It is unlikely that modern smokers have claims to Peter, who in 1697 allowed the free trade in makhorka. Rather, on the contrary - those who like to smoke, they also thank the emperor. Let me remind you that before Peter the Great for smoking in Russia, they could be flogged, deprived of the nose and sent to Siberia.
The churchmen shouted that the devil penetrates the body with the smoke. And the common people believed that the use of "hellish leaves" is a direct road to the end of the world. Then Peter came, said that all this was superstitious garbage and suggested that the British establish the supply of tobacco to Russia. The Great smoked himself, later Paul and Alexander I. Catherine smelled. Yes, almost all of our kings puffed …
But something I was carried away by "devilish smoke". Let's talk about the beard. The one, for the damage of which, back in the 15th century, a fine of 2 rubles was supposed! This, for a minute, is twice as much as for a murder! (Pskov judicial letter of the XIV-XV centuries.) The Slavs believed that wearing a beard brings them closer to the image of God.
In addition, dense vegetation was an attribute of masculinity and vitality. The peasants grew beards sincerely believing that this would increase yields. And the reformer decided to take this "holy" growth away from men, punishing the wearing with a ruble. The fees at that time were huge …
Beard Tax (Ordinance 1705):
Promotional video:
- 600 rubles - from nobles and officials annually
- 100 rubles - from merchants
- 60 rubles - from artisans
- 30 rubles - from servants, cabbies and other townspeople.
Of course, we are talking primarily about the upper class, but, for example, it was forbidden to let peasants into the city with a beard, unless they pay a fee of 1 kopeck every time they enter.
Of course, there were opponents to the reform. Beard fans believed that shaved ones did not deserve burial according to Christian customs. And they urged to throw them "like dogs" into the ditch and not to perform the funeral service.
N. I. Tolstoy in the book "Slavic Antiquities" also informs about an interesting tradition of the Old Believers: men forcibly stripped of their beards, wore their hair cut off in a bag around their necks. He was also put in a coffin in order to present his beard to Saint Nicholas in the next world. It was believed that without her they would not be allowed to paradise.