Grigori Rasputin: Difference between revisions

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| birth_place = [[Pokrovskoye, Tyumen Oblast|Pokrovskoye]], [[Tyumensky Uyezd]], [[Tobolsk Governorate]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]]

'''Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin''' ({{IPAc-en|r|æ|ˈ|s|p|j|uː|t|ᵻ|n}}; {{Lang-ru|link=no|ГригорийГриго́рий ЕфимовичЕфи́мович РаспутинРаспу́тин}} {{IPA-|ru|ɡrʲɪˈɡorʲɪj jɪˈfʲiməvʲɪtɕ rɐˈsputʲɪn|}}; {{OldStyleDate|21 January|1869|9 January}}{{nbsp}}– {{OldStyleDate|30 December|1916|17 December}}) was a Russian [[Mysticism|mystic]] and holy[[faith manhealer]]. He is best- known for having befriended the imperial family of [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the last [[Emperor of all the Russias|Emperor of Russia]], through whom he gained considerable influence in the final years of the [[Russian Empire]].

Rasputin was born to a family of [[peasant]]s in the [[Siberia]]n village of [[Pokrovskoye, Tyumen Oblast|Pokrovskoye]], located within [[Tyumensky Uyezd]] in [[Tobolsk Governorate]] (present-day [[Yarkovsky District]] in [[Tyumen Oblast]]). He had a religious conversion experience after embarking on a [[pilgrimage]] to a monastery in 1897 and has been described as a monk or as a {{transliteration|ru|''[[strannik}}]]'' (wanderer or pilgrim), though he held no official position in the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. In 1903 or in the winter of 1904–1905, he travelled to [[Saint Petersburg]] and captivated a number of religious and social leaders, eventually becoming a prominent figure in Russian society. In November 1905, Rasputin met Nicholas II and his empress consort, [[Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse)|Alexandra Feodorovna]].

In late 1906, Rasputin began acting as a [[Faith healing|faith healer]] for Nicholas' and Alexandra's only son, [[Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia|Alexei Nikolaevich]], who suffered from [[Haemophilia in European royalty|haemophilia]]. He was a divisive figure at court, seen by some Russians as a mystic, visionary and prophet, and by others as a religious [[charlatan]]. The extent of Rasputin's power reached an all-time high in 1915, when Nicholas left Saint Petersburg to oversee the [[Imperial Russian Army]] as it was engaged in the [[World War I|First World War]]. In his absence, Rasputin and Alexandra consolidated their influence across the Russian Empire. However, as Russian military defeats mounted on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]], both figures became increasingly unpopular, and in the early morning of {{OldStyleDate|30 December|1916|17 December}}, Rasputin was assassinated by a group of conservative Russian noblemen who opposed his influence over the imperial family.

Historians often suggest that Rasputin's scandalous and sinister reputation helped discredit the [[List of Russian monarchs|Tsarist government]], thus precipitating the overthrow of the [[House of Romanov]] shortly after his assassination. Accounts of his life and influence were often based on hearsaycommon and rumorrumors; he remains a mysterious and captivating [[Grigori Rasputin in popular culture|figure in popular culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ra-Ra-Rasputin: The Definitive Historical Breakdown of Boney M's Classic Song |url=https://www.historyhit.com/ra-ra-rasputin-boney-m/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |website=History Hit |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 1886, Rasputin traveled to [[Abalak,_Tyumen_Oblast Tyumen Oblast|Abalak]], some 250 &nbsp;km east-northeast of Tyumen and 2,800 &nbsp;km east of [[Moscow]], where he met a peasant girl named Praskovya Dubrovina. After a courtship of several months, they married in February 1887. Praskovya remained in Pokrovskoye throughout Rasputin's later travels and rise to prominence, and remained devoted to him until his death. The couple had seven children, though only three survived to adulthood: Dmitry (b. 1895), [[Maria Rasputin|Maria]] (b. 1898) and Varvara (b. 1900).{{sfn|Smith|2016|pp=17–18}}

