Guardia Civil Hat (Tricornio)

Spain

Late 20th century

Patent leather

The Tricornio remains an icon of the national police force that was founded in 1844 to maintain law and order in rural Spain. During the Franco era (1939-1975), the Guardia Civil hat became an emblem of authoritarian power, due to the Guardia’s brutal repression of any opposition to Franco’s regime. Today, the traditional hat is reserved for parades and ceremonies.