For the first in our Wednesday series of necktie lessons, today we're discussing the four-in-hand knot.

Did you know that the four-in-hand has a storied past across many eras and international borders?

There are many ancient Chinese terracotta soldier statues wearing neck scarves tied with that very knot. They were protecting what they believed to be the source of their strength, the Adam’s apple.

Roman soldiers are also depicted in paintings using this knot as an identifying marker in battle.

In the 1630s, Croatian soldiers celebrating their military victories sported the knot across Europe, catching the attention of the King of England, who adopted the look for himself.

The name "four-in-hand" came from the way carriage drivers tied the reins of four horses to one hand. These days it is considered the least formal of all knots that men have in their arsenal of knot tying. It's popular because it's a quick knot to tie, can be squeezed to fit a pointed collar, and can be tied with a thicker knit or winter wool tie.