[[File:Makarij, Theofan of Poltava and Rasputin, 1909 0302.jpg|thumb|Makary, [[Theofan (Bystrov)|Bishop Theofan]] and Rasputin, 1909]]

Upon arriving at the [[Alexander Nevsky MonasteryLavra]], Rasputin was introduced to church leaders, including [[Theofan (Bystrov)|Archimandrite Theofan]], inspector of the theological seminary, who was well-connected in Saint Petersburg society and later served as confessor to the royalimperial family.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=29}}{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=66}} Theofan was so impressed with Rasputin that he invited him to stay in his home; he went on to become one of Rasputin's most important friends in Saint Petersburg,{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=29}} gaining him entry to many of the influential [[Salon (gathering)|''salons'']] where the local aristocracy gathered for religious discussions. It was through these meetings that Rasputin attracted some of his early and influential followers—many of whom would later turn against him.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=57}}

Alternative religious movements such as [[Spiritualism (movement)|spiritualism]] and [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|theosophy]] had become popular among Saint Petersburg's aristocracy before Rasputin's arrival, and many of the aristocracy were intensely curious about the [[occult]] and the supernatural.{{sfn|Figes|1998|p=29}} Rasputin's ideas and "strange manners" made him the subject of intense curiosity among the city's elite, who according to Fuhrmann were "bored, cynical, and seeking new experiences" during this period.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=29}} Rasputin's appeal may have been enhanced by the fact that he was also a native Russian, unlike other self-described "holy men" such as [[Nizier Anthelme Philippe]] and [[Gérard Encausse]], who had previously been popular in Saint Petersburg.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=66}}

According to Fuhrmann, Rasputin stayed in Saint Petersburg for only a few months on his first visit and returned to Pokrovskoye in the fall of 1903.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=30}} Smith, however, argues that it is impossible to know whether Rasputin stayed in Saint Petersburg or returned to Pokrovskoye at some point between his first arrival and 1905.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=65}} Regardless, by 1905 Rasputin had formed friendships with several members of the aristocracy, including the "Black Princesses", [[Princess Milica of Montenegro|Militsa]] and [[Princess Anastasia of Montenegro|Anastasia]] of [[Principality of Montenegro|Montenegro]], who had married cousins of Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia|Tsar Nicholas II]] (Grand Duke [[Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich of Russia|Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich]] and Prince [[George Maximilianovich, 6th Duke of Leuchtenberg|Prince George Maximilianovich Romanowsky]]) and were instrumental in introducing Rasputin to the tsar and his family.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=66}}{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|pp=29–30, 39}}

Rasputin first met Nicholas on 1 November 1905, at the [[Peterhof Palace]]. The tsar recorded the event in his diary, writing that he and his empress consort, [[Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse)|Alexandra Feodorovna]], had "made the acquaintance of a man of God – Grigory, from Tobolsk province".{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=65}} Rasputin returned to Pokrovskoye shortly after their first meeting and did not return to Saint Petersburg until July 1906.{{sfn|Smith|2016|pp=69–76}} On his return, he sent Nicholas a [[telegram]] asking to present the tsar with an icon of St. [[Simeon of Verkhoturye]]. He met with Nicholas and Alexandra on 18 July and again in October, when he first met their children.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=41}}

At some point, Nicholas and Alexandra became convinced that Rasputin possessed the miraculous power to heal their only son, [[TsarevichTsesarevich]] [[Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia|Alexei Nikolaevich]], who suffered from [[Haemophilia in European royalty|haemophilia]]. Historians disagree over when this happened: according to [[Orlando Figes]], Rasputin was first introduced to the tsar and tsarina as a healer who could help their son in November 1905,{{sfn|Figes|1998|p=30}} while Joseph T. Fuhrmann has speculated that it was in October 1906 that Rasputin was first asked to pray for the health of Alexei.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|pp=41–42}}

