Sarah Mitchell
The tall hats worn by Catholic bishops are called mitres. The use of the mitre likely originated in the Church of Rome by the 5th century, when the Pope wore a short, conical cap as a symbol of his rank. By the 12th century, it became customary for bishops to wear the mitre, and in the 14th century, the mitre took on its current appearance with two peaked horns and two lapets, or bands that hang down the back. The mitre has undergone further transformations, becoming outrageously tall and elaborate during the Renaissance before shrinking to more dignified dimensions in recent decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the tall hat | Mitre |
| Origin | The Church of Rome |
| Date of origin | By the 5th century |
| Date of current look | 14th century |
| Description | Two peaked “horns” and two “lapets,” or bands, hanging down the back |
| Other versions | Orthodox mitre, based on the closed Imperial crown of the late Byzantine Empire |
| Date of adoption of Orthodox mitre | 16th or 17th century |
| Russian adoption | 17th century |
| Types | Simplex, Auriphrygiata, Pretiosa |
| Skullcap | Zucchetto |
| Skullcap origin | 13th-century monks |
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What You'll Learn
The origin of the tall hats worn by Catholic bishops
The tall hats worn by Catholic bishops are called mitres. The word comes from the Greek language and means "cap". Most sources agree that its use originated in the Church of Rome by the 5th century, with the pope wearing a short, conical cap as a symbol of his rank as chief shepherd. By the middle of the 10th century, the mitre was worn only by the pope during solemn liturgical functions.
The antecedents of the mitre were probably the headdress of the high priest of the Temple of Jerusalem and the head covering worn by important officials in the Roman Empire. By the 12th century, it became customary for bishops to wear the mitre, and over time, the privilege of wearing the mitre was granted by the pope to other prelates, abbots, abbesses, archbishops, cardinals, and certain chapters of canons. As the practice moved north of the Alps, the shape of the mitre changed. By the 14th century, it took on its current form, with two peaked "horns" and two "lapets", or bands that hang down the back.
During the Renaissance, mitres became extremely tall and elaborate, but in recent decades they have been reduced to more dignified dimensions. Today, the use of the mitre is mostly limited to bishops and abbots, and it comes in several levels of ornamentation, from simple to adorned with gold and jewels.
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The meaning and symbolism of the tall hats
The tall hats worn by Catholic bishops are called mitres. The word comes from the Greek language and means "cap". Mitres are worn by Catholic clergy on important occasions and come in three types: simplex, auriphrygiata, and pretiosa.
Mitres originated in the Church of Rome by the 5th century, with the pope wearing a short, conical cap as a symbol of his rank as chief shepherd. By the middle of the 10th century, the mitre as we know it today emerged and was worn only by the pope during solemn liturgical functions. By the 12th century, it became customary for bishops to wear mitres as well. Over time, the privilege of wearing the mitre was granted to other prelates, abbots, abbesses, clerics, and certain chapters of canons.
The shape of the mitre has evolved over time. In the 14th century, it took on its current form, featuring two peaked "horns" and two "lapets", or bands, hanging down the back. During the Renaissance, mitres became extremely tall and elaborate, but in recent times, they have decreased in height to more modest sizes.
The mitre holds symbolic meaning within the Catholic Church. It represents the bishop's authority to govern within his diocese as a successor to the apostles. The act of wearing a mitre may also symbolise the integration of cultural elements into the Church to promote the gospel.
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The different types of tall hats
The tall hats worn by Catholic bishops are called mitres. They consist of two flaps of equal size, one in the front and one in the back, joined at the bottom by a headband, with the flaps curving to a point at the top. Mitres are worn by bishops of the Latin Rite, including the pope, and have been worn since the 10th century.
There are three types of mitres worn by Roman Catholic clergy for different occasions:
- Simplex: Made of undecorated white linen or silk with white lappets (infulae) ending in red fringes. It is worn during funerals, Lent, on Good Friday, and by concelebrant bishops at Mass.
