September 5 - Czar Peter I imposes a tax - on beards!

Posted on September 5, 2021

Key Points

This is an update of my post published on September 5, 2010:

Russian czars were absolute monarchs who felt they could (and often successfully did!) rule every aspect of their country and their subjects. Here’s a great example: on this day in 1698, Russian Czar Peter I (aka Peter the Great) ordered his noblemen to wear Western clothes rather than their traditional Russian clothing – and he personally cut off their beards! He imposed a tax on all his subjects’ beards, with exceptions made for priests and peasants. He hoped to discourage the growth of facial hair and what he considered “archaic” fashion.

Peter the Great

Of course, other kings have dictated fashion. Henry VIII (who wore a beard) and Elizabeth I (who did not) both taxed beards in England.

Henry VII

In the modern world there are some companies and institutions who have had dress codes that include rules about hair and beards. For example, Disney used to have a rule about no beards for its employees, and Brigham Young University currently has a no-beard rule for students (although the university does give out “Beard Cards” to a few exemptions who cannot shave for medical or religious reasons). Ready for the irony? Brigham Young wore a beard!

Brigham Young

Above:
Some BYU students did a Bike for Beards
protest – wearing a variety of fake beards!

Below:
Students who are exempt from the no-beards
rule are given an exemption card!

However, Peter the Great still manages to take the metaphorical cake because he made men who still wore beards (and paid the yearly beard tax) wear medals that read, “Beards are a ridiculous ornament.”

Ou-ch!

For centuries before this, Russian men had worn long, flowing beards, and the idea of a beard was, for them, bound up with the idea of being a Russian and a man. It must have been very difficult for many to part with their beards.