Rasputin's full name. Grigory Rasputin after meeting the family of Nicholas II

This person played an important role in the history of Russia. Rasputin did not tire of surprising his contemporaries, without ceasing to do this even today with the researchers of his biography. Legends and anecdotes are written about him, historical and not so films are made, endowed with supernatural qualities, including sexual power.

Thanks to his friendship with the family of the last Russian tsar, a simple peasant gained worldwide fame. Rasputin's fame was ambiguous, he was admired and worshiped, but he was also cursed, considering him a harbinger of the fall of the tsarist regime.

It is no coincidence that such a bright figure interfered with many, which was the reason for the murder of the old man. Who was he really? A saint or a rogue? Let's try to find out by debunking some myths about Grigory Rasputin.

Rasputin was born in 1864 (1865). Very contradictory data about the year of birth of Grigory Efimovich. Historians agree that he was born between 1864 and 1872. The third edition of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia believes that these were the years 1864-1865. In fact, the parish registers of the village of Pokrovsky, where Rasputin was born, have been preserved. 1862-1868 just survived. The birth of several children from Efim Yakovlevich was recorded. During this period they all died in infancy. But nothing is written about the birth of Gregory. But in the records of the All-Russian census for 1897 there are references to him. Grigory Efimovich indicated that he was 28 years old, which can be trusted. Thus Rasputin was born in 1869.

Rasputin had a powerful physique. The fact that Rasputin was a strong and healthy man is a myth. He was a man of short stature, physically not very strong and sickly in his youth. In 1980, the film "Agony" was shown in Pokrovsky, but the old people who remembered Rasputin said that the main character did not look like his prototype. He was not at all so big and scary, but rather even frail, pale, with sunken eyes and an exhausted look. The description of Rasputin was also preserved in police documents. The elder had an average build, an oblong face, a moderate nose, a beard all around, and the general type was primordially Russian. It is often written that Rasputin's height was 187-193 centimeters, but this cannot be true.

Rasputin is a non-native surname. When Rasputin just became a member of the court, they began to say that his surname is a pseudonym that reveals the behavior of this person. They even called the “true” surname of the elder - Vilkin. In fact, this surname is found quite often in the parish registers of the village of Pokrovsky. In general, seven families with such a surname lived in it. In Siberia, this surname is generally common, derived from the word "crossroads" (fork, crossroads). Those who lived in such places were called Rasputins, which later became Rasputins. In 1862, rural records recorded the marriage of a peasant, Yefim Yakovlevich Rasputin, and Anna Vasilievna Parshukova, Grigory's future parents.

Rasputin in his love affairs about the family and did not remember. Contemporaries noted that the elder did not forget about his wife, sincerely loving her. Rasputin married at the age of eighteen. Of the seven children born, only three survived. Family life began happily, but after the death of the first-born, Gregory changed. He understood this as a terrible sign of God's wrath, in response to a lack of faith. Having already gained his influence, Rasputin moved his daughters to St. Petersburg to give them a good education. His wife visited him in the capital once a year, calmly reacting to gossip about her husband and not making scandals for him. There was a rumor that Praskovya once pulled one of her husband's mistresses out of her house by the hair. However, during the interrogation of Lokhtina, who became the central figure of the scandal, the following was revealed. His wife did pull the guest's hair, but only in response to accusations of her greed. So there was no question of jealousy here.

Rasputin was fabulously wealthy. Those who argue about Rasputin's power over the tsar, and therefore over the whole country, draw the logical conclusion that the elder had fabulous wealth. And this seems logical, given the fact that very wealthy clients turned to him with personal requests. As a token of gratitude, they left significant sums. But the creators of this myth avoid the question of whether Rasputin appropriated all this money for himself. He actually spent some of it on himself. The elder built himself a two-story house in his village and bought an expensive fur coat. However, compared to the mansions that the modern elite are building today, his house in the village of Pokrovsky looks very modest. And Rasputin never had his own housing in the capital. Even the apartment on Gorokhovaya Street was not his property, but was filmed by his fans. So where did all the rest of the money go? The special services checked Rasputin's bank accounts and found no significant funds there. But the fact that he spent serious amounts on charity is a fact. Rasputin allocated a lot of personal funds for the construction of churches. After the death of the “wealthy” elder, for some reason his family began to live in poverty. Could this happen to such a rich man?

Rasputin was a member of a gang of horse thieves. This is one of the first myths that appeared after the appearance of the old man in St. Petersburg. It was said that it was horse stealing that became the beginning of the labor activity of a man. However, there is no evidence for such an allegation. The myth appeared thanks to the words of fellow villager Rasputin, Kartavtsev, uttered in a private conversation. He claimed that he somehow saw the theft of his horses, among the intruders he saw Rasputin. But the police caught the criminals, and the village assembly sentenced them to various punishments. For some reason, Grigory Efimovich escaped this punishment. And if you think that he could somehow persuade the policeman, then he certainly could not get away from the reprisals of his neighbors if he were guilty. Yes, and Kartavtsev's testimony suffers from a lack of logic. Why did the owner calmly watch how his property was stolen and did not stop the criminals? If Rasputin really were a thief, he would lose the respect of his fellow villagers. But it is known that they revered him until the end of his life. Most likely, Rasputin's personal enemy simply invented his testimony, which was immediately picked up by the press, eager for a sensation. In 1915, a Siberian newspaper tried to resurrect this rumor. Then Rasputin personally turned to the editor and asked for facts confirming this information. And the newspaper couldn't find anything, which is also remarkable.

Rasputin was a sectarian. It was said that Rasputin was a member of the infamous Khlysty sect. Her fans believed that one could be saved with the help of self-flagellation and dumping sin, that is, orgies. In the Russian Empire, indeed, such associations operated illegally for a long time. The "whips" under the guise of true Christians sinned in such a way that they had nothing in common with ordinary Orthodoxy. It’s just that someone really wanted to show that the spiritual mentor of the royal family was a member of an immoral and pseudo-religious society. Only now Rasputin did not deserve such fame. This is evidenced by the results of a special investigation conducted in 1903-1912 by the Tobolsk Spiritual Consistory. The investigators did a lot of work, interviewing Rasputin's fellow villagers, studying his way of life. All the elder's acquaintances declared that he was an honest and deeply religious person who actively preaches and was not involved in sectarianism in any way. And although it was said that Rasputin indulges in pleasures with fans in the bath, this myth was also not proven. Although it quickly became clear that Rasputin's affiliation with the Khlysts was a fabrication, Archbishop Eusebius of Tobolsk insisted on a re-investigation. Agents were constantly spying on Grigory Efimovich, but even this did not give any information about his connections with the sect. As a result, on November 29, 1912, the Consistory decided to close the case of the Khlysty peasant Grigory Rasputin, recognizing him completely innocent.