==Relationship with royalty'sthe childrenImperial Children==

Alexei and his siblings were also taught to view Rasputin as "our friend" and to share confidences with him. In the autumn of 1907, their aunt, Grand Duchess [[Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia|Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna]], was escorted to the nursery by Nicholas to meet Rasputin. Maria, her sisters and brother Alexei were all wearing their long white nightgowns. "All the children seemed to like him," Olga Alexandrovna recalled. "They were completely at ease with him."<ref>Massie (1967), pp. 199–200</ref>

One of the girls' [[governess]]es, [[Sofia Ivanovna Tyutcheva]], was horrified in 1910 when Rasputin was permitted access to the nursery when the four girls were in their nightgowns. Tyutcheva wanted Rasputin barred from the nurseries. In response to her complaints, Nicholas asked Rasputin to end his nursery visits. "I am so afr(aid) that S.I. [Tyutcheva] can speak ... about our friend something bad," Maria's twelve-year-old sister [[Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia|Tatiana]] wrote to her mother on 8 March 1910, after begging Alexandra to forgive her for doing something she did not like. "I hope our nurse will be nice to our friend now."<ref name="Mironenko 1997 p. 330">Maylunas and Mironenko (1997), p. 330</ref> Alexandra eventually had Tyutcheva fired.<ref>Radzinsky (2000), p. 139</ref>

Tyutcheva took her story to other members of the imperial family, who were scandalized by the reports, though Rasputin's contacts with the children were by all accounts completely innocent.<ref>Massie (1967), p. 208</ref> Nicholas's sister, Grand Duchess [[Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia|Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna]], was horrified by Tyutcheva's story. Xenia wrote on 15 March 1910 that she could not understand "...the attitude of Alix and the children to that sinister Grigory (whom they consider to be almost a saint, when in fact he's only a ''khlyst''!) He's always there, goes into the nursery, visits [[Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna of Russia|Olga]] and Tatiana while they are getting ready for bed, sits there talking to them and ''caressing'' them. They are careful to hide him from Sofia Ivanovna, and the children don't dare talk to her about him. It's all quite unbelievable and beyond understanding."<ref name="Mironenko 1997 p. 330"/>

It was whispered in society that Rasputin had seduced not only Alexandra but also the four grand duchesses.<ref>Mager (1998), p. 257</ref> Rasputin had released ardent letters written to him by the tsarina and the grand duchesses, which circulated throughout society and fueled the rumors. [[Cartoon pornography|Pornographic cartoons]] also circulated that depicted Rasputin having sexual relations with the tsarina, with her four daughters and Anna Vyrubova nude in the background.<ref>Christopher et al. (1995), p. 115.</ref> Nicholas ordered Rasputin to leave Saint Petersburg for a time, much to Alexandra's displeasure, and Rasputin went on a pilgrimage to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]].<ref>Christopher et al. (1995), p. 116</ref>

Despite the scandal, the imperial family's association with Rasputin continued until his murder on 17 December 1916. "Our Friend is so contented with our girlies, says they have gone through heavy 'courses' for their age and their souls have much developed," Alexandra wrote to Nicholas on 6 December 1916.<ref>Maylunas and Mironenko (1997), p. 489</ref> In his memoirs, A. A. Mordvinov reported that the four grand duchesses appeared "cold and visibly terribly upset" by Rasputin's death and sat "huddled up closely together" on a sofa in one of their bedrooms on the night they received the news. Mordvinov reported that the young women were in a gloomy mood and seemed to sense the political upheaval that was about to be unleashed.<ref>Maylunas and Mironenko (1997), p. 507</ref> Rasputin was buried with an icon signed on its reverse side by the grand duchesses and their mother.<ref name="Mironenko 1997 p. 511">Maylunas and Mironenko (1997), p. 511</ref>

Rasputin soon became a controversial figure; he was accused by his enemies of religious [[Heresy in Christianity|heresy]] and rape, was suspected of exerting undue political influence over the tsar and was even rumored to be having an affair with the tsarina.{{sfn|Figes|1998|pp=32–33}} Opposition to Rasputin's influence grew within the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. In 1907, the local clergy in Pokrovskoye denounced Rasputin as a heretic, and the Bishop of Tobolsk launched an inquest into his activities, accusing him of "spreading false, ''Khlyst-like'' doctrines".{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|pp=52–53}} In Saint Petersburg, Rasputin faced opposition from even more prominent critics, including [[Prime Minister of Russia|Prime Minister]] [[PeterPyotr Stolypin]] and the ''[[Okhrana]]'', the tsar's [[secret police]].{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=57}} Having ordered an investigation into Rasputin's activities, Stolypin confronted Nicholas but did not succeed in reining in Rasputin's influence or exiling him from Saint Petersburg.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|pp=58–59}}

Outside of the royal court, Rasputin preached that physical contact between him and others purified them; he engaged in drunken revels and extramarital affairs with a wide range of women from [[prostitute]]s to high-society ladies.<ref>"[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Grigory-Yefimovich-Rasputin Grigori Rasputin''. ''Britannica'', 2023.]</ref><ref>Harris, Carolyn (2016). "[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/murder-rasputin-100-years-later-180961572/ The Murder of Rasputin, 100 Years Later]". Smithsonian Magazine.</ref> In 1909, KehioniyaKhioniya Berlatskaya, one of Rasputin's early supporters, accused him of rape. Betlatskaya sought aid from Theofan, who became convinced that Rasputin was a danger to the monarchy.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|p=61}} Rumors multiplied that Rasputin had assaulted female followers and behaved inappropriately on visits with the imperial family—and particularly with Nicholas's teenage daughters Olga and TatyanaTatiana.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=168}}{{sfn|Fuhrmann|2012|pp=61–62}}

[[File:Rasputin listovka.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Caricature of Rasputin and the Imperialimperial couple, 1916]]

During this period the [[World War I|First World War]], the dissolution of [[feudalism]] and a meddling government bureaucracy all contributed to Russia's rapid economic decline. Many laid the blame on Alexandra and Rasputin. One outspoken member of the [[State Duma (Russian Empire)|Duma]], far-right politician [[Vladimir Purishkevich]], stated in November 1916 that he held the tsar's ministers had "been turned into [[marionette]]s, marionettes whose threads have been taken firmly in hand by Rasputin and the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna—the evil genius of Russia and the Tsarina… who has remained a German on the Russian throne and alien to the country and its people".{{sfn|Radzinsky|2010|p=434}} (The tsarina had been born a German princess.)

On {{OldStyleDate|12 July|1914|29 June}}, a 33-year-old peasant woman named [[Khioniya Guseva|Chionya Guseva]] attempted to assassinate Rasputin by stabbing him in the stomach outside his home in Pokrovskoye.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|1990|pp=106–107}} Rasputin was seriously wounded, and for a time it was not clear if he would survive.{{sfn|Fuhrmann|1990|p=108}} After surgery{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=332}} and some time in a hospital in Tyumen,{{sfn|Smith|2016|pp=360–361}} he recovered.

==AssassinationDeath==

According to Yusupov's account, Rasputin was invited to his palace shortly after midnight and ushered into the basement. Yusupov offered tea and cakes which had been laced with [[cyanide]]. After initially refusing the cakes, Rasputin began to eat them and, to Yusupov's surprise, appeared unaffected by the poison.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=590}} Rasputin then asked for some [[Madeira wine]] (which had also been poisoned) and drank three glasses, but still showed no sign of distress.{{refn|group=n|The claim that Stanislas Lazovert confessed on his deathbed that he applied mock-poison to the wine and pastries instead of cyanide to avoid violating the [[Hippocratic Oath]] appears to be incorrect and likely originated with the book ''The Ochrana: The Russian Secret Police'', in which the author merely assumes that Lazovert utilized mock-poison.}} At around 2:30 am, Yusupov excused himself to go upstairs, where his fellow conspirators were waiting. He took a [[revolver]] from Pavlovich, then returned to the basement and told Rasputin that he'd "better look at the crucifix and say a prayer", referring to a crucifix in the room, then shot him once in the chest. The conspirators then drove to Rasputin's apartment, with Sukhotin wearing Rasputin's coat and hat in an attempt to make it look as though Rasputin had returned home that night.{{sfn|Smith|2016|pp=590–591}} Upon returning to his palace, Yusupov went back to the basement to ensure that Rasputin was dead.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=591}} Suddenly, Rasputin leaped up and attacked Yusupov, who freed himself with some effort and fled upstairs. Rasputin followed Yusupov into the palace's courtyard, where he was shot by Purishkevich. He collapsed into a snowbank. The conspirators then wrapped his body in cloth, drove it to the [[Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge|Petrovsky Bridge]] and dropped it into the [[MalayaLittle Nevka River]] river.{{sfn|Smith|2016|pp=591–592}}

In an unsubstantiated claim, Grand Duchess Tatiana{{ndash}}, who was earlier alleged to have been raped by Rasputin{{ndash}}, was present at the site of Rasputin's murder, "disguised as a lieutenant of the [[Chevalier Guard Regiment|Chevaliers-Gardes]], so that she could revenge herself on Rasputin who had tried to violate her". [[Maurice Paléologue]], the French ambassador to Russia, wrote that Tatiana had supposedly witnessed Rasputin's [[castration]], but he doubted the credibility of the rumor.<ref>Maylunas and Mironenko, pp. 508–509</ref>

In a modern analysis of Rasputin's death, published on the 100th anniversary of the event, Dr Carolyn Harris of the [[University of Toronto]] notes that the actual circumstances were apparently less dramatic than Yusupov's account. Rasputin's daughter recorded that her father disliked sweet food and would not have eaten the supposedly poisoned cakes. An autopsy account by the official surgeon involved has no record of poisoning or drowning but simply records death by a single bullet fired into the head at close range.<ref>Dr Carolyn Harris, Smithsonian Magazine, December 27, 2016</ref>

===Death and aftermathAftermath===

Rasputin was buried on 2 January (O.S. 21 December) at a small church that Vyrubova had been building at [[Tsarskoye Selo]]. The funeral was attended only by the imperial family and a few of their intimates. Rasputin's wife, mistress and children were not invited,{{sfn|Rollins|1982|p=197}} although his daughters met with the imperial family at Vyrubova's home later that day.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=612}} The imperial family planned to build a church over Rasputin's grave site.<ref>Maylunas and name="Mironenko (1997), p. 511<"/ref> However, his body was [[exhume]]d and [[posthumous execution|burned]] by a detachment of soldiers on the orders of [[Alexander Kerensky]] shortly after Nicholas abdicated the throne in March 1917,{{sfn|Rollins|1982|p=197}} so that his grave would not become a rallying point for supporters of the old regime.{{sfn|Smith|2016|p=650}}

{{seefurther|Grigori Rasputin in popular culture}}

* ''"[[Rasputin_Rasputin (song)|Rasputin]]''" (1978), a popular song by the German-Caribbean vocal group [[Boney M.]]<ref>Wright II, J. M. (2007). “Russia's greatest love machine”: Disco, exoticism, subversion (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).</ref>

* ''[[Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny]]'' (1996), a biographical historical drama television film which chronicles the last four years (1912–1916) of Grigori Rasputin's stintlife. asHe awas healerportrayed toby Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of[[Alan RussiaRickman]].

* ''[[Grigoriy R.]]'' (2014), Russian TV miniseries (sometimes marketed under the name ''Rasputin'').

* ''[[The Last Czars]]'' (2019), Netflix docudrama miniseries following the reign of [[Nicholas II]]. Rasputin is portrayed by [[Ben Cartwright (actor)|Ben CartrightCartwright]].

* ''[[The Power of the Doctor]]'' (2022), ''[[Doctor Who]]'' special, portrayed by [[Sacha Dhawan]] as an alias of [[The Master (Doctor Who)|The Master]].