The Hessian boot (; from
Hesse
Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...
in
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
) is a style of light
riding boot
A riding boot is a boot made to be used for horse riding. The classic boot comes high enough up the leg to prevent the leathers of the saddle from pinching the leg of the rider, has a sturdy toe to protect the rider's foot when on the ground and ...
that became popular from the beginning of the 19th century.
History and description
First worn by German soldiers in the 18th century, these military
riding boots became popular in England, particularly during the
Regency period (1811–1820), with their polished leather and ornamental tassels. Initially used as standard issue footwear for
light cavalry
Light cavalry comprised lightly armed and body armor, armored cavalry troops mounted on fast horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the mounted riders (and sometimes the warhorses) were heavily armored. The purpose of light cavalry was p ...
regiments, especially
hussar
A hussar, ; ; ; ; . was a member of a class of light cavalry, originally from the Kingdom of Hungary during the 15th and 16th centuries. The title and distinctive dress of these horsemen were subsequently widely adopted by light cavalry ...
s, they would become widely worn by civilians as well
in both
equestrian pursuits and other outdoor activities.
The boots had a low heel, and a semi-pointed toe that made them practical for mounted troops, as they allowed easy use of
stirrup
A stirrup is a light frame or ring that holds the foot of a rider, attached to the saddle by a strap, often called a ''stirrup leather''. Stirrups are usually paired and are used to aid in mounting and as a support while using a riding animal ...
s.
They reached to the knee and had a decorative tassel at the top of each shaft, with a "v" notch in front.
The Hessian boot would evolve into the rubber work boots known as "
Wellington boots".
See also
*
List of boots
*
List of shoe styles
This is a list of shoe styles and designs. A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration. The design of shoes has varied enormously throug ...
*
Hessian (soldier)
Hessians ( or ) were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War, British Army in several major wars in the 18th century, most notably the American Revolutionary War. The term is a synecdoc ...
References
External links
Footwear History
{{Historical clothing
18th-century fashion
19th-century fashion
Military boots
Historical footwear
Cavalry