Shako

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Image:MuseeMarine-ShakoMarine.jpg Image:GardeTschako.jpg

A shakois a tall, cylindrical cap, usually peaked, sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with some kind of ornamental plate or badge on the front, metallic or otherwise, and often has a feather, plume, or pompon attached at the top.

The word "shako" originated from the Hungarian name csákós süveg ("peaked cap"), which was a part of the uniform of the Hungarian hussar of the 18th century.

From 1800 on, the shako became the standard military headress of most regiments in nearly all armies. It retained this dominant position until the mid-19th century, when spiked helmets began to appear in the armies of various German states, and the more practical kepi replaced it for all but parade wear in the French Army.

While impressive in appearance, adding to the height of the wearer, the shako was heavy and clumsy in the field, providing little protection against enemy action or the weather. Most models were made of cloth or felt over a leather body and peak.

The shako was, however, still being worn by French Chasseurs à Cheval and Hussars; German Jägers, Landwehr and Marines; Austro-Hungarian Infantry and Hussars; Russian Imperial Guard Infantry and Artillery; Mexican federal troops of all branches; Romanian Artillery, Italian Horse Artillery; and Spanish Infantry, Engineers, and Artillery as late as 1914. The Highland Light Infantry and Scottish Rifles of the British Army retained shakos for parade dress until World War I, and the Swiss and Dutch armies wore shakos even for field wear until 1916. During this final period of traditional uniforms the shako varied widely from army to army in height, colour, trim and profile.

Shakos are still worn as full-dress headgear by cadets of the United States Military Academy, Virginia Military Institute, The Citadel, and New York Military Academy on their Full Dress Grey uniforms, the infantry of the French Republican Guard, cadets at Saint-Cyr, cadets at the Belgian Royal Military Academy [1], the Italian Horse Guards Corps and cadets at the Military Academy of Modena, the Danish Guard Hussar Regiment, and the Spanish Royal Guard. Various Latin American armies retain them for ceremonial guard or military academy uniforms. In Russia they are used by the Kremlin Guards for ceremonial occasions. In the United States they are frequently worn by (pre-June 1, 2003) civilian marching bands and drum corps. In India, the Madras Sappers, a Regiment (aka Madras Sappers & Miners, Madras Engineer Group) almost 300 years old, also wear dark-blue visorless shakos as part of their ceremonial uniform.