Rasputin was a noble brawler. This myth appeared in 1915, when General Dzhunkovsky, the head of one of the special services, showed the tsar a note. It said that in March of the same year, Rasputin in the Moscow restaurant "Yar" staged a uniform brawl. It was said that Grigory Efimovich behaved obscenely: he drank a lot, molested ladies with obscene proposals, and even lowered his pants. The king, knowing the nature of his mentor, did not believe the slander and instructed his adjutant Sablin to investigate the incident. The officer turned to Dzhunkovsky with a request to give him written testimonies of those persons who were in the restaurant that evening. And then it turned out that these documents simply do not exist. Sablin could not find eyewitnesses of those outrages. But there were people who showed that that evening Rasputin behaved very decently in the institution.

Rasputin was the de facto ruler of Russia. In those years, many cartoons were published on Rasputin. One of them depicted him as a giant who held the little Tsar Nicholas II in his fist. Today, the myth is very popular, according to which the last years of the existence of the Russian Empire, it was Rasputin who ruled it. But a study of the facts suggests that this is far from the case. For example, with the outbreak of the First World War, Rasputin sent as many as 15 telegrams to the tsar, urging him to prevent Russia from entering the conflict. But the king did not agree with this opinion, joining the world slaughter. Earlier, in 1911, Rasputin urged the Tsar not to take Stolypin with him to Kyiv. Grigory Efimovich believed that the minister was in mortal danger. But Nicholas rejected this advice, which cost the famous reformer his life. There are many examples of the fact that the tsar gave the portfolios of ministers to people who were not recommended by Rasputin. Yes, and Nikolai ignored his views on the conduct of the war. For example, he did not attack in the Riga area and did not stop the offensive near Kovel. It becomes clear that it was the Russian emperor who ruled the country, having a decisive and sole voice in solving important state issues. Rasputin was only allowed to occasionally give advice.

Rasputin was the lover of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. What actually happened in the bedroom of the crowned especially is difficult to find out. In fact, there is no reliable evidence that such different people were connected by something other than religiosity. The rumor about the obscene behavior of the queen was launched with a very obvious meaning - to discredit Nicholas and his family. Already in our time, the group "Boney M" in their song turned to the myth, directly singing: "Rasputin is the lover of the Russian queen." Rasputin's methods of communication with his admirers did not imply intercourse itself. The elder caressed women, bringing them to a quivering state. Here he stopped caresses and called for prayer in order to forgive the sin of voluptuousness. It is likely that Rasputin had this form of intimate friendship with Alexandra Feodorovna and her best friend, the maid of honor Anna Vyrubova. But there is counter-evidence to this myth - the adventuress Nadezhda Voskoboynikova worked as a maid for Vyrubova. She set herself the goal of finding sensational evidence of Rasputin's love affair with the queen. The maid began to constantly peep and eavesdrop on the "lovers", but she could not find anything. Even Voskoboynikova was forced to openly admit that there was no physical intimacy between Alexandra Fedorovna and Rasputin.

The heir to the throne Alexei Nikolaevich was the son of Rasputin. The myth of the empress's love affair gave rise to this one. But not only was there no evidence of the betrayal of Alexandra Fedorovna with Rasputin, she simply could not give birth to a son from him. The fact is that Alexei Nikolaevich was born in the summer of 1904, and the Empress met the elder only in the autumn of 1905.

Rasputin was a holy man who suffered for his faith. Even if we leave aside the rumors and myths about Rasputin's strange sexual behavior, as well as his drinking, his participation in the appointment of ministers is a historical fact. Naturally, the elder did this to please certain circles and unselfishly. There is evidence that Rasputin was involved in embezzlement in the army and even espionage. For example, the appointment of Dobrovolsky as Minister of Justice personally brought Grigory Efimovich one hundred thousand rubles. And thanks to the adventurer Manasevich-Manuilov, the Germans were able to find out military secrets from Rasputin. The elder did not suffer for his faith at all. Both the right and the left dreamed of removing him - Rasputin had a painfully strong and unlimited influence on the tsar.

Rasputin was a libertine. This myth is constantly replicated in various stories about Rasputin. There are many facts that seem to support this myth. So, Maria Vishnyakova worked as a teacher of children's children. She was among the admirers visited Pokrovsky, stating later that Rasputin raped her at night. But that day there were many guests in the house, and no one heard the screams. And the educator personally could not confirm this fact to Nicholas II himself, being fired for slander. Another victim, nun Xenia Goncharenkova, claimed that she had been seriously and for a long time seduced by the elder. But the investigation showed that the woman did not even personally know Rasputin, seeing him only a couple of times from afar. They wrote that Rasputin's mistress was the lady-in-waiting Anna Vyrubova. But in fact, they were connected by a pure and disinterested friendship. Already after the February revolution, Vyrubova underwent a medical examination, which showed that the “victim of debauchery” was in fact a virgin! Interestingly, after the overthrow of the autocracy, the Provisional Government created a special commission, which was supposed to bring to the “clean water” the figures of the recent past, including Rasputin. In particular, the goal was to clarify the veracity of the information presented about the elder in the book of Iliodor "Holy Devil". However, the commission found out that there were no victims of sexual debauchery, scandalous letters simply do not exist. For the sake of justice, it should be said that Rasputin still had contact with prostitutes. He confessed to his friend, businessman Filippov, that he loves to look at a naked female body. But at the same time, Rasputin did not undertake sexual actions themselves. Information about this was also included in the police reports. One of the priestesses of love said that Rasputin, who came to her, asked to undress, looked for a few minutes and went home. That's all the debauchery attributed to this extraordinary personality.

Rasputin was a sexual giant. Today, the myth is fashionable that Rasputin not only had many mistresses, but also suffered from priapism, experiencing a painfully long erection. However, psychiatrists who studied Rasputin's personality came to the conclusion that he was a hysterical type, whose sexual abilities were very modest. Most likely, the elder had a weak potency, and his hypersexuality was feigned. Such unbridled behavior in this regard allowed him to hide his own inferiority.

A member of Rasputin is kept in St. Petersburg. The country's only museum of erotica houses a 30-centimeter giant penis. The organizer of the institution, urologist Igor Knyazkin claims that this organ belonged to Rasputin himself. He tells the story of how he bought a penis from private collectors. Along with this part of the body were old photographs and letters. In fact, there is no evidence that the organ really belonged to the great old man. Knyazkin conducted an examination, which showed that the huge penis is indeed more than 80 years old. But the DNA of Rasputin himself has not been preserved, so there is simply nothing to compare with. Nevertheless, a beautiful myth has taken root, which brings material income to the owner of the "treasure" in the form of curious visitors.

