On November 1, 1905, a Siberian peasant mystic named Grigori Rasputin was first introduced to the Russian Imperial family. He was not an ordained priest but a 'strannik,' a holy wanderer who had gained a reputation as a spiritual elder. The deeply religious Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra saw in Rasputin a direct connection to the faith of the common Russian people. The introduction, arranged by powerful friends at court, made a deep impression on the Tsar. That evening, Nicholas recorded the event in his personal diary, writing simply: 'We got to know a man of God, Grigory from the Tobolsk province.'
The Rise and Fall of Rasputin
How a Siberian mystic gained influence over Russia's empress and his legendary assassination foreshadowed the fall of the Tsars.
Chapter 1
A Man of God
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was Rasputin really a monk or a priest?
No. Grigori Rasputin was a peasant mystic from Siberia. He was not an ordained priest or a monk in the Russian Orthodox Church, but instead presented himself as a 'strannik' or holy wanderer, which is how he gained his reputation as a spiritual elder.
How did Rasputin actually die?
Despite legends of him surviving poison and drowning, the official autopsy found that Rasputin died from three gunshot wounds. The fatal shot was a point-blank wound to his forehead. There was no evidence of poison in his system or water in his lungs.
Did Rasputin's 'prophecy' about the royal family's death come true?
A letter attributed to Rasputin predicted that if he were killed by nobles, the Tsar's family would be dead within two years. While many historians doubt the letter is authentic, the prediction was accurate. Rasputin was killed in December 1916, and the Imperial family was executed 19 months later in July 1918.
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