What does incognito mean? The first association that most of us have is intrigues, Dumas novels, the secrets of the Court of Madrid and other attributes of the life of the crowned persons and their close ones. The word comes from the Latin “in cogito” - “do not recognize” and means the individual hiding his real name, using a fictitious or borrowed one instead. But there is an important caveat: it is called incognito only if the purpose of hiding the name is not criminal. A person simply wants to avoid publicity for some reason.
In previous centuries, crowned persons and their close associates really often resorted to incognito actions. They had their own reason: a high-ranking, and even more so royal person must follow a certain etiquette. He is not allowed actions that are allowed to a mere mortal. And this is sometimes uncomfortable, indecent, and simply dangerous. But more often they nevertheless acted incognito to observe decency.
It was especially convenient to travel incognito. This, by the way, did not mean at all that the receiving party did not know who they were visiting. But decency was observed, and that was enough.
You can recall Garun al-Rashid, who put on the clothes of the poor and went to travel around his country to find out how ordinary people live. The monarchs of the Middle Ages also resorted to such actions. Walter Scott colorfully describes the incognito journey of Richard the Lionheart in the novel “Aivengo” and does not sin much against the truth. In fairness, it should be noted that Richard was forced to do so out of fear for his life.
In 1696, carpenter Pyotr Mikhailov went to Europe from Moscow, as part of the Great Embassy. And only a limited circle of people should have known that it was Tsar Peter I.
In 1781, the count and countess of the North went from St. Petersburg to travel. They were received with honor everywhere in Europe, and, in principle, everyone knew that the future Russian Tsar was hiding under this pseudonym, and at that time heir to the throne,
Pavel I, and his wife. Firstly, traveling under pseudonyms at that time was fashionable, and secondly, it allowed a little deviation from mandatory and strict etiquette.
It might seem that incognito actions are the prerogative of titled or crowned persons. However, this is not necessary. It is enough to recall three musketeers: Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Fictitious names did not prevent them from serving in the privileged musketeer regiment. Another typical example of incognito actions is described in the Pushkin novel “The Young Lady-Peasant”.
The noblewoman Lisa impersonates the peasant Akulin to meet the young man who interested her. Strict then etiquette forbade unmarried noble girl such actions. Having turned into a peasant woman, the girl was able to realize her plan.
With the advent of the Internet, forums and chats, the real era of incognito action has begun. The meaning of nicknames, nicknames, userpics is exactly the same: hiding your name with a purpose that does not go beyond the legal field. An author writing on the Internet does not always use his real name and genuine photograph. People can communicate for years, reporting only a minimum of information about themselves, without revealing their name and face. We can say that now incognito is an everyday reality for many.