The Beard Tax Will Make You Thank Your Stars You Aren’t In The 16th Century!

Beard Tax

Beards are the trend of this decade. Not only are they a symbol of masculinity, but also of attractiveness. Who doesn’t love a great, dashing beard?! But what if someone from the 16th century comes up to you and say, “Hey, shave that off! Or you will have to pay for it…” (Literally, pay for it)? Beards have been in fashion for a long time. The long thing that changes is the style of keeping beards. Beard was and is kept by man on and off, as following the trend of the era they live in and their surroundings.

The 16th century England went through a tumultuous period of change.

beard tax
source – The Vintage News

King Henry VIII during his rule, shut down the monasteries and declared himself the head of the Church. A huge amount of money was collected from the destroyed monasteries and all of that went into the royal treasury.

But it seems as if the King wasn’t happy with all the wealth he had accumulated. So, he went on and imposed many taxes on his subjects. But, no one was prepared for the weirdest of all taxes. The Beard Tax.

King Henry VIII imposed on all the (handsome and not- so handsome) guys, a Beard Tax! Now, as if the tax in itself was an odd one, but then something more was done to make it even odder. The King, who imposed a tax on beards, was himself a bearded man! So much for more taxes and more wealth in the treasury…

However, England wasn’t the only country who suffered from the burden of this unnecessary tax. Russia was next, and the tax and its responsibility made a grander comeback this time.

source- Free Press Journal

It was in the year 1697. Peter the Great, the Tsar of Russia, Tsar is the word used for emperors or kings in Russia. He decided to tour Western Europe. He witnessed the fashion that was being followed there and decided that now was the time for Russia to change. According to him Russian needed some reforms and now was the right time. So he got inspired to follow the same trend of beard and the beard tax from Europe. And his decision was so quick that the moment he returned to his homeland, the first thing he did after greeting his ministers was pulling a razor and shaving the beards off their faces!

No one actually dared to stop him, and the result was even more amusing. Anyone who was sported a beard in Russia was charged with 100 rubbles (That was a big amount back then). And it was not easy for everyone to pay.

And that act wasn’t enough, he even designed a different currency for the one’s with beard. People who paid the beard tax because of the beard they possessed, had to carry a special coin around with them all the time. Interesting phrases were inscribed on both sides of the coin.

One side of the coin said: “The Beard Tax Has Been Taken”. “The Beard is a superfluous burden” was mentioned on the other side. So much for turning a country into a modern one. People were told and encouraged for not keeping beards. And were even rewarded with various benefits and honors from the King if they remained clean shaved. The King of Russian actually didn’t have any idea to do this he just got inspired from another country.

However, do not fret! These taxes do not apply in the 21st century. And you should certainly thank your stars for that, shouldn’t you?

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram

Random Post

The Bombay Plague May Be The Reason Why Cross On The Street Corners Exist

The Bombay PlagueThe by-lanes of Bombay or ‘Mumbai’, as we know it today, have been a witness to a lot of historical events from...

How To Find The Best Debt Settlement In the USA

Debt settlement can be risky and has disadvantages, but it can be a last-ditch option for those with mounting debt. Here’s how it works,...

What Type Of Faucet Is Best?

Sometimes bathroom remodeling and construction require previous research to plan and design every aspect of this new room, including the taps. Choose it, it...

Latest article

How to engage children in learning 

One of your most important responsibilities as a teacher or educator of whatever kind is to ensure that the kids are fully and properly...

8 Child Rights Everyone Should Know About

Children are the future of any society. Recognizing and upholding their rights is essential for them to grow into happy, healthy, and productive adults....

Hot Tub Installations: The Spa Experience Redefined

There's something undeniably appealing about a hot tub. Hot tubs offer a unique form of relaxation, whether it's the relaxing warmth, the gentle bubbles,...

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.