E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Popes Tiara (The).
He calls himself (1) Head of the Catholic or Universal Church; (2) Sole Arbiter of its Rights; and (3) Sovereign Father of all the kings of the earth. From these assumptions he wears a triple crownone as High Priest, one as Emperor, and one as King. (See Brady, 250, 251.)
For the first five centuries the Bishops of Rome wore a bonnet, like other ecclesiastics.
Pope Hormasdas (514523) placed on his bonnet the crown sent him by Clovis.
Boniface VIII. (12241303) added a second crown during his struggles with Philip the Fair.