Intentions and Realities in 18th-Century Monarchy: New Insights and Discoveries

Abstract

four articles in this forum provide glimpses of some of the most interesting new scholarship on 18th-century Russian history. topics vary from beards property inheritance forms and philosophy of criminal punishment Peters controversial succession law. three contributions from Russian scholars are sharply focused studies of specific questions based on intensive archival research, aiming deliver new thoughts about themes often discussed but previously only superficially examined. fourth contribution, by German scholar, is broadly conceived interpretive essay with revisionist intent. Evgenii Akelev is an experienced archival researcher. In review in the last issue of Kritika of his deconstruction of the life of the 18th-century Russian thief and popular hero Van'ka Kain, Stephen Norris praised Akelev's rich portrait of Moscow, representing a new historical biography. (1) Akelev's The Barber of All Russia aims correct the approach Peter's efforts force Russians shave their beards and appear with European countenances. Historians, he argues, have based their findings on top-down legislative acts an in-depth analysis of the processes by which they were implemented (241) and left the impression that the policy had been imposed in one fell swoop with immediate and 'positive' results (241). On the basis of archival documents, he seeks describe process of adaptation rather than arbitrary compulsion and depict Peter more sensitive responses, especially than has been credited. Accordingly, Akelev challenges the vivid and even comedic views of the reform such as that given by Viktor Zhivov. He endeavors clarify the tsar's intentions, show the variation in the implementation of the policies in different regions, and to demonstrate that the development and implementation of the decree on beard shaving was closely associated with an analysis of public sentiment (242). Peter, he contends, attended carefully the mood of the population, which he tried control, often making concessions, sometimes stifling reform, even occasionally rescinding his commands (242). He endeavors determine how it was that Peter managed carry out such harsh and compulsory reforms in the cultural sphere, often in spite of existing church prohibitions, without facing serious public resistance (242). His analysis of the second edition of History of the Swedish War, which clearly expressed Peter's views and examples from his officials' correspondence, makes clear that Peter wished the countenance of all his subjects resemble people he encountered in the West, and he assumed that resemblance would advance broader intellectual and institutional transformation. Akelev shows that the pacing of the reform reveals much about Peter's attitudes and methods of implementation. Peter began preparation for the prohibition decree as early as October 1698, when an internal circular provided for the minting of tokens be given those who paid fee for the privilege of keeping their beards. Minting of such tokens began at that time, but the records of the Police Chancellery list no funds collected from that source before 1705. Akelev argues that Peter used the interim convince and publicize. outcry over the decree ordering the adoption of Western dress indicates, the author suggests, measured, practical approach. Rather than the image of an impulsive, angry tsar grabbing and clipping beards, we witness one who is patiently displaying preference for clean shaving. In the interim, Peter prepared the population for the official promulgation of the decree on beards. A three-day didactic banquet on the occasion of the wedding reception for his court jester Fiofilakt Shanskii in 1702 gave striking dramatization of the changes he envisioned, the contrast of the old attire with the new, the participation of women in the festivity--an episode in his scenario--enshrined in Adriaan Schoonebeck's engravings. …