Capotain facts for kids
A capotain (also called a capatain or copotain) was a popular hat worn by both men and women. It was tall and had a narrow brim. Imagine a slightly cone-shaped hat, often black. People wore capotains from the 1590s to the mid-1600s. This was mainly in England and parts of northwestern Europe.
Early capotains had rounded tops. Later versions had a flat top. This hat is strongly linked to the Puritans. They were a religious group in England. They wore these hats during the time leading up to the English Civil War and during the Commonwealth of England.
Many people also call the capotain a flat topped hat or a Pilgrim hat. This is because it was worn by the Pilgrims who settled Plymouth Colony in America in the 1620s. There's a common misunderstanding about these hats. Many pictures from the 1800s show capotains with buckles on the front. But this is a myth! Real capotains never had buckles.
Some people believe the capotain might have inspired the design of the top hat.
Contents
What is a Capotain?
A capotain was a special type of hat. It had a very tall top, which was sometimes rounded and sometimes flat. The brim, or the part that sticks out around the bottom, was quite narrow. Most capotains were black. They looked a bit like a sugarloaf, which was a cone-shaped block of sugar.
When Were Capotains Popular?
These hats were fashionable for about 70 years. They first appeared around the 1590s. People continued to wear them until the middle of the 1600s. This was a time of big changes in history.
Who Wore Capotains?
Both men and women wore capotains. They were especially popular in England. They were also worn in countries like the Netherlands. You can see them in many paintings from that time.
The Pilgrim Hat Myth
The capotain is often called a "Pilgrim hat." This is because the Pilgrims who sailed to America wore similar hats. They founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. This colony was one of the first English settlements in North America.
The Buckle Story
You might have seen pictures of Pilgrims with hats that have a big buckle on the front. This image is very famous. However, it is not true! This idea of a buckled hat was created much later. It became popular in the 1800s. Real capotains from the 1600s never had buckles. It's a fun fact to know!
A Look to the Future
Historians have thought about where hat styles come from. Some believe that the capotain might have influenced the design of the top hat. The top hat became very popular much later, in the 1800s. It also has a tall crown, similar to the capotain.
-
England, 1592
(Portrait of an Unknown Lady, attributed to Robert Peake the Elder) -
England, 1600s
(Detail from a contemporary engraving of the Gunpowder Plotters) -
Holland, 1615 (Elegant Couples Courting by Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech)
-
Flanders, 1630s
(Man with a Hat painting by Adriaen Brouwer) -
England, 1640s,
Ester Tradescant and Son (attributed to Thomas de Critz) -
A spurious buckled capotain, as carved by Augustus St. Gaudens on The Puritan and The Pilgrim, 1887
