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Boyars
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Boyars were part of an aristocratic tier of society

Most Boyars served as either part of the military or as

some form of government official

Owned land and passed on the position of Boyar down

from one generation to the next.
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Boyars always served as advisors to the tsars and

Grand Prince

The Duma was a specific council of Boyars elected by

the tsar to give advise on administrative issues

The Duma was discontinued under Peter the Great

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Boyars believed that shaving was an act of sin, so they

grew very large beards.

Peter the Great disapproved of the beards and

requested that they shave them off.

Eventually Peter installed a steep tax on those who

grow beards which many Boyars paid.
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Many peasants
distrusted the
Boyars and viewed
them as dishonest.

There was a
constant struggle
for power between
Boyars.

It was not
uncommon for
Boyars to poison
another Boyar or
official.