The tsar returned from his nearly yearlong European sojourn filled with dreams of breaking Russia free from its backward isolation and transforming it into an evolved, enlightened kingdom worthy of the civilized world’s respect. He started with the beards, which Russian men had worn with pride for generations as symbols of their faith and ancient values. To Peter, these busy totems were nothing short of barbaric – the most outwards reflection of crippling superstition and complacency. He ordered them off, but, of course, he couldn’t just leave that to the barbers. No, the tsar attacked with a razor the hairy faces of his courtiers, many of whom lost a fair amount of skin in the process. For those who could not bear to part with their beards, a special tax was instituted. Those who opted to pay were issued a bronze medallion to be worn around the neck, which (sometimes) protected them from the government’s roving enforcers.
The forced shearing led some to believe that Peter was actually the Antichrist, come to destroy the venerable Orthodox faith.
Source:
Farquhar, Michael. “Chapter 2 – Peter I (1696-1725): The Eccentricities of an Emperor.” Secret Lives of the Tsars: Three Centuries of Autocracy, Debauchery, Betrayal, Murder, and Madness from Romanov Russia. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2014. 37. Print.
Further Reading:
Peter the Great (Russian: Пётр Вели́кий); Peter the Great
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