The enigmatic figure of Grigori Rasputin, the so-called 'mad monk' whose brutal murder became a prelude to revolution, continues to fascinate over a century later. His incredible story of influence, scandal, and a shockingly botched assassination sealed his place as one of history's most mysterious characters.
From Siberian Peasant to Royal Confidant
Grigori Rasputin was not born into privilege. He hailed from a simple peasant family in the Siberian village of Pokrovskoye. Through a combination of charisma and alleged mystical abilities, he gradually built a reputation as a 'holy man' and faith healer. By the early 1900s, his path led him to St. Petersburg, where he was introduced to influential religious circles.
His big break came in 1906, when he gained access to the innermost circle of Russian power: the Romanov royal family. He spent significant time with the young heir, Alexei Nikolaevich, who suffered from the blood disorder haemophilia. Rasputin claimed he could use his powers to ease the boy's suffering, and to the astonishment of many, he appeared to succeed.
This success won him the unwavering trust of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. As the First World War engulfed Europe, Rasputin became a key adviser to the royals, wielding immense influence over state affairs.
Growing Influence and Fatal Enemies
Rasputin's rapid ascent and sway over the Tsar and Tsarina made him powerful enemies among the Russian aristocracy. Rumours swirled that he was secretly masterminding Russia's war strategy by passing advice to Nicholas II through the Empress.
Further damaging his reputation were claims of his serial womanising, with gossip suggesting he slept with numerous aristocratic women. A letter from the Empress to him, which read, "Only then is my soul at rest when you, my teacher, is sitting beside me and I am kissing your hands and leaning on your savory shoulders," only fuelled speculation about their relationship.
To his foes, he was nothing more than a corrupt peasant masquerading as a holy man. A conspiracy to remove him permanently came to a head in the autumn of 1916.
A Notoriously Botched Execution
On the night of 29 December 1916, a group of nobles, led by Prince Felix Yusupov, invited Rasputin to the Moika Palace in St. Petersburg. They led him to a basement room where they had laid out cakes and wine, all laced with a lethal dose of potassium cyanide.
In a moment that shocked his assassins, Rasputin consumed the poisoned treats and showed no ill effects. Panic set in. Yusupov reportedly rushed upstairs, shouting, "It is not working! It is not working!" He then returned with a revolver and shot Rasputin in the chest, leaving him for dead in the basement.
In a turn of events that cemented his legendary status, Rasputin did not die. He somehow staggered to his feet, fled into the courtyard, and attempted to escape. His pursuers chased him down and shot him again. To ensure his demise, they wrapped his body in cloth and threw it into the icy Neva River.
Forensic evidence published much later added another layer of mystery, finding no water in his lungs. This suggests he was likely dead before his body entered the river, though the exact cause of death remains debated.
The assassination failed to save the empire. Within a year of his death, Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik Revolution swept through Russia, bringing communism to the Soviet Union. The following year, the Tsar and his entire family were executed by the revolutionaries, marking a brutal end to the dynasty Rasputin had so deeply influenced.
