Grigori Rasputin
Grigori Rasputin was born in the Siberian town of Pokrovskoye, Russia in around 1869-1872, although the exact date is disputed by many historians. His actual birth date is unknown because the Russians changed their calendar and he was born into a peasant family. Rasputin received little education and according to several sources (Michael Duffy, 2009), probably couldn’t read or write. In his early years, it was believed by many people from his village that he possessed supernatural powers. Some accounts suggest that he had visions and healing powers. Rasputin joined the Verkhoture Monastery in Russia for three months with the intentions of becoming a monk. Some sources suggest he was sent there as a punishment for vandalism or stealing (Jonathan Kopnick, 2009). It is said that he experienced a religious transformation whilst there. It is speculated that Rasputin embraced the Khlysty sect which preached the concept that to achieve a close relationship to God, one must be exhausted from prolonged sexual engagements. He returned to Pokrovskoye and married Proskovia Fyodorovna at around age 19. He had three children, two girls and a boy, but left to become a wanderer, travelling to places such as Greece and Jerusalem. He established a reputation as a ‘holy man’ and after travelling for around two years, he returned to his village of Pokrovskoye where many people perceived him as exactly that.
He arrived in St Petersburg somewhere between the years of 1903 and 1904 where they were already obsessed with anything occult. He inserted himself into aristocratic circle, became well-known and even had a small following. Exactly how Rasputin became involved with the royals is unknown. It is said that Rasputin met Bishop Theophan, the royal’s confessor, who introduced him to the Montenegrin princesses, Anastasia and Militsa who then introduced him to the Tsar and Tsarina (Maria Aprelenko). Another source suggests that Alexandra was growing increasingly worried about Alexei and her friend Anna Vyrubova suggested the ‘miracle healer’ that was wandering the streets (Vogel-Jorgenson). Either way, the Tsar and Tsarina were concerned about the heir to the throne Alexei, who suffered from haemophilia. Haemophilia meant that his blood didn’t clot and this was worsened by stress. Rasputin was mysteriously able to help the boy by talking, comforting and praying for him, all of which seemed to have a calming effect on the boy. Many people believe that Alexei’s health only improved because Rasputin was able to lower his stress levels while others believe that he used hypnosis for relief (Moynahan). In his memoirs, the palace Governor wrote, ‘From the first time that Rasputin appeared at the heir’s bed, he got better. Everybody at court remembers the episode in Spala, when no doctor could help the suffering and moaning child, but as soon as a telegram was sent to Rasputin, and they received an answer that the boy would not die, his pain eased straight away.’ Alexandra was impressed by Rasputin and he soon became a regular visitor of the palace.
Rasputin had won the Tsarina’s trust and quickly gained fame and popularity among the palace nobles. He had established a reputation as a drunk and adulterer. Because of this and his apparent healing powers, many suspicions arose about him. Rumours that he had affairs with the Tsarina and sold his soul to the devil for healing powers spread quickly (Moynahan). Rasputin believed that to know the right course in life, one must have already experienced sin. Because of this belief he engaged in many scandalous and immoral activities. Rasputin was arguably becoming the power behind the throne of Nicholas II.
Nicholas was influenced easily by those who he admired and he constantly asked Rasputin for advice. Rasputin became the Tsar’s advisor and strongly believed that Russia should make peace with Germany, however Nicholas took Russia into war. When Nicholas personally took command of the Russian