipped into a silk strap with a button.

Napoleon had a complete set of twelve hats at his disposal at all times. Only four were taken to St Helena, including the one presented here.

 

When the Emperor died, one of these hats was placed in his coffin.

 

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