Rasputin was a German spy. The Russian army was oppressed by defeats, so the culprit of all troubles was required. This is how the myths about Rasputin the spy appeared, to whom the German queen tells all the secrets, and he sells them to enemy intelligence. This question was also of interest to the courtiers, who did not hesitate to follow the queen and even read her letters. But even people who were neutral to Rasputin believed that he was simply blurting out military secrets. Later, during the investigation, the maid of honor Vyrubova said that the secret card of the tsar was in his locked office, where even children were not allowed. In the family circle, Nikolai never spoke about military affairs. But from the letters of the Empress it follows that she was aware of the military strategy of the Russian army, trusting this to her Friend. So Rasputin knew the secrets and could well become an unwitting spy, since there were secret German agents in his entourage.

Rasputin was a charlatan. The other extreme is to call Grigory Efimovich a saint. So who was he really? You just need to look at the facts of his activities. Rasputin turned out to be the man who helped the heir Alexei in his fight against hemophilia. After treatment by Rasputin, the boy recovered noticeably. There is no doubt that the elder had a powerful hypnotic gift, literally programming people to recover, to change their lives. It is no coincidence that people constantly came and went to Rasputin who wanted to communicate with him and be healed. If you question the divine basis of the influence of the elder, then you cannot get away from his talents of mental influence. He was definitely not a charlatan, he was a talented, bright and ambiguous personality, defiled by many myths by the will of historical events and fate.

­ Brief biography of Grigory Rasputin

Grigory Rasputin - a peasant from the village of Pokrovskoye, Tobolsk province, who gained world fame as a "tsar's friend"; an ambiguous personality in national history; a close friend of the last reigning family of the Romanov dynasty. In certain circles he had a reputation as an old healer and seer. The wife of Nicholas II entrusted him with the treatment of their youngest son, Tsarevich Alexei, who suffers from hemophilia. Rasputin was born on January 9 (21), 1869 in the family of an ordinary coachman. He received his name in honor of St. Gregory of Nyssa.

In his youth, he was sick a lot, and then turned to religion. In 1893, he set out to wander the holy places. During this period, he visited the Verkhoturye Monastery, Mount Athos, Jerusalem; met monks and healers, gained experience. However, there is an opinion that under the guise of religiosity, he led a wild life. No one still knows if he had a real surname or pseudonym. By 1902, he was already everywhere accepted as a "holy" elder and a Siberian "prophet." Entering into the confidence of Alexandra Feodorovna, he managed to convince her that Alexei can only be treated with prayers. At the same time, he promised to provide "divine" support to Nicholas II.

In the capital city, any doors opened before him. Everywhere the "experienced wanderer" was accepted as a "royal friend." It was known that Nicholas II could talk for hours with the seer and even entrusted some state affairs. In the imperial family, he was called none other than "God's man." Gradually, he became objectionable to some conspiratorial circles. Accusations of witchcraft, drunkenness, depravity, whiplash, etc. rained down on him. When this failed, more efficient methods were taken. Because of such accusations, the seer was forced to leave Petersburg for a while.

In 1914 there was absolutely the first attempt on Rasputin. Despite being unsuccessful, it nevertheless shook his health. The healer was seriously wounded in the village of Pokrovsky, after which he was forced to be treated in Tyumen. In the same period, Nicholas II decided on war and announced mobilization. The conspirators, meanwhile, did not doze off. Prince Yusupov, State Councilor V. Purishkevich, Prince Dmitry Pavlovich, British intelligence agent O. Rainer were involved in the "anti-Rasputin" case. They managed to complete their plans at the end of 1916.

Grigory was invited by Yusupov to visit with a request to provide healer assistance to his beautiful wife. During the reception, he was treated to poisoned food and drinks. But even this could not kill Rasputin, then the conspirators shot him and threw his body into the icy waters of the Neva. After 2.5 months, Nicholas II was overthrown by the new Provisional Government, so the case of the death of the "tsar's friend" remained uninvestigated.

Grigory Efimovich Rasputin (New; January 21, 1869 - December 30, 1916) - a peasant in the village of Pokrovskoye, Tobolsk province. He gained worldwide fame due to the fact that he was a friend of the family of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II. In the 1910s, in certain circles of St. Petersburg society, he had a reputation as a "tsar's friend", "elder", seer and healer. The negative image of Rasputin was used in revolutionary, later in Soviet, propaganda. Until now, numerous disputes have been going on around the personality of Rasputin and his influence on the fate of the Russian Empire.

Ancestors and etymology of the surname

The ancestor of the Rasputin family was "Izosim Fedorov son." The census book of the peasants of the village of Pokrovsky for 1662 says that he and his wife and three sons - Semyon, Nason and Yevsey - came to Pokrovskaya Sloboda twenty years earlier from the Yarensky district and "came to arable land." Son Nason later received the nickname "Rosputa". From him came all the Rosputins, who became Rasputins at the beginning of the 19th century. According to the household census of 1858, more than thirty peasants were listed in Pokrovsky, who bore the surname "Rasputins", including Yefim, Grigory's father. The surname comes from the words "crossroads", "crossroads", "crossroads".

Birth

Born on January 9 (21), 1869 in the village of Pokrovskoye, Tyumen district, Tobolsk province, in the family of a coachman Efim Yakovlevich Rasputin (1841-1916) and Anna Vasilievna (1839-1906; nee Parshukova). In the metric book of the Slobodo-Pokrovskaya Church of the Mother of God of the Tyumen district of the Tobolsk province, in the first part “About those born”, there is a birth record on January 9, 1869 and an explanation: “Efim Yakovlevich Rasputin and his wife Anna Vasilievna of the Orthodox faith, son Grigory was born.” He was baptized on January 10th. The godparents were Uncle Matthew Yakovlevich Rasputin and the maiden Agafya Ivanovna Alemasova. The baby received the name according to the existing tradition of naming the child by the name of the saint on whose day he was born or baptized. The day of the baptism of Grigory Rasputin is January 10, the day of the celebration of the memory of St. Gregory of Nyssa.

Rasputin himself in his mature years reported conflicting information about the date of birth. According to biographers, he was inclined to exaggerate his true age in order to better match the image of the "old man". Sources report various dates for Rasputin's birth between 1864 and 1872. So, the historian K. F. Shatsillo, in an article about Rasputin in the TSB, reports that he was born in 1864-1865.

Beginning of life

In his youth, Rasputin was ill a lot. After a pilgrimage to the Verkhoturye Monastery, he turned to religion. In 1893, Rasputin traveled to the holy places of Russia, visited Mount Athos in Greece, then in Jerusalem. He met and made contacts with many representatives of the clergy, monks, wanderers.

In 1890 he married Praskovya Fedorovna Dubrovina, the same peasant pilgrim who bore him three children: Matryona, Varvara and Dimitri.

In 1900 he went on a new journey to Kyiv. On the way back, he lived in Kazan for a long time, where he met Father Mikhail, who was related to the Kazan Theological Academy.

Petersburg period

In 1903 he came to St. Petersburg to the rector of the Theological Academy, Bishop Sergius (Stragorodsky). At the same time, the inspector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Archimandrite Feofan (Bystrov), met Rasputin, introducing him also to Bishop Hermogenes (Dolganov).

