A bearskin is a tall fur cap, usually worn as part of a ceremonial military uniform. Traditionally, the bearskin was the headgear of grenadiers, and remains in use by grenadier and guards regiments in various armies. Bearskins should not be confused with other types of fur military headdresses, notably the smaller busby. History The cloth caps worn by the original grenadiers in European armies during the seventeenth century were frequently trimmed with fur. The earliest record of a bearskin cap being worn by soldiers in Europe was during the mid-17th century. The practice fell into disuse until the second half of the eighteenth century, when grenadiers in the British, Spanish, and French armies began wearing high fur hats with cloth tops, and, sometimes, ornamental front plates. Imitating their Prussian counterparts, French grenadiers are described as wearing bearskins as early as 1761. The purpose appears to have been to add to the apparent height and impressive appearance of these troops both on the parade ground and the battlefield. During the nineteenth century, the expense of bearskin caps, and difficulty of maintaining them in good condition on active service led to this form of headdress becoming generally limited to guardsmen, bands, or other units having a ceremonial role. The British Foot Guards and Royal Scots Greys did however wear bearskins in battle during the Crimean War, and on peacetime manoeuvres until the introduction of khaki service dress in 1902. Immediately prior to the outbreak of World War I in 1914, bearskins were still worn by guard, ceremonial palace, or other units in the British, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Imperial German, Russian, and Swedish armies. The Italian Sardinian Grenadiers had discarded bearskins in the nineteenth century, but were to readopt them for limited ceremonial wear in modern times. In 1970, the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City retired the use of its bearskin, with the unit's ceremonial uniform being taken out of service in 1970, after Pope Paul VI demilitarised the gendarmerie and reorganized law enforcement under the Central Security Office (later reverting its name to the Corps of Gendarmerie in 2002). Before its retirement, the bearskin was worn by select members of the corps, and included a red plume. Contemporary use As of 2020, there were 14 countries whose militaries used bearskin as a part of their ceremonial uniforms. Italy and Sweden are the only two countries that use bearskins made out of