What is the Origin of the Fez?
M. S. Vassiliou
origin? Some of the Balkan peoples have traditional costumes that
include a Fez-like hat; did they get it from the Turks during
Ottoman rule, or did the Turks get it from them? Or is it
of Arab origin? Anybody know? Just curious.
Demiralp, Ersan
Mahmud 2 became Sultan, he planned to make some reforms to reach
Western technological developments. But ,usually, the Janissaries (the
soldier class in Ottoman Empire) and the Ulema (mostly religious teachers
in "medrese"s) were obstacles to the reforms (previously, they killed
Sultan Selim 3). So, Sultan Mahmud 2 and his followers destroyed the
Janissary barracks,abolished the Janissary section and form a new
army in Western Europe standard (c.a. 1830)
During this period, Sultan Mahmud 2 made a reform in formal dressing.
Usually, the Ulema and most Janissaries used "sarik", which you round
a sheet of clothe around your head (similar to what Sighes(sp) of India wear)
(Actually, the usage of Sarik is related to a religious sect "Bestasilik". Most
of Janissaries were "Bektasi"s). Somebody brought some hats
from "Fes"(Fas) (Morocco is called Fas by Turks). Sultan liked them
and the Ottomans began to use these hats which they called "Fes".
Today, almost nobody wears "Fes" in Turkey (only for some theatrical purposes
or for some other performances...), but they sell them as touristic souvenirs.
Most probably, Balkan people got the "Fes" when they were ruled by
the Ottomans. Curiously enough, I watched an Ukraine Folk dancing and
the women were wearing Fes-like hats.
Ersan
Mavilim fes basinda "Mine in blue", with a fes on his head
Ps. For more information, call ext. 27 21 8-)
Constantinos A. Caroutas
I've seen a picture of Byzantine Emperor Emmanuel II* Palaiologos
and he wore a top-hat that was slightly tapered. That had quite
impressed the people of England during his visit there around the
year 1400.
From the picture, the Emperor's top-hat seemed similar in shape
to a fez, but it was taller, it had no tassel and it had a round.
And talking about hats, turbans were quite popular among the
Greeks during the later Byzantine years. The most impressive ones
were worn by the merchants.
* I think he was the II. He was the father of Constantinos XI
Palailogos (the last Emperor).
Constantinos A. Caroutas
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Kutluk Ozguven
>m...@tacos.caltech.edu writes:
>>The Fez is almost a symbol of Turkey, but is it in fact of Turkish
>>origin? Some of the Balkan peoples have traditional costumes that
>>include a Fez-like hat; did they get it from the Turks during
>>Ottoman rule, or did the Turks get it from them? Or is it
>>of Arab origin? Anybody know? Just curious.
>I've seen a picture of Byzantine Emperor Emmanuel II* Palaiologos
>and he wore a top-hat that was slightly tapered. That had quite
>impressed the people of England during his visit there around the
>year 1400.
The fez has little to do with the holy emperor and nor his dad,
it is brought from the north african origin, in the 1820s reformation.
The idea was to simplify the complicated and separatist fashions of
headings, and standardize every Ottoman citizen, at least the urban ones.
The fez reform, was compulsory for civil servants and government workers,
and it was not alone, a European fashion of dressing was to complete it.
Before that the heading was not a popular thing among Turks.
With cloth reforms and mant other Westernization reforms, the Sultan
Mahmud II, was nicknamed as the Gavur Padisah, or the infidel emperor.
He was sucessful in his bloody fight aginst the Janissaries who were
noone but urban gangs since 18th century. He also introduced other
progress in. But in foreign policy he was not quite successful, Egypt
was lost practicly, to a Turkish adventurer, Mehmed Ali of Kavala,
a kingdom of Hellas is formed after a British direct involvement,
Russia gained international support in her arguments about Turkish internal
affairs.
There are different types of fez, for example Abdulmecid had a long and
cylindiric one, called Mecidiye. Abdulaziz's fez, a short and curved one
was called Aziziye fez. There were also a fashion of wearing imported fez
from Austria, among the elite.
With the republic and the dress code of 1925, fez and anything other than
a hat became illegal. That was until the English tourists started to ask for
those headwear.
Kutluk