In the picture above we see Peter the Great cutting the beard of a boyar (a Russian noble). Peter the Great, in his continuing efforts to westernize Russia, forced all boyars to cut off their beards so that they resembled the clean-shaven western nobility. Peter levied a tax on those who wished to keep their beards.
To view a short video about the 2013 International Beard and Moustache Championship, click here.
