Transformation of male costume of Byelorussian szlachta with zupan

The Renaissance period saw an evolution of zupan; this item of militarycostume worn during the medieval times became the main item of ceremonial dressof Belorussian szlachta. The paper provides six main reasons why the ceremonial maleattire that included a zupan appeared in the 16th century. The author explains why suchattire with a zupan prevailed in Belorussia until the middle of the 19th century, acquiringcolorful components, first of all, a Slutsk belt, and was accepted as the main garmentitem, first, by the magnates and the szlachta, and, subsequently, by city nobility and lowermiddle class. The military also wore garments with zupans throughout wars and rebellionsof the 17th-19th centuries. The most important archaeological finds of Slutsk belts aredescribed.