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

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 the capital to Saint Petersburg. Along the way, they touch on key figures like Franz Lefort and Patriarch Adrian, and consider whether Peter's relentless modernization came at too high a human cost. #PeterTheGreat #BeardTax #Westernization #RussianHistory #Romanovs #Streltsy #TableOfRanks #FranzLefort #Vedomosti #Boyars #SaintPetersburg #OldBelievers #CulturalRevolution #18thCentury #EasternEurope #Tsar #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo