A Shako of a French Navy uniform of the 19th century.

A shako is a tall cylindrical peaked cap, sometimes tapered at the top. It is usually adorned with some kind of ornament or badge on the front, metallic or otherwise, and often has a feather or plume attached at the top. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1020x1251, 124 KB) A French naval Shako, MUsée de la Marine, Paris. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1020x1251, 124 KB) A French naval Shako, MUsée de la Marine, Paris. ... The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military and is the largest Western European navy in terms of personnel with 45,600 personnel (the United Kingdoms Royal Navy has 43,530). ... A badge is a device, patch, or accoutrement which is presented or displayed to annote some feat of service, a special accomplishment, as a symbol of authority (ex: police), or as a simple means of identification. ...

The word "shako" originated from the Hungarian name csákó of the described hat, which was a part of the uniform of the Hungarian hussar of the 18th century. Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok; via the French hussard) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th 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-nineteenth 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. French Kepis. ... French soldiers of the IFOR in Mostar, 1995. ...

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 Jagers, 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 were wearing shakos even for field wear until 1916. Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok; via the French hussard) refers to a number of types of cavalry used throughout Europe since the 15th century. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Shakos are still worn as full dress headdresses by West Point cadets, the infantry of the French Republican Guard and cadets at Saint-Cyr, 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 Russian they are used by the Kremlin Guards for ceremonial occasions. In the United States they are frequently worn by 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 wears a dark blue visor-less Shakos as part of their ceremonial uniform. West Point redirects here. ... Two republican guards in ceremony uniform in front of a side entrance of the Élysée Palace The Republican Guard mans the honour guards welcoming foreign heads of state or government; here, president Jacques Chirac welcomes then king of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk to the Élysée Palace. ... The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM, Special Military School of St Cyr) is the foremost French military academy. ... The Gardehusarregiment (Guard Hussar Regiment) is one of two cavalry regiments of the Royal Danish Army. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... A marching band performs in a parade A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement – usually some type of marching – with their musical performance. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with combat engineering. ...

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Shako