The corno ducale (), a unique ducal hat, was the headgear and symbol of the

Doge of Venice The Doge of Venice ( ) – in Italian, was the doge or highest role of authority within the Republic of Venice (697–1797). The word derives from the Latin , meaning 'leader', and Venetian Italian dialect for 'duke', highest official of the ...

. It was a stiff horn-like bonnet, which was made of gemmed brocade or cloth-of-gold and worn over a '' camauro''. The ducal horn was a fine linen cap with a structured peak at the back reminiscent of the

Phrygian cap The Phrygian cap ( ), also known as Thracian cap and liberty cap, is a soft Pointed hat, conical Hat, cap with the apex bent over, associated in Classical antiquity, antiquity with several peoples in Eastern Europe, Anatolia, and Asia. The Phry ...

, a classical symbol of liberty. Every Easter Monday, 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 San Zaccaria, where the

abbess An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa'') is the female superior of a community of nuns in an abbey. Description In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican abbeys, the mod ...

presented him with a new ''camauro'' crafted by the nuns.

Origins

The origin of the design is uncertain. Venice was heavily influenced by the

Orient The Orient is a term referring to the East in relation to Europe, traditionally comprising anything belonging to the Eastern world. It is the antonym of the term ''Occident'', which refers to the Western world. In English, it is largely a meto ...

through trade and cultural exchange. This ceremonial headdress shares similarities with the

or the white crown of

Upper Egypt Upper Egypt ( ', shortened to , , locally: ) is the southern portion of Egypt and is composed of the Nile River valley south of the delta and the 30th parallel North. It thus consists of the entire Nile River valley from Cairo south to Lake N ...

. 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 ( ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Maritime republics, maritime republic from the years 1099 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italy, Italian coast. During the Late Middle Ages, it was a major commercial power in ...

. 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, Sagredo, Giustiniani). The corno was also used as a crest on the coat of arms of the Doge. Due to a special Italian Presidential decree, the coat of arms of the modern-day city of Venice features the corno. It replaces the mural crown 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 throughout history, including cities such as Rome, ...

'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 of the Dogeship 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 Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ (also called the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday) commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. It ...

, for the

Marriage of the Sea The Marriage of the Sea ceremony () 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 the Adriatic Sea. This ...

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 (). 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 (). 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 (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

and the abdication of Ludovico Manin, the last doge.

Gallery

BartolomeoGradonicoGoldCoin.jpg Grand Procession of the Doge of Venice.png (Venice) Doge Giovanni Mocenigo by Gentile Bellini - Correr Museum.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

References