Clergyman.
A Russian monk with alleged healing powers. He had great influence on the Emperor’s family and he occasionally interfered with the state politics. Rasputin was murdered by the Emperor’s close relatives.
Background
Lived: 1869-1916.
Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin was born in Pokrovskoye Siberia.
He never got any schooling and could not read or write. He spent some time in a monastery as a monk, but then got married and travelled around healing people and living of their donations.
Rise to power
Rasputin had most extraordinary appearance with deep black eyes and colossal body. He gathered a cult following of mostly women and, when he came to St. Petersburg his fame spread around.
In 1905, he was introduced to Empress Alexandra who was in despair about her son Alexey’s hemophilia. In 1908, Rasputin’s words apparently had some healing effect on the boy.
During the next eight years, Rasputin was the most influential man in Russia who had the Empress under his spell and who also participated in active politics and state matters.
Rasputin was feared and hated by many. Rumours circulated of his lavish lifestyle, of orgies, drinking and sinning.
Murder
Eventually the nobles Felix Yusupov and Vladimir Purishkevich, with three companions, conspired to murder him. They invited Rasputin to Yusupov’s house and fed him with poisoned cakes and wine. As the poison seemed not to work, Yusupov shot the monk.
After some time Rasputin again stood up and was once more shot at his escape attempt. They threw Rasputin’s body into the ice hole of Neva River. Later the investigation showed that he had not been dead even yet.
Grigory Rasputin
Clergyman.
A Russian monk with alleged healing powers. He had great influence on the Emperor’s family and he occasionally interfered with the state politics. Rasputin was murdered by the Emperor’s close relatives.
Background
Lived: 1869-1916.
Grigory Yefimovich Rasputin was born in Pokrovskoye Siberia.
He never got any schooling and could not read or write. He spent some time in a monastery as a monk, but then got married and travelled around healing people and living of their donations.
Rise to power
Rasputin had most extraordinary appearance with deep black eyes and colossal body. He gathered a cult following of mostly women and, when he came to St. Petersburg his fame spread around.
In 1905, he was introduced to Empress Alexandra who was in despair about her son Alexey’s hemophilia. In 1908, Rasputin’s words apparently had some healing effect on the boy.
During the next eight years, Rasputin was the most influential man in Russia who had the Empress under his spell and who also participated in active politics and state matters.
Rasputin was feared and hated by many. Rumours circulated of his lavish lifestyle, of orgies, drinking and sinning.
Murder
Eventually the nobles Felix Yusupov and Vladimir Purishkevich, with three companions, conspired to murder him. They invited Rasputin to Yusupov’s house and fed him with poisoned cakes and wine. As the poison seemed not to work, Yusupov shot the monk.
After some time Rasputin again stood up and was once more shot at his escape attempt. They threw Rasputin’s body into the ice hole of Neva River. Later the investigation showed that he had not been dead even yet.
Alexey Brusilov