- Auriphrygiata: Made of plain gold cloth or white silk with gold, silver, or coloured embroidered bands. It is worn by bishops when they preside over the celebration of the sacraments.
- Pretiosa: Decorated with precious stones and gold. It is worn on the principal Mass on solemn Sundays (except during Lent) and feast days.
In addition to the mitre, there are other types of hats worn by Catholic clergy:
- Zucchetto: A small skullcap derived from the Italian word "zucca" ("pumpkin"), used as slang for "head". It is worn by ecclesiastics, especially prelates. The pope wears a white zucchetto made of watered silk, cardinals wear scarlet, bishops wear purple, and priests of the monsignorial rank may wear black with purple piping.
- Pectoral cross: A cross made of precious metal, sometimes decorated with jewels, suspended by a chain and worn over the chest. It is worn by prelates, including abbots, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the pope.
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The history of the tall hats in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches
The tall hats, or mitres, worn in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches are based on the closed Imperial crown of the late Byzantine Empire. The use of headgear by the Byzantine church was a late development, with Orthodox bishops starting to wear mitres around the 16th or 17th century, though the exact date is disputed. Some sources claim that the mitre was first adopted among the Orthodox when Cyril Lucaris became Ecumenical Patriarch in the early 1600s, while others suggest it was after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The mitre is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops and certain abbots in traditional Christianity. It is worn in a number of Christian denominations, including the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Byzantine Catholic Church. In ecclesiastical heraldry, a mitre was placed above the shield of all persons who were entitled to wear one, including abbots. In the Anglican Churches, the Church of Sweden, and the Lutheran Church of Finland, the mitre is still placed above the arms of bishops instead of the ecclesiastical hat.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, there are different types of headgear worn by clergy of different ranks. For example, in the Serbian Orthodox Church, all clergy wear a black kalimavkion, which is flat at the top, while bishops wear a black kalimavkion with a wide purple band at the bottom. Bishops in the Russian Orthodox Church wear a black kamilavka with a black veil, while archbishops are distinguished by a jewelled cross on the front of their veil.
The mitre itself has undergone changes in shape over time. By the 14th century, it took on its current form with two peaked "horns" and two "lappets", or bands that hang down the back. During the Renaissance, mitres became extremely tall and elaborate, but in recent decades they have shrunk in size.
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The tall hats in medieval Russia
Hats were an important part of medieval Russian society, with different styles denoting social status. Unfortunately, during the Petrine reforms in the early 17th century, most examples of pre-Westernization clothing were lost, and illustrations from manuscripts, portraits, and essays written by Western observers of the Russian court are the only evidence we have of hat styles before this period.
The most common type of hat worn by men in medieval Russia was the "
Turbans were also worn, decorated with tassels or vertically standing egret feathers. These turbans sometimes took on a donut shape around the head, similar to the Italian balzo. Elongated, curved kolpaks were worn by the enemies of Rus', specifically by the Polovtsians. The headwear of Russian military guards was distinguished by tall frontal plattens or cockades.
In terms of royal headwear, mitre-shaped or semi-spherical forms were common, as were taller, nearly cylindrical hats with semi-spherical tops. Sphero-conical forms with points at the top were also worn. Fur trim was a common feature of these hats, as were cloth revers in contrasting colours. Crowns with tall, mitre-like caps and a lower row of sparse points were also seen.
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Frequently asked questions
The tall hats, called mitres, were first worn by the pope in the 5th century. By the 10th century, they were worn by bishops, and by the 14th century, they took on their current shape with two peaked "horns" and two "lapets", or bands, hanging down the back.
Mitres can be made of a variety of materials, including white linen, silk, gold cloth, silver, and precious stones.
The colour of the mitre signifies the rank of the wearer. For example, white is worn by the pope, red by cardinals, and purple by bishops.
The mitre is a symbol of the bishop's authority to govern within his diocese as the successor to the apostles.