By 1904, Rasputin had acquired the glory of an "old man", "holy fool" and "God's man" from a part of high society, which "fixed the position of a" saint "in the eyes of the St. Petersburg world", or at least he was considered a "great ascetic". Father Feofan told about the "wanderer" to the daughters of the Montenegrin prince (later king) Nikolay Negosh - Militsa and Anastasia. The sisters told the Empress about the new religious celebrity. Several years passed before he began to clearly stand out among the crowd of "God's people."

On November 1 (Tuesday), 1905, the first personal meeting between Rasputin and the emperor took place. This event was honored with an entry in the diary of Nicholas II:

At 4 o'clock we went to Sergievka. We drank tea with Milica and Stana. We got acquainted with the man of God - Grigory from the Tobolsk province.

From the diary of Nicholas II

Rasputin gained influence on the imperial family, and above all on Alexandra Feodorovna, by helping her son, heir to the throne, Alexei, fight hemophilia, a disease that medicine was powerless to face.

In December 1906, Rasputin filed a petition to the highest name to change his surname to Rasputin-New, referring to the fact that many of his fellow villagers have the same surname, because of which there may be misunderstandings. The request was granted.

Rasputin and the Orthodox Church

Later biographers of Rasputin (O. A. Platonov, A. N. Bokhanov) tend to see some broader political meaning in the official investigations conducted by the church authorities in connection with Rasputin's activities.

The first accusation of "Khlystism", 1903

In 1903, his first persecution by the church began: the Tobolsk consistory received a report from the local priest Pyotr Ostroumov that Rasputin behaved strangely with women who came to him "from St. Petersburg itself", about their "passions, from which he saves them ... in the bath”, that in his youth Rasputin “from his life in the factories of the Perm province made acquaintance with the teachings of the Khlyst heresy”. E. S. Radzinsky notes that an investigator was sent to Pokrovskoye, but he did not find anything discrediting, and the case was archived.

The first case of Rasputin's "Khlystism", 1907

On September 6, 1907, following a denunciation of 1903, the Tobolsk consistory opened a case against Rasputin, who was accused of spreading false teachings similar to Khlyst's and forming a society of followers of his false teachings.

Elder Macarius, Bishop Feofan and G. E. Rasputin. Monastery photo studio. 1909

The initial investigation was conducted by priest Nikodim Glukhovetsky. On the basis of the collected facts, Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov, a member of the Tobolsk Consistory, prepared a report to Bishop Anthony with a review of the case under consideration by a specialist in sects D. M. Berezkin, an inspector of the Tobolsk Theological Seminary.

D. M. Beryozkin, in his review of the conduct of the case, noted that the investigation was carried out by “persons little versed in Khlystism”, that only Rasputin’s residential two-story house was searched, although it is known that the place where zeal takes place “never fits in residential premises ... but always settles in the backyards - in baths, in sheds, in cellars ... and even in dungeons ... The paintings and icons found in the house are not described, meanwhile, they usually contain the key to heresy ... ". After that, Bishop Anthony of Tobolsk decided to carry out an additional investigation into the case, entrusting it to an experienced anti-sectarian missionary.

As a result, the case "fell apart", and was approved as completed by Anthony (Karzhavin) on May 7, 1908.

Subsequently, the chairman of the State Duma, Rodzianko, who took the case from the Synod, said that it soon disappeared, but, according to E. Radzinsky, “The case of the Tobolsk spiritual consistory on the Khlystism of Grigory Rasputin” was eventually found in the Tyumen archive.

The first "Case of Khlystism", despite the fact that it justifies Rasputin, causes an ambiguous assessment among researchers.

According to E. Radzinsky, the unspoken initiator of the case was Princess Milica Chernogorskaya, who, thanks to her power at court, had strong ties in the Synod, and the initiator of the hasty closure of the case due to pressure "from above" was General Olga Lokhtina, one of Rasputin's St. Petersburg admirers. The same fact of Lokhtina's patronage as Radzinsky's scientific discovery is cited by IV Smyslov. Radzinsky connects the relations between the princesses Milica and Anastasia, which soon deteriorated, with the queen, precisely with Milica's attempt to initiate this case (cit. "... together they were indignant at the" black women "who dared to organize a shameful investigation against the" God's man "").

O. A. Platonov, seeking to prove the falseness of the accusations against Rasputin, believes that the case appeared “out of nowhere”, and the case was “organized” by Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (husband of Anastasia Chernogorskaya), who before Rasputin occupied the place of the closest friend and adviser to the royal family. Especially O. A. Platonov highlights the prince's belonging to Freemasonry. A. N. Varlamov does not agree with Platonov’s version of the intervention of Nikolai Nikolayevich, who does not see that motive.

According to A. A. Amalrik, Rasputin was saved in this case by his friends, Archimandrite Feofan (Bystrov), Bishop Germogen (Dolganev) and Tsar Nicholas II, who ordered the case to be hushed up.

Historian A. N. Bokhanov claims that the “Rasputin case” is one of the first cases of “black PR” not only in Russia, but also in world history. The Rasputin theme is "the clearest indicator of the hardest spiritual and psychological split in the country, a split that became the detonator of the revolutionary explosion of 1917."

O. A. Platonov in his book details the contents of this case, considering a number of testimonies against Rasputin to be hostile and / or fabricated: surveys of village residents (priests, peasants), surveys of St. Petersburg women who, after 1905, began to visit Pokrovskoye. A. N. Varlamov nevertheless considers these testimonies to be sufficiently reliable, and analyzes them in the corresponding chapter of his book. A. N. Varlamov identifies three charges against Rasputin in the case:

• Rasputin acted as an impostor doctor and was engaged in healing human souls without a diploma; he himself did not want to become a monk (“He said that he did not like monastic life, that monks did not observe morality and that it was better to be saved in the world,” Matryona testified during the investigation), but he also dared others; as a result, two girls of Dubrovina died, who, according to fellow villagers, died due to “Grigory’s bullying” (according to Rasputin’s testimony, they died of consumption);
• Rasputin's craving for women's kisses, in particular, the episode of the violent kiss of the 28-year-old prosphora Evdokia Korneeva, about which the investigation arranged a confrontation between Rasputin and Korneeva; “the accused denied this testimony partly completely, and partly making excuses in a memorized manner (“6 years ago”)”;
• testimony of the priest of the Intercession Church, Father Fyodor Chemagin: “I went (accidentally) to the accused and saw how the latter returned wet from the bathhouse, and after him all the women who lived with him came from there - also wet and steamy. The accused confessed, in private conversations, to the witness in his weakness to caress and kiss the "ladies", confessed that he was with them in the bathhouse, that he stands absent-mindedly in the church. Rasputin "objected that he went to the bathhouse long before the women, and having become very ill, he lay in the dressing room, and a really steam room came out of there - shortly before (the arrival there) of the women."

The appendix to the report of Metropolitan Yuvenaly (Poyarkov) at the Bishops' Council held in the autumn of 2004 states the following: The case of G. Rasputin's accusation of Khlystism, stored in the Tobolsk branch of the State Archive of the Tyumen Region, has not been thoroughly investigated, although lengthy excerpts from it are given in the book of O. A. Platonov. In an effort to “rehabilitate” G. Rasputin, O. A. Platonov, who, by the way, is not a specialist in the history of Russian sectarianism, characterizes this case as “fabricated”. Meanwhile, even the extracts he cited, including the testimony of the priests of the Pokrovskaya settlement, testify that the question of G. Rasputin's proximity to sectarianism is much more complicated than it seems to the author, and in any case still needs a special and competent analysis.».

Secret Police Surveillance, Jerusalem - 1911

In 1909, the police were going to expel Rasputin from St. Petersburg, but Rasputin got ahead of her and left for his homeland in the village of Pokrovskoye for a while.

In 1910, his daughters moved to St. Petersburg to Rasputin, whom he arranged to study at the gymnasium. At the direction of Prime Minister Stolypin, Rasputin was put under surveillance for several days.

At the beginning of 1911, Bishop Feofan invited the Holy Synod to officially express displeasure to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in connection with Rasputin's behavior, and a member of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Anthony (Vadkovsky), reported to Nicholas II about Rasputin's negative influence.

On December 16, 1911, Rasputin had a skirmish with Bishop Hermogenes and Hieromonk Iliodor. Bishop Hermogenes, acting in alliance with Hieromonk Iliodor (Trufanov), invited Rasputin to his courtyard, on Vasilyevsky Island, in the presence of Iliodor, "convicted" him, hitting him with a cross several times. An argument ensued between them, and then a fight.

In 1911, Rasputin voluntarily left the capital and made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

On January 23, 1912, by order of the Minister of the Interior, Makarov, Rasputin was again placed under surveillance, which continued until his death.

The second case of Rasputin's "Khlystism" in 1912

In January 1912, the Duma declared its attitude towards Rasputin, and in February 1912, Nicholas II ordered V.K. The case of the Tobolsk Ecclesiastical Consistory, which contained the beginning of the Investigative Proceedings on the accusation of Rasputin of belonging to the Khlyst sect. On February 26, 1912, at an audience, Rodzianko suggested that the tsar expel the peasant forever. Archbishop Anthony (Khrapovitsky) openly wrote that Rasputin is a whip and participates in zeal.

The new (replaced Eusebius (Grozdov)) Bishop of Tobolsk Alexy (Molchanov) personally took up this matter, studied the materials, requested information from the clergy of the Intercession Church, and repeatedly talked with Rasputin himself. Based on the results of this new investigation, the conclusion of the Tobolsk ecclesiastical consistory, sent to many high-ranking officials and some deputies of the State Duma. In conclusion, Rasputin-Novy was called "a Christian, a spiritually minded person and seeking the truth of Christ." new investigation results.

Rasputin's opponents believe that Bishop Alexy "helped" him in this way for selfish purposes: the disgraced bishop, exiled to Tobolsk from the Pskov see as a result of the discovery of a sectarian St. John's monastery in the Pskov province, stayed at the Tobolsk see only until October 1913, that is, only a year and a half, after which he was appointed Exarch of Georgia and elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Kartal and Kakheti with the title of member of the Holy Synod. This is seen as the influence of Rasputin.

However, researchers believe that the elevation of Bishop Alexy in 1913 took place only due to his devotion to the reigning house, which is especially evident from his sermon delivered on the occasion of the 1905 manifesto. Moreover, the period in which Bishop Alexy was appointed Exarch of Georgia was a period of revolutionary ferment in Georgia.

According to Archbishop Anthony Karzhavin, it should also be noted that Rasputin's opponents often forget about a different elevation: Bishop Anthony of Tobolsk (Karzhavin), who brought the first case against Rasputin about "Khlystism", was moved in 1910 from cold Siberia to the Tver cathedra and to Pascha was elevated to the rank of archbishop. But, according to Karzhavin, they remember that this transfer took place precisely due to the fact that the first file was sent to the archives of the Synod.

Prophecies, writings and correspondence of Rasputin

During his lifetime, Rasputin published two books:

• Rasputin, G. E. The life of an experienced wanderer. - May 1907.
• G. E. Rasputin. My thoughts and reflections. - Petrograd, 1915.

In his prophecies, Rasputin speaks of "God's punishment", "bitter water", "tears of the sun", "poisonous rains" "until the end of our century." The deserts will advance, and the land will be inhabited by monsters that will not be people or animals. Thanks to "human alchemy", flying frogs, kite butterflies, crawling bees, huge mice and no less huge ants, as well as the monster "kobak" will appear. Two princes from the West and the East will challenge the right to world domination. They will have a battle in the land of four demons, but the western prince Grayug will defeat his eastern enemy Blizzard, but he himself will fall. After these misfortunes, people will again turn to God and enter the "earthly paradise."

The most famous was the prediction of the death of the Imperial House: "As long as I live, the dynasty will live."

Some authors believe that there are mentions of Rasputin in the letters of Alexandra Feodorovna to Nicholas II. In the letters themselves, Rasputin's surname is not mentioned, but some authors believe that Rasputin in the letters is indicated by the words "Friend", or "He" with capital letters, although this has no documentary evidence. The letters were published in the USSR by 1927, and by the Berlin publishing house "Slovo" in 1922. The correspondence was preserved in the State Archive of the Russian Federation - the Novoromanovsky archive.

Attitude towards war

In 1912, Rasputin dissuaded the emperor from intervening in the Balkan War, which delayed the start of World War I by 2 years. In 1914, he repeatedly spoke out against Russia's entry into the war, believing that it would only bring suffering to the peasants. In 1915, anticipating the February Revolution, Rasputin demanded an improvement in the supply of bread to the capital. In 1916, Rasputin spoke out strongly in favor of Russia withdrawing from the war, making peace with Germany, giving up rights to Poland and the Baltic states, and also against the Russo-British alliance.

Anti-Rasputin press campaign

In 1910, the writer Mikhail Novoselov published several critical articles about Rasputin in Moskovskie Vedomosti (No. 49 - "The Spiritual Tourist Grigory Rasputin", No. 72 - "Something More About Grigory Rasputin").

In 1912, Novoselov published in his publishing house the pamphlet "Grigory Rasputin and Mystical Debauchery", which accused Rasputin of whiplash and criticized the highest church hierarchy. The brochure was banned and confiscated at the printing house. The newspaper "Voice of Moscow" was fined for publishing excerpts from it. After that, the State Duma followed up with a request to the Ministry of Internal Affairs about the legality of punishing the editors of Golos Moskvy and Novoye Vremya. In the same 1912, Rasputin's acquaintance, the former hieromonk Iliodor, began to distribute several letters of scandalous content from Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and the Grand Duchesses to Rasputin.

Copies printed on a hectograph went around St. Petersburg. Most researchers consider these letters to be forgeries. Later, Iliodor, on the advice of Gorky, wrote a libelous book "Holy Devil" about Rasputin, which was published in 1917 during the revolution.

In 1913-1914, the Masonic Supreme Council of the VVNR attempted an agitation campaign about the role of Rasputin at court. Somewhat later, the Council made an attempt to publish a pamphlet directed against Rasputin, and when this attempt failed (the pamphlet was censored), the Council took steps to distribute this pamphlet in a typed typewriter.

Assassination attempt on Khionia Guseva

In 1914, an anti-Rasputin conspiracy matured, headed by Nikolai Nikolayevich and Rodzianko.

On June 29 (July 12), 1914, an assassination attempt was made on Rasputin in the village of Pokrovsky. He was stabbed in the stomach and seriously wounded by Khionia Guseva, who had come from Tsaritsyn. Rasputin testified that he suspected Iliodor of organizing the assassination attempt, but could not provide any evidence of this. On July 3, Rasputin was transported by ship to Tyumen for treatment. Rasputin remained in the Tyumen hospital until August 17, 1914. The investigation into the assassination attempt lasted about a year. Guseva was declared mentally ill in July 1915 and freed from criminal liability by being placed in a psychiatric hospital in Tomsk.

Guseva's assassination attempt hit the international news. Rasputin's condition was reported in the newspapers of Europe and the USA; The New York Times brought this story to the front page. In the Russian press, Rasputin's health received more attention than the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Murder

Wax figures of participants in the conspiracy against Grigory Rasputin (from left to right) - State Duma deputy V. M. Purishkevich, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, lieutenant S. M. Sukhotin. Exposition at the Yusupov Palace on the Moika

Letter to the. to. Dmitry Pavlovich's father v. to. Pavel Aleksandrovich about the attitude to the murder of Rasputin and the revolution. Isfahan (Persia) April 29, 1917. Finally, the last act of my stay in Peter [grad] was a completely conscious and thoughtful participation in the murder of Rasputin - as the last attempt to enable the Sovereign to openly change course, without taking responsibility for the removal of this person. (Alix wouldn't let him do that.)

Rasputin was killed on the night of December 17, 1916 (December 30, according to a new style) in the Yusupov Palace on the Moika. Conspirators: F. F. Yusupov, V. M. Purishkevich, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, British intelligence officer MI-6 Oswald Reiner.

Information about the murder is contradictory, it was confused both by the killers themselves and by pressure on the investigation by the Russian imperial and British authorities. Yusupov changed his testimony several times: in the police of St. Petersburg on December 18, 1916, in exile in the Crimea in 1917, in a book in 1927, given under oath in 1934 and in 1965. Initially, Purishkevich's memoirs were published, then Yusupov echoed his version. However, they radically differed from the testimony of the investigation. Starting from naming the wrong color of the clothes that Rasputin was wearing according to the killers and in which he was found, and to how many and where the bullets were fired. So, for example, forensic experts found three wounds, each of which is fatal: in the head, in the liver and kidney. (According to British researchers who studied the photograph, the shot to the forehead was made from a British Webley 455 revolver.) After being shot in the liver, a person can live no more than 20 minutes and is not capable, as the killers said, in half an hour or an hour to run down the street. Also, there was no shot in the heart, which the killers unanimously claimed.

Rasputin was first lured into the cellar, treated to red wine and a pie poisoned with potassium cyanide. Yusupov went upstairs and, returning, shot him in the back, causing him to fall. The conspirators went out into the street. Yusupov, who returned for a cloak, checked the body, suddenly Rasputin woke up and tried to strangle the killer. The conspirators who ran in at that moment began to shoot at Rasputin. Approaching, they were surprised that he was still alive, and began to beat him. According to the killers, the poisoned and shot Rasputin came to his senses, got out of the basement and tried to climb over the high wall of the garden, but was caught by the killers, who heard the rising barking of a dog. Then he was tied with ropes hand and foot (according to Purishkevich, first wrapped in a blue cloth), taken by car to a pre-selected place near Kamenny Island and thrown off the bridge into the Neva hole in such a way that the body was under the ice. However, according to the materials of the investigation, the discovered corpse was dressed in a fur coat, there was neither fabric nor ropes.

The investigation into the murder of Rasputin, which was led by the director of the Police Department A. T. Vasiliev, progressed quite quickly. Already the first interrogations of Rasputin's family members and servants showed that on the night of the murder, Rasputin went to visit Prince Yusupov. Policeman Vlasyuk, who was on duty on the night of December 16-17 on a street not far from the Yusupov Palace, testified that he had heard several shots at night. During a search in the courtyard of the Yusupovs' house, traces of blood were found.

On the afternoon of December 17, a passer-by noticed bloodstains on the parapet of the Petrovsky Bridge. After divers explored the Neva, the body of Rasputin was found in this place. The forensic medical examination was entrusted to the well-known professor of the Military Medical Academy D.P. Kosorotov. The original autopsy report has not been preserved; the cause of death can only be hypothesized.

“During the autopsy, very numerous injuries were found, many of which were already inflicted posthumously. The entire right side of the head was shattered, flattened due to bruising of the corpse during the fall from the bridge. Death followed from profuse bleeding due to a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The shot was fired, in my opinion, almost point-blank, from left to right, through the stomach and liver, with crushing of the latter in the right half. The bleeding was very profuse. The corpse also had a gunshot wound in the back, in the region of the spine, with crushing of the right kidney, and another wound point-blank, in the forehead, probably already dying or deceased. The chest organs were intact and were examined superficially, but there were no signs of death from drowning. The lungs were not swollen and there was no water or foamy fluid in the airways. Rasputin was thrown into the water already dead.

The conclusion of the forensic expert Professor D.N. Kosorotova

No poison was found in Rasputin's stomach. There are explanations that the cyanide in the cakes was neutralized by the sugar or high heat in the oven. On the other hand, Dr. Stanislav Lazovert, who was supposed to poison the cakes, said in a letter addressed to Prince Yusupov that he had put a harmless substance instead of poison.

There are a number of nuances in determining the involvement of O. Reiner. At that time, two British MI6 intelligence officers who could have committed the murder were serving in St. Petersburg: Yusupov's friend from University College (Oxford) Oswald Rayner and Captain Stephen Alley, who was born in the Yusupov Palace. The former was suspected, and Tsar Nicholas II explicitly mentioned that the killer was Yusupov's college friend. In 1919, Reiner was awarded the Order of the British Empire, he destroyed his papers before his death in 1961. Compton's chauffeur's journal records that he brought Oswald to Yusupov (and to another officer, Captain John Scale) a week before the murder, and the last time - on the day of the murder. Compton also directly hinted at Rayner, saying that the killer is a lawyer and was born in the same city with him. There is a letter from Alley written to Scale on January 7, 1917, eight days after the assassination: "Although not everything went according to plan, our goal was achieved ... Rayner covers his tracks and will undoubtedly contact you ... ".

The investigation lasted two and a half months until the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II on March 2, 1917. On that day, Kerensky became Minister of Justice in the Provisional Government. On March 4, 1917, he ordered the investigation to be hastily terminated, while investigator A.T. Vasiliev was arrested and transferred to the Peter and Paul Fortress, where he was interrogated by the Extraordinary Investigative Commission until September, and later emigrated.

English conspiracy version

In 2004, the BBC aired the documentary Who Killed Rasputin?, which brought new attention to the murder investigation. According to the version shown in the film, the "glory" and the plan of this murder belongs to Great Britain, the Russian conspirators were only executors, a control shot in the forehead was fired from a revolver of British officers Webley 455.

According to British researchers, Rasputin was killed with the active participation of the British intelligence service Mi-6, the killers confused the investigation in order to hide the British trail. The motive for the conspiracy was Britain's fears about Rasputin's influence on the Russian Empress and the conclusion of a separate peace with Germany.

The Assassination of Rasputin, Felix Yusupov's version

Events immediately preceding the murder

At the end of August 1915, it was officially announced that Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich had been removed from the post of supreme commander in chief, whose duties were assumed by Emperor Nicholas II. A. A. Brusilov wrote in his memoirs that the impression in the troops from this replacement was the most negative and “it never occurred to anyone that the tsar would take over the duties of the supreme commander in this difficult situation at the front. It was common knowledge that Nicholas II knew absolutely nothing about military affairs and that the rank he had taken upon himself would be only nominal.

Felix Yusupov, in his memoirs, claimed that the emperor took command of the army under the pressure of Rasputin. Russian society greeted the news with hostility, as the understanding of Rasputin's permissiveness grew. With the departure of the sovereign to Headquarters, taking advantage of the unlimited location of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Rasputin began to visit Tsarskoye Selo regularly. His advice and opinions acquired the force of law. Not a single military decision was made without the knowledge of Rasputin. "The queen trusted him blindly, and he tackled pressing, and sometimes even secret state issues."

Felix Yusupov was struck by the events associated with his father, Felix Feliksovich Yusupov. In his memoirs, Felix wrote that on the eve of the war, the administrations of Russian cities, large enterprises, including Moscow, were controlled by the Germans: “German impudence knew no bounds. German surnames were worn both in the army and at court. Most of the ministers who received ministerial portfolios from Rasputin were Germanophiles. In 1915, Felix's father was appointed by the tsar to the post of Moscow governor-general. However, Felix Feliksovich Yusupov was unable to fight the German encirclement: "traitors and spies ruled the ball." Orders and orders of the Moscow governor-general were not carried out. Outraged by the state of affairs, Felix Feliksovich went to Headquarters. He outlined the situation in Moscow - no one has yet dared to openly tell the truth to the sovereign. However, the pro-German party that surrounded the sovereign was too strong: returning to Moscow, his father found out that he had been removed from the post of governor-general for the untimely stop of the anti-German pogroms.

Members of the imperial family tried to explain to the sovereign how dangerous Rasputin's influence was for the dynasty, as well as for Russia as a whole. There was only one answer: “Everything is slander. Saints are always slandered." Empress Dowager Maria Feodorovna wrote to her son, begging him to remove Rasputin and forbid the tsarina to interfere in state affairs. Nicholas told the queen about this. Alexandra Fedorovna stopped relations with people who "pressed" on the sovereign. Elizaveta Fyodorovna, also almost never visiting Tsarskoye, came to talk with her sister. However, all arguments were rejected. According to Felix Yusupov, the German General Staff continuously sent spies into Rasputin's entourage.

Felix Yusupov claimed that "the tsar was weakening from the narcotic potions with which he was drunk every day at the instigation of Rasputin." Rasputin received virtually unlimited power: "appointed and dismissed ministers and generals, pushed around bishops and archbishops ...".

There was no hope of “opening the eyes” of Alexandra Feodorovna and the sovereign. “Without agreeing, everyone alone (Felix Yusupov and Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich) came to a single conclusion: Rasputin must be removed, even at the cost of murder.”

Murder

Felix hoped to find "resolute people ready to act" to carry out his plan. There was a narrow circle of people ready for decisive action: Lieutenant Sukhotin, Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, Purishkevich and Dr. Lazovert. After discussing the situation, the conspirators decided that "poison is the surest way to hide the fact of the murder." Yusupov's house on the Moika was chosen as the site of the murder:

I was going to receive Rasputin in a semi-basement apartment, which I was furnishing for that purpose. The arcades divided the basement hall into two parts. The larger one was a dining room. In a smaller one, a spiral staircase, about which I have already written, led to my apartment on the mezzanine. Halfway there was an exit to the yard. The dining room, with its low vaulted ceiling, was lit by two small windows at pavement level that overlooked the embankment. The walls and floor of the room were made of gray stone. In order not to arouse suspicion in Rasputin by the view of a bare cellar, it was necessary to decorate the room and give it a residential look.

Felix ordered the butler Grigory Buzhinsky and the valet Ivan to prepare tea for six people by eleven, buy cakes, biscuits, and bring wine from the cellar. Felix led all the accomplices into the dining room and for some time the newcomers silently examined the place of the future murder. Felix took out a box of cyanide and placed it on the table next to the cakes.

Dr. Lazovert put on rubber gloves, took a few crystals of poison from it, and ground it to powder. Then he removed the tops of the cakes, sprinkled the filling with powder in an amount capable, according to him, of killing an elephant. Silence reigned in the room. We followed his actions with excitement. It remains to put the poison in the glasses. We decided to put it at the last moment so that the poison would not evaporate

In order to maintain a pleasant mood in Rasputin and not let him suspect anything, the killers decided to give everything the appearance of a finished dinner: they moved the chairs, poured tea into the cups. We agreed that Dmitry, Sukhotin and Purishkevich would go up to the mezzanine and start the gramophone, choosing more cheerful music.

Lazovert, disguised as a driver, started the engine. Felix put on a fur coat and pulled a fur hat over his eyes, as it was necessary to secretly deliver Rasputin to the house on the Moika. Felix agreed on these actions, explaining to Rasputin that he did not want to "advertise" relations with him. Rasputin arrived after midnight. He was expecting Felix: “I put on a silk shirt embroidered with cornflowers. He girded himself with crimson lace. The black velvet trousers and boots were brand new. Hair slicked down, beard combed with extraordinary care.

Arriving at the house on the Moika, Rasputin heard American music and voices. Felix explained that they were his wife's guests, who would soon be leaving. Felix invited the guest into the dining room.

“Go down. Not having time to enter, Rasputin threw off his fur coat and began to look around with curiosity. Particularly attracted by his delivery with drawers. He played like a child, opened and closed the doors, looked inside and out.

Felix tried for the last time to persuade Rasputin to leave Petersburg, but was refused. Finally, after talking over "his favorite conversations," Rasputin asked for tea. Felix poured him a cup and offered him eclairs with cyanide.

I watched in horror. The poison should have acted immediately, but, to my amazement, Rasputin continued talking as if nothing had happened.

Then Felix offered Rasputin poisoned wine.

I stood beside him and watched his every move, expecting him to collapse any moment... But he drank, smacked, savored the wine like a true connoisseur. Nothing has changed in his face.

Under the pretext of seeing him off, Yusupov went up to the "guests of his wife." Felix took the revolver from Dmitry and went down to the basement - he aimed at the heart and pulled the trigger. Sukhotin dressed as an "old man", putting on his fur coat and hat. Following the developed plan, taking into account the presence of surveillance, Dmitry, Sukhotin and Lazovert were to take the “old man” in Purishkevich’s open car back to his home. Then, in Dmitry's closed car, return to the Moika, pick up the corpse and deliver it to the Petrovsky Bridge. However, the unexpected happened: with a sharp movement, the “killed” Rasputin jumped to his feet.

He looked terrible. His mouth was foamy. He screamed in an evil voice, waved his arms and rushed at me. His fingers dug into my shoulders, strove to reach my throat. Eyes popped out of their sockets, blood flowed from the mouth. Rasputin quietly and hoarsely repeated my name.

Purishkevich ran to Yusupov's call. Rasputin "wheezing and growling" quickly moved to the secret exit to the courtyard. Purishkevich rushed after him. Rasputin ran to the middle gate of the courtyard, which was not locked. “A shot rang out… Rasputin swayed and fell into the snow.”

Purishkevich ran up, stood for a few moments by the body, convinced himself that this time it was all over, and quickly went to the house.

Dmitry, Sukhotin and Lazovert drove in a closed car to pick up the corpse. They wrapped the corpse in canvas, loaded it into a car and drove to the Petrovsky bridge, where they threw the body into the river.

Consequences of the murder

On the evening of January 1, 1917, it became known that Rasputin's body was discovered in Malaya Nevka in an ice hole under the Petrovsky Bridge. The body was delivered to the Chesme almshouse, five miles from St. Petersburg. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna demanded the immediate execution of Rasputin's killers.

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, arriving from Pskov, where the headquarters of the Northern Front was located, told how furiously the troops received the news of the murder of Raputin. “No one doubted that now the sovereign would find honest and devoted people for himself.” However, according to Yusupov: “Rasputin's poison for many years poisoned the highest spheres of the state and devastated the most honest, most ardent souls. As a result, someone did not want to make decisions, and someone believed that there was no need to make them.”

At the end of March 1917, Mikhail Rodzianko, Admiral Kolchak and Prince Nikolai Mikhailovich offered Felix to become emperor.

The murder of Rasputin, memoirs of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich

According to the published memoirs of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, on December 17, 1916, in Kiev, the adjutant informed Alexander Mikhailovich with enthusiasm and joy that Rasputin had been killed in the house of Prince Yusupov, personally by Felix, and Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich became his accomplice. Alexander Mikhailovich was the first to inform the Empress Dowager (Maria Feodorovna) about the murder of Rasputin. However, “the thought that her granddaughter’s husband and her nephew had stained their hands with blood caused her great distress. As an Empress, she sympathized, but as a Christian, she could not but be against the shedding of blood, no matter how valiant the motives of the perpetrators.

It was decided to get Nicholas II's consent to come to St. Petersburg. Members of the Imperial family asked Alexander Mikhailovich to intercede for Dmitry and Felix before the emperor. At the meeting, Nikolai hugged the prince, as he knew Alexander Mikhailovich well. Alexander Mikhailovich delivered a defensive speech. He asked the Sovereign not to look at Felix and Dmitry Pavlovich as ordinary murderers, but as patriots. After a pause, the sovereign said: "You speak very well, but you will agree that no one - be he the Grand Duke or a simple peasant - has the right to kill."

The emperor made a promise to be merciful in choosing punishments for the two guilty. Dmitry Pavlovich was exiled to the Persian front at the disposal of General Baratov, and Felix was ordered to leave for his estate Rakitnoye near Kursk.

Funeral

Facsimile of the official act on the burning of the corpse of G. E. Rasputin

Rasputin was buried by Bishop Isidore (Kolokolov), who knew him well. In his memoirs, A. I. Spiridovich recalls that Isidore had no right to do a funeral mass. Later there were rumors that Metropolitan Pitirim, who was approached about the funeral, rejected this request. Also in those days, a legend was launched, mentioned in the reports of the English embassy, ​​that the wife of Nicholas II was allegedly present at the autopsy and funeral. At first they wanted to bury the dead man in his homeland, in the village of Pokrovsky. But because of the danger of possible unrest in connection with the dispatch of the body, it was interred in the Alexander Park of Tsarskoye Selo on the territory of the temple of Seraphim of Sarov built by Anna Vyrubova.

M. V. Rodzianko wrote that during the celebrations, rumors spread in the Duma about the return of Rasputin to St. Petersburg. In January 1917, Mikhail Vladimirovich received a paper with many signatures from Tsaritsyn with the message that Rasputin was visiting V.K. Sabler, that the Tsaritsyn people knew about Rasputin's arrival in the capital.

After the February Revolution, Rasputin's grave was found, and Kerensky ordered Kornilov to organize the destruction of the body. For several days the coffin with the remains stood in a special carriage, and then the corpse of Rasputin was burned on the night of March 11 in the furnace of the steam boiler of the Polytechnic Institute. An official act was drawn up on the burning of the corpse of Rasputin:

Forest. March 10-11, 1917
We, the undersigned, between 7 and 9 o'clock in the morning jointly burned the body of the murdered Grigory Rasputin, transported by car by the authorized representative of the Provisional Committee of the State Duma, Philip Petrovich Kupchinsky, in the presence of the representative of the Petrograd public mayor, captain of the 16th Novoarkhangelsk Lancers Regiment Vladimir Pavlovich Kochadeev. The burning itself took place near the high road from Lesnoy to Peskarevka, in the forest with the absolute absence of unauthorized persons, except for us, who put their hands below:
Representative from the Society. Petrograd Gradon.
Captain of the 16th Ulansky New Arch. P. V. KOCHADEEV.,
Authorized Time Com. State. Dumas KUPCHINSKY.
Students of the Petrograd Polytechnic
Institute:
S. BOGACHEV,
R. FISHER,
N. MOKLOVICH,
M. SHABALIN,
S. LIKHVITSKY,
V. VLADIMIROV.
Round seal: Petrograd Polytechnic