Bicorne worn by Napoleon I. (1769–1821), with cockade

The bicorne was one of the favorite garments of Emperor Napoleon I. (1769-1821). Annually he let his hatter make up to twelve of these striking hats; on his campaigns he took several replacements with him. After Napoleon lost the battle at Waterloo against the British-Dutch-Prussian army on 18 June 1815, the Prussian major Heinrich Eugen Freiherr von Keller (life data unknown), succeeded in capturing one of the spare hats left behind in the imperial coach. Napoleon went into exile, the hat came to Berlin as a trophy.