In the Romanov Dynasty’s final years, Russia fell under the sway of a deranged mystic. Despite his utter unfitness, the country’s rulers entrusted him with influence and power over the government. The results, unsurprisingly, were catastrophic. He was Rasputin: an illiterate peasant, charlatan, holy wanderer, faith healer, blasphemer, and notorious lecher. Below are twenty three fascinating but lesser known facts about his surprising rise to power.
23. An Unexpectedly Powerful and Influential Figure
Rasputin had a knack for soothing the suffering of the ailing heir to Russia’s throne, the child Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich. That won him the favor of the kid’s parents, the Tsar and Tsarina. Proximity to the royal family made Rasputin a powerful and influential figure. After he gained the confidence of Russia’s rulers with his holy act, Rasputin transformed them – especially Tsarina Alexandra – into virtual puppets. He was careful to keep up the pretense of being a humble and holy peasant while in the royal presence. Outside the court, however, Rasputin was a drunken lecher who claimed that his body had holy powers, and led a religious Christian sect whose adherents engaged in wild o-r-g-i-e-s.
