In Dutch, “guys” refers to the flag used on ships of the 1-2 ranks of the navy. And guys is a wide collar that appears in the form of sailors. In the Russian Navy, a blue guis with three white stripes was established.
Why are they wearing guise, how did it appear, and why are there exactly three stripes on it? These questions definitely need answers.
How did guis come from and why is it needed?
Medieval men did not recognize short haircuts; almost everywhere in Europe, either long hair or wigs were worn. Under such conditions, lice were actively spreading, it was necessary to apply measures to counter their hordes, and for this purpose tar was applied to the hair. The measure partly helped, but long hair could easily stain clothes, and therefore it was necessary to use some kind of protective material.
So wigs, oiled pigtails from horsehair - served not just as decoration, but as an indispensable element of the appearance of each sailor in a certain period of time. And they, too, got their clothes dirty, for which the sailors received punishment, since they should always look tidy. People began to use a wide leather collar, which protected clothes, and which could be easily washed from any dirt.
And even with the rejection of long hair and lush hairstyles, the beloved and comfortable collar remained, only they began to be made of fabric.After all, long hair or wigs in the old days to some extent insulated the neck, and with their removal, at least some replacement was required. And the wide fabric collar did a great job with the scarf function, becoming even more beloved. It could be tucked into clothes, providing warmth.
There is another version, according to which the wide hood, which was used by sailors to protect themselves from rain and spray, turned into a guis.
In the process of its evolution, gyuys has been modified many times, people sought to make it as convenient and practical as possible. Today he is firmly entrenched in the Russian Navy, and looks like a blue rectangular collar of large width, made of fabric, and having three white stripes. His lining is also blue, the ends are looped, and there is also a button in the center of the neckline - this makes it possible to attach the collar to working or uniform navy clothing.
Why are there three strips on a guis?
A collar of this type was introduced into the Russian fleet in 1843. There are several versions that explain the presence of exactly three white stripes on a guis. For the most part, sailors indicate that the stripes symbolize the three biggest victories of the Russian fleet - at Sinop Bay, at Chesma, and at Gangut.
The greatest victories of the Russian fleet, marked by three stripes
Three bands on guis, according to one version, are dedicated to the greatest victories of the Russian fleet. But what can be said about these battles, immortalized in history and in similar details of the marine form?
Battle of Gangut
This battle took place as part of the Northern War of 1700-1721. Held near the modern Cape Hanko, in the past - Gangut in 1714. Peter the Great and Admiral Apraksin directly commanded what was happening, from the side of the Swedes - Vice Admiral Vatrang. The Swedes were defeated, which proved their vulnerability at sea. This victory was equated to Poltava, Russian troops were solemnly welcomed at home, and those ships that were able to be captured from the Swedes were brought to St. Petersburg as trophies. Day of Military Glory August 9 is celebrated in honor of this victory.
Battle of Chesme
This battle took place in the Aegean, not far from the Turkish coast, in 1770 and lasted from July 5 to 7. Despite the fact that there were twice as many Turkish forces, the Russian fleet defeated, almost completely destroying the enemy due to the correct choice of the moment of attacks. Admiral Spiridov, who commanded the vanguard of the winners, and Orlov, the direct commander of the entire squadron, were also helped by the excellent organization of the troops and their high morale. This was not a template victory, but a magnificent improvisation, proving the admiral's military talent.
Battle of Sinop Bay
Another great clash between the Russian and Turkish fleets occurred in 1853, November 30. The Turks, led by Osman Pasha, were going to land on the Caucasian coast, and they had to stop in Sinop Bay to wait out the storm. At this moment, Nakhimov’s fleet blocked the bay, but neither the Turks nor the British who were present with them assumed that the Russians would dare to attack the water area protected by coastal artillery.But the Russians attacked - and so swiftly that the coastal guns simply could not significantly damage them. The Turkish fleet was completely defeated, and this battle was the last in the history of sailing ships, giving Russia dominance in the Black Sea for a long time to come.
Other hypotheses
Sailors of many other countries explain their own bands on gyus in the same way, only victories indicate, of course, their own state. This allows us to come to the conclusion that the legend of victories and stripes is a foreign borrowing, especially since it is observed very often in the navy environment. And guis itself may well be a loan.
But there is another legend according to which the guys were introduced by none other than Peter the Great, one of the greatest rulers who gave rise to the development of the Russian fleet. It is believed that initially the emperor had three squadrons, each of which had its own particular form. The third squadron was considered the closest to the ruler, it had three stripes along the edge of the gyus and red flannel shirts.
The second wore two stripes and blue shirts, the first dressed in white shirts and wore only one strip. It is believed that since then the understanding of the “elitism” of the three bands has strengthened, and they began to take root in shape, emphasizing proximity to command. This was the situation for 1881, and already in 1882 a three-lane collar began to spread throughout the fleet everywhere, until it became official and universally recognized.
Interesting fact: there is another version of the appearance of the three bands - it is believed that the Baltic Fleet was divided into three divisions, the sailors carried at the collar the number of bands that corresponded to the number of their division. But there are no details regarding why exactly three took root.
Thus, today it is difficult to say why sailors wear exactly three bands on gyus, however this tradition takes its roots for a long time, and remains unchanged. This element of the form is considered as very important, no less symbolic than a peakless cap with ribbons or a vest. Despite the fact that it is no longer possible to call it functional these days, it remains an important element that allows paying tribute to the powerful naval traditions. And today it is simply impossible to imagine a sailor without a traditional collar.
