Beard taxes?
Believe it or not, many years ago people tried to charge men for having beards!
Don't believe us? We wouldn't either but it is true.
In 1535, King Henry VIII of England, who wore a beard himself, introduced a tax on beards. The tax was a graduated tax, varying with the wearer's social position. His daughter, Elizabeth I of England, reintroduced the beard tax, taxing every beard of more than two weeks' growth. This would of been ok if you couldn't grow a beard we suppose.
Not only did King Henry try and charge people, but so did Russia!
In 1698, Emperor Peter I of Russia instituted a beard tax to modernize the society of Russia following European models. Those who paid the tax were required to carry a "beard token".
This was a copper or silver token with a Russian Eagle on one side and on the other, the lower part of a face with nose, mouth, whiskers, and beard. It was inscribed with two phrases: "the beard tax has been taken" (lit: "Money taken") and "the beard is a superfluous burden".
Here is an image of a beard token.
So be thankful that we are now in 2015, and that nobody want us to pay for having a beard. Would you pay it? How much would be acceptable to pay?
Let us know!
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