The corno ducale (), a unique ducal hat, was the headgear and symbol of the
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice ( ; vec, Doxe de Venexia ; it, Doge di Venezia ; all derived from Latin ', "military leader"), sometimes translated as Duke (compare the Italian '), was the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice between 726 ...
. It was a stiff horn-like bonnet, which was made of gemmed brocade or cloth-of-gold and worn over a
camauro
A camauro (from the Latin ''camelaucum'' and from the Greek ''kamelauchion'', meaning "camel skin hat") is a cap traditionally worn by the Pope of the Catholic Church.
Papal camauros are made from red wool or velvet with white ermine trim, and ...
. The ducal horn was a fine linen cap with a structured peak at the back reminiscent of the
Phrygian cap, a classical symbol of liberty.
Every
Easter Monday
Easter Monday refers to the day after Easter Sunday in either the Eastern or Western Christian traditions. It is a public holiday in some countries. It is the second day of Eastertide. In Western Christianity, it marks the second day of the Octa ...
the doge headed a
procession
A procession is an organized body of people walking in a formal or ceremonial manner.
History
Processions have in all peoples and at all times been a natural form of public celebration, as forming an orderly and impressive ceremony. Religious ...
from
St. Mark's basilica to the convent of
St. Zechariah's church, where the
abbess
An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa''), also known as a mother superior, is the female superior of a community of Catholic nuns in an abbey.
Description
In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic ...
presented him a new ''camauro'' crafted by the nuns.
Origins
The origin of the design is uncertain. Venice was heavily influenced by the
Orient through trade and cultural exchange. This ceremonial headdress shares similarities with the
Phrygian cap or the
white crown
Hedjet ( egy, ḥḏt "White One") is the formal name for the White Crown of pharaonic Upper Egypt. After the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, it was combined with the Deshret, the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, to form the Pschent, the double cr ...
of
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt ( ar, صعيد مصر ', shortened to , , locally: ; ) is the southern portion of Egypt and is composed of the lands on both sides of the Nile that extend upriver from Lower Egypt in the north to Nubia in the south.
In ancient E ...
. When Venice was still part of the
Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, high-ranking Byzantine soldiers stationed in Venice also wore a headdress reminiscent of the horned Phrygian cap. The first recorded mention of the corno is from the 12th century, although it is possible that the doges already wore similar hats before then.
Heraldry
In heraldry, a distinction is made between the doge hat of the Republic of Venice and the doge hat of the
Republic of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa ( lij, Repúbrica de Zêna ; it, Repubblica di Genova; la, Res Publica Ianuensis) was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Lat ...
. From the end of the 18th century, this emblem of rank and dignity was only occasionally carried on in the arms of Venetian noble families (
Vendramin
The House of Vendramin (, ) was a rich merchant family of Venice, Italy, who were among the ''case nuove'' or "new houses" who joined the patrician class when the '' Libro d'Oro'' was opened after the battle of Chioggia (June 1380). Andrea Ve ...
,
Sagredo,
Giustiniani
The House of Giustiniani is the name of a prominent Italian family which originally belonged to Venice, but also established itself in Genoa, and at various times had representatives in Naples, Corsica and in the islands of the Archipelago, where t ...
).
The corno was also used as a crest on the coat of arms of the Doge.
Due to a special Italian
Presidential decree
A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state (such as the president of a republic or a monarch), according to certain procedures (usually established in a constitution). It has the force of law. The particular term used for ...
, the coat of arms of the modern-day city of Venice features the corno. It replaces the
mural crown
A mural crown ( la, corona muralis) is a crown or headpiece representing city walls, towers, or fortresses. In classical antiquity, it was an emblem of tutelary deities who watched over a city, and among the Romans a military decoration. Later ...
that is present on the coat of arms of other Italian cities.
File:Coat of Arms of the Republic of Venice.svg, Coat of arms of the Republic.
File:CoA Città di Venezia.png, Modern-day coat of arms of the city of Venice.
Election
The Venetian Doges were appointed for life by the
city-state
A city-state is an independent sovereign city which serves as the center of political, economic, and cultural life over its contiguous territory. They have existed in many parts of the world since the dawn of history, including cities such as ...
's aristocracy. The hat was presented to the doge on the day of his election. It was placed on his head by the youngest member of the
Great Council, with the following address: "Accipe coronam ducalem, Ducatus Venetiarum" (''"Receive the ducal crown, Doge of Venice"''). The doge then wears this horned cap in all circumstances where the dignity and power of the Republic are expressed, in particular on Easter day and during the
feast of the Ascension
The Solemnity of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, also called Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday, commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is one of the ecumenical (i.e., shared by ...
, for the
Marriage of the Sea
The Marriage of the Sea ceremony ( it, Sposalizio del Mare) was a major maritime event in the Republic of Venice commemorated on Ascension Day. It symbolized the maritime dominion of Venice and was manifested by the throwing of a golden ring into ...
ceremony.
History
Due to its particular shape, the corno ducale is a very recognisable symbol of the Most Serene Republic. The cap is featured in countless works of art.
In the Venetian language, the ducal horn is called ''zoia'', literally "jewel". The rear point in the shape of a curved horn giving the cap its name is mentioned in the 13th century during the reign of
Reniero Zeno
Coat of arms of Reniero Zeno
Silver Grosso of Doge Raniero Zeno, 1253–1268, Venice.
Reniero Zeno ( vec, Renieri Zen) (died 7 July 1268) was the 45th Doge of Venice, reigning from 1 January 1253 until his death in 1268.
Life
The first refer ...
(). In this description the headdress is made of crimson velvet, with a gold circle around its perimeter. A golden cross is added to it by the doge
Lorenzo Celsi
Lorenzo Celsi (born Venice, c. 1310 – died there 18 July 1365) was a Venetian statesman who served as the 58th Doge of Venice, from 16 July 1361 until his death.
Biography
He was the son of a rich Celsi family, and was previously noted for l ...
(). Another transformation of the zoia occurs in the 15th century when the doge
Nicolo Marcello () had one made in gold.
The horn disappeared along with the dogal institution in 1797, after the
capture of Venice by
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
and the abdication of
Ludovico Manin
Ludovico Giovanni Manin (; ; 14 May 1725 – 24 October 1802) was a Venetian politician, patrician, and the 120th and last Doge of Venice. He governed the Venetian Republic from 9 March 1789 until its fall in 1797, when he was forced to ab ...
, the last doge.
Gallery
File:BartolomeoGradonicoGoldCoin.jpg
File:Grand Procession of the Doge of Venice.png
File:Bellini, Gentile - Mocenigo, Giovanni, Doge - Museo Correr.jpg
File:Francesco Donato, Doge of Venice.jpg
File:Frari (Venice) - Chapter Room - Doge Marino Morosini by Palma il Giovane.jpg
File:Lodovico Manin.jpg
File:Giovanni Bellini, portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan.jpg
File:Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan, by Vittore Carpaccio.jpg
File:Choir of Santi Giovanni e Paolo (Venice) - Statue of doge Leonardo Loredan.jpg
File:Ritratto del Doge Andrea Gritti - Tiziano 059.jpg
See also
*
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice ( ; vec, Doxe de Venexia ; it, Doge di Venezia ; all derived from Latin ', "military leader"), sometimes translated as Duke (compare the Italian '), was the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice between 726 ...
*
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
*
Commune of Venice
The Commune of Venice ( la, Commune Veneciarum) is the title with which the government of the city of Venice and its Republic was designated from 1143. The municipality, similar to other medieval municipalities, was based on the popular power of ...
*
Signoria of Venice
The Signoria of Venice (''Serenissima Signoria'') was the supreme body of government of the Republic of Venice. The older Commune of Venice was replaced by the Signoria from 1423 on, being later officially adopted in the ''Promissione Ducale'' b ...
*
Great Council of Venice
The Great Council or Major Council ( it, Maggior Consiglio; vec, Mazor Consegio) was a political organ of the Republic of Venice between 1172 and 1797. It was the chief political assembly, responsible for electing many of the other political off ...
References
{{Reflist
Hats
Republic of Venice