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 Portrait of a woman wearing aRogatywka,c.1860s | |
| Type | Peaked cap |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Central Europe |
Rogatywka (Polish pronunciation:[rɔɡaˈtɨfka]; sometimes translated aspeaked cap) is the Polish generic name for a peaked, four-pointed cap used by various Polish military formations throughout the ages. It is a distant relative of its 18th-century predecessor, thekonfederatka (so-named because of use by members of theBar Confederation), although similar caps have been used by light cavalry since the 14th century. It consists of a four-pointed top and a short peak, usually made of black or brown leather. Although rogatywka (derived fromróg which means "horn" or "corner") in English seems to mean the same asczapka, the wordczapka in Polish designates not only rogatywka, but all caps (not hats).
The konfederatka was based on the hats of the 18th-centuryLithuanian TatarNational costumes, as theGrand Ducal Lithuanian Army's Vanguard regiments were heavily influenced by the Lithuanian Tatar dress, among other elements.[1]
The rogatywka usually comes in two variants: the hardened and soft version. The hardened model, based on the rogatywka Mk. 1935, olive green with black peak, is used in full gala uniforms, and the rim colour marks unit type (for example, navy blue – typical, scarlet – military police, green – artillery, and so on). It was not worn during most of thePeople's Republic of Poland era but was reintroduced for ceremonial wear by theHonour Guard Company in 1983. The soft version was used beforeWorld War II and during the People's Republic of Poland period for garrison dress; it was withdrawn after 1990.
Polish soldiers decorate their caps not with the emblem of their corps, but with their service's version of the Polishmilitary eagle. The military eagle insignia is based on an early 19th-century design, comprising a modified White Eagle (from thePolish coat of arms) perched atop an "Amazon shield".
Army branches are indicated by the following colored cap bands:
The rogatywka is used by Polish firefighters (hardened, all navy blue) andPolish State Railways staff (soft, navy blue or red).
Green rogatywkas with brown leather peak and scoutFleur-de-lis symbol are traditionally worn by Polish boy scouts, while grey caps are sometimes used by girl guides.
