Grigori Rasputin

Hard to kill

Building a Reputation

• Born a peasant in the Tyuman district in Siberia. His birth date is now believed to be in 1861.

• Myths of Rasputin’s powers started as early as his childhood. It is said that Rasputin was able to identify the man who stole one of his father’s horses by using supernatural powers.

• Around the age of 18 Rasputin spent about three months in a monastery. His experience there led him into the life of a holy man.

• Rasputin decided to model his life to that of Makariy, a holy man that Rasputin spent time with after the monastery.

• Rasputin began to build up quite a reputation. His greasy hair, and dirty clothing gave him the look of a man of god. It was said that he possessed the ability to heal through prayer.

Building a Reputation Continued

Healing Alexei

• When doctors could not find a cure for Alexei, the Tsaritsa Alexandra turned to Rasputin for a different approach by suggestion from her close friend Anna Vyrubova. Anna Vyrubova was involved in a train accident. She was in critical condition and doctors didn’t know what to do. Rasputin went to her bedside, held her hand and began to say, “Annushka, Annushka, rise!” She then awoke from her coma. After this he was able to become involved with some of the royal family, though most wanted nothing to do with him.

• Some say that Rasputin used hypnosis, and because Alexei had hemophilia, the hypnosis was able to provide some relief because it lowers stress levels.

• After relieving Alexei of some of the symptoms, both Nicholas II and Alexandra considered him to be a man of god, and a religious prophet.

Healing Alexei Continued

Rasputin’s influence

• Because Rasputin was rude and obnoxious, he did not make many friends. People began to spread rumors that he was a fraud, and was corrupting the royal family. It was said that he controlled the government positions, and after a number of scandals, Nicholas’ reputation was ruined. Whenever Nicholas would try to remove Rasputin, Alexandra would come to his rescue.

• Rasputin used his relationship with the royal family to control the church. Any opposition to Raspution would end up in exile.

• One side of the argument of Rasputin’s corruption is that his influence was created by the Saint Petersburg press. He really didn’t take part in political affairs like many believed. These rumors were created by those in opposition to Nicholas II and Alexandra.

• The rumors lead many Russians to believe that Rasputin had seduced Alexandra and her daughters, and that he now had complete control over Nicholas II and Alexandra.

Rasputin’s influence Continued

• Though the aristocracy did not believe the rumors regarding Rasputin, they didn’t mind the negative impact it had on the tsar and tsaritsa.

Rasputin’s influence Continued

Assassination Plot

• Several members of the Russian nobility, including Prince Felix Yussoupov who Rasputin considered to be a friend, blamed Rasputin for the problems of Russia. They began plotting the assassination of Rasputin.

• Yussoupov invited Rasputin to his palace. They then offered Rasputin cake and wine, both which were loaded with cyanide. Even after Rasputin consumed enough cyanide to kill several normal men, he was not effected. The prince then shot Rasputin and he was still able to stagger out into the courtyard of the palace. They then began beating him and after Yussoupov then shot him again, and still wasn’t able to kill him. They then threw him into the Neva River which finally led to his death.

• Yussoupov stated that the assassination plot was an act to save Russia.

• With Rasputin out of the picture, attacks on the Romanov family continued. About two years later Nicholas lost his throne, and the imperial family were imprisoned and brutally murdered by the Bolsheviks.

Assassination Plot Continued

Bibliography

• http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/rasputin/page.html

• http://it.stlawu.edu/~rkreuzer/indv5/rasp.htm

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Rasputin

• http://www.alexanderpalace.org/2006rasputin/