In 1869, Grigori Rasputin was born. He would go on to become a faith healer and mystic, convincing many that he had divine healing powers. Rasputin built up this reputation as a “miracle man” over the years, eventually catching the attention of the royal family of Russia. Through this, Rasputin gained power like never before.
Though there are rational explanations for everything he did, Rasputin’s life remains shrouded in mystery. It has left many to wonder just how much influence this unique man had over Russia.
Beginning Of His Journey
Little is known about Rasputin’s early life. He was born in a small Russian village called Pokrovskoy, located in Siberia. His parents are unknown. It is believed that Rasputin had seven other siblings, though he was the only one to make it past infancy.
Rasputin was raised as a peasant. He received no formal education and was illiterate until his early adulthood.
In 1897, 28-year old Rasputin departed from his home village and developed a renewed interest in religion. He left behind his old life, where he was an alcoholic, husband, and father of two children. Rasputin left to begin a pilgrimage, spending the next eight years as a holy wanderer (or strannik) and traveling across Russia to visit holy sites.
Gaining Reputation
For about eight years, Rasputin wandered around Russia and spread his influence to the people and places he visited across the vast land. Several times he returned to his home village, where some of the locals would seek spiritual guidance from him.
By 1900, the mystic had gathered a small following that believed in him and his powers. Most of his early followers were family members and local peasants. When he returned to his village, Rasputin would hold gatherings for him and his followers.
However, some of Rasputin’s practices were beginning to be questioned. Rumors began to spread that the group sang and danced to strange songs when they met. There were also reports that the mystic was having sexual relations with some of his female followers, which was forbidden among holy men.
Nevertheless, Rasputin was able to maintain a good relationship with most of the villagers outside of his following.
Friends With The Aristocracy
By early 1905, Rasputin had largely ended his pilgrimage. He was then meeting with leaders of the church thanks to his expanding reputation, many of whom saw Rasputin as a holy man. The mystic used invitations from the church leaders to expand his influence and following. Soon, several members of the church found themselves as followers of the mystic.
Rasputin’s strange ideas and practices soon caught the attention of the church elite in St. Petersburg. He began to form friendships with the church aristocracy.
On 1 November 1905, Rasputin met with the tsar (or emperor) of Russia. By then, the mystic’s name held significant weight among many church leaders and even the people of Russia. After their meeting, Tsar Nicholas II wrote in his diary that he had “made the acquaintance of a man of God.”
Shortly after meeting the tsar, Rasputin returned to his home village. He made a few more trips throughout 1906 to meet with the tsar.
Treating Alexei
In October 1906, the tsar called upon Rasputin to pray for his son, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia. The young boy’s bleeding had become a serious issue that modern medicine of the time had failed to resolve. The tsarina, Empress Alexandra, believed that the mystic could ease the pain and slow the bleeding of Alexei.
When Rasputin arrived to visit Alexei, the young boy’s bleeding slowed down. Alexei’s health showed improvement to the amazement of those around him. Alexandra believed that the mystic had miracle powers and thanked him for saving her son.
At the time, doctors could not understand what Rasputin had done. Many people in the royal court, including the tsarina’s closest friend Anna Vyrubova, became advocates for the mystic’s healing powers. One physician, Dr. S. P. Federov, believed that Rasputin could heal people simply by walking toward them, and labeled him a “miracle man”.
Permanent Member Of The Court
The meetings with Alexei only further expanded Rasputin’s influence over Russia. After the young boy healed, the mystic became a permanent member of the tsar’s court. Alexandra believed that Rasputin was essential to Alexei’s health.
The royal family’s belief in Rasputin brought the mystic tremendous status and power in Russia. He had regular access to the family and their palace. By December 1906, Rasputin had become so close to the royal family that the tsar permitted the mystic’s request to change his name. By 1907, Rasputin was formally known as Rasputin-Noviy, or “Rasputin-New”.
Controversy
Yet, as his power grew, Rasputin began to gain enemies. Many of his enemies believed that the mystic was too close to the tsar and had too much influence over Russia. Some believed that it was Rasputin who was truly calling the shots.
Rumors began to spread about the mystic. They claimed that Rasputin practiced heresy and rape. There were also rumors that he had acted inappropriately with the tsar’s teenage daughters, and that the mystic may have had an affair with the tsarina.
In 1907, the local clergy from Rasputin’s home village denounced the mystic as a holy man. From there, his enemies from within the church began to grow. Many people who had previously supported him, including certain leaders of the church, were now becoming his enemies.
Making matters worse for the mystic was the growing unpopularity of the tsar. By the time World War One broke out in 1914, the royal family had become extremely unpopular among the people of Russia. Supporting this was the fact that the tsarina was German, at a time when Russia was at war with Germany.
Rapid economic decline led to a revolution in Russia. As the economy collapsed, the tsar became hated by the people. Many blamed Rasputin and his influence, calling him an “evil spirit”. The people had grown tired of the mystic, and by 1916, they had enough.
Assassination
On 30 December 1916, a plan was set in motion to assassinate Rasputin. Led by Felix Yusupov, Rasputin would first be lured into Yusupov’s house. The rest of the story is told from Yusupov’s recalling.
Yusupov stated that he lured Rasputin into his home around midnight and ushered him into the basement. He then offered tea and cakes, which were laced with cyanide. Rasputin ate them, yet seemed completely unaffected by the poison. The mystic even asked for some wine, which was also poisoned, and drank three glasses.
After two hours of Rasputin showing no signs of distress, Yusupov excused himself upstairs and grabbed a revolver. He returned to Rasputin, shot him at close range, then left for Rasputin’s home. A fellow conspirator dressed as Rasputin to make it seem as if the mystic had made it home that night.
When Yusupov returned to his home, Rasputin leaped up and attacked him. The mystic then chased Yusupov to the courtyard outside, where he was shot again, tied up, then thrown into the Malaya Nevka River.
On 1 January 1917, Rasputin’s body was found under the river ice. Despite all that had been done to him, it seemed as if he had managed to untie his hands and begin to escape, before his body froze.
Rasputin’s body was burned, so that his grave could never become a rally point for his supporters. Less than one year after the assassination, the entire royal family of Russia was murdered.
Conclusion
Many mysteries surround Rasputin.
Rationally speaking, he was a faith healer who got lucky many times. In Alexei’s case, early 20th century medicine was so bad that simply not using it could have made things better. Rasputin reportedly told the doctors to stop treating Alexei. In addition, the doctors had been treating the young boy with Aspirin, which was common for pain relief. However, it was not until the 1950s that doctors discovered its anti-clotting abilities. When the doctors stopped treating Alexei, the boy’s health improved.
Rasputin’s assassination was poorly planned, resulting in his survival of multiple attempts.
Mystically speaking, Rasputin was a faith healer who integrated himself into the court of the most powerful man in Russia. He maintained a reputation for being supernaturally durable by coinciding his healing abilities with the improving health of his patients.
The murder of the royal family has been considered by some to be a curse from Rasputin. Others believe that it would have happened regardless of Rasputin’s death, due to the extreme unpopularity of the tsar.
Yusupov even recounted that no matter what he did, “Rasputin would not die.”
