Russia's shortest year lasted four months.

1699 · 1700 · apart: 1 year

The year 7208 'from the Creation' began as usual on 1 September, but by Peter I's decree 31 December was followed by 1 January 1700 AD.

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The event

• Accession of Peter the Great1682 · Moscow. In 1682 ten-year-old Peter was proclaimed tsar; after the Streltsy uprising he shared the throne with his half-brother Ivan V under the regency of Sophia. Peter ruled alone from 1696 and launched sweeping reforms.

17th century

More amazing facts

• 1695 The first worldwide manhunt in history was for a pirate — and it failed.
• 1696 · 1699 The man who wrote the laws of motion also worked as a detective.
• 1698 · 1772 Beards in Russia stayed taxable for 74 years.
• 1698 · 1705 Under Peter the Great bearded men carried a token stamped “Money received”, proof of paying the beard tax. Top merchants paid 100 rubles a year; peasants paid a kopeck each time they entered a town.
• 1700 · 1800 In the 18th century Britons’ sugar intake more than quadrupled, from about 4 lb a year per person in 1700 to about 18 lb in 1800.
• 1701 No one sits on the Ashanti kingdom's sacred throne.

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