The beard in Russia had a special meaning and symbolized power, reliability and was even considered an indicator of male wealth. The beardless were not honored anywhere, even merchants tried to avoid entering into trade relations with people without beards, considering them unreliable.
For this reason, when Peter I issued a decree on September 15, according to which all men in Russia had to shave off their beards, this did not arouse much enthusiasm. The execution of the order by the tsarist government caused not only unrest, but even suicide.
The tsar was firm in his decision to shave the beards of everyone in the state and in 1705 issued a corresponding decree, the only exception to which were priests, monks and peasants. Peter I personally took part in this process, and he often shaved with an ax.
For those who really did not want to part with facial hair, it was possible to acquire the right to wear a beard for a certain annual fee. The annual fee was 600 rubles for noblemen, 100 rubles for merchants and 30 rubles for coachmen and servants. These were impressive sums, so, for comparison, a pood of meat, which is more than 15 kg., Cost 30 kopecks, a pood of bread, 10 kopecks. According to the Tsar's decree, the peasants did not need to shave off their beards, but if they wanted to enter the city, those of them who had beards had to pay 1 kopeck at the entrance. Those who bought themselves the right to wear a beard, in order to avoid a fine, put on a special insignia, or rather a badge.
The duty for the right to wear a beard was canceled only in 1772, during the reign of Catherine II.
Anna Ponomareva
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