A BRIEF HISTORY OF BEARDS

A Brief History

History has a funny relationship with the beard. Facial hair seems to go through cycles of acceptance and popularity within different generations, under different rulers, and between different cultures. Currently—in the United States, at least—beards are not a unique sight, and one could even call them popular. Our very own Remington Beard Boss competitions are a reflection of this.

We embrace the beards. We love them.

Of course, it hasn’t always been this way. Let’s take a short stroll through history to see how beards have been treated and used by different people in different times.

Clean face, clean fight.

In 345 A.D., Alexander the Great forbade his soldiers from having beards, preventing enemies from pulling them to gain an advantage in battle.

The beard tax. In 1698, Peter the Great instituted a beard tax in Russia in an attempt to modernize societal norms. Bearded taxpayers were given a medallion that served as a license to wear a beard, and to double the “slap-in-the-face” efforts of the tax, the medallions were inscribed with the phrase, “The beard is a useless burden.”

“Place your right hand on your beard…” Otto the Great, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire until 973, would swear by his beard whenever he made an important declaration.

“Place your right hand on your beard…” Otto the Great, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire until 973, would swear by his beard whenever he made an important declaration.

“I challenge you to a beard-off!” In the Middle Ages, touching another man’s beard was considered highly offensive. In fact, if someone touched your beard, it was seen as a threat and you could challenge them to a duel. (FYI, this is not the format of our Beard Boss competitions.)

The power beard. In ancient Egypt, high-ranking officials often dyed their beards and wove gold thread through them.

The Gettysbeard Address

Abraham Lincoln is believed to have popularized beards for Americans in the 19thcentury. Prior to his presidency, Lincoln was clean-shaven. But he was convinced to grow a beard by an 11-year-old girl who wrote him a letter saying a beard would improve his appearance. Everyone’s a critic.

“Take my life, but not my beard.” On July 6, 1535, Sir Thomas More was executed for treason. With his head on the block, More spoke up to say his beard has not committed any treason, and therefore should not suffer the same fate. So, right before the executioner did his duty, More positioned his beard so it would not be harmed. Priorities.