Peter the Great's Beard Tax and the Westernization of Russia

The Romanov Dynasty: Rise, Power, and Bloody End — Fexingo History · May 30, 2026 · 9m · transcript

In this episode of The Romanov Dynasty, Lucas and Luna explore Peter the Great's radical campaign to transform Russia into a modern European power—starting with its most visible symbol: the beard. They discuss the infamous beard tax, the shaving of the boyars at court, and the broader cultural revolution that included adopting Western dress, reforming the calendar, and introducing the Table of Ranks. They also examine the violent suppression of the Streltsy uprising in 1698, the founding of the first Russian newspaper 'Vedomosti', and Peter's controversial decision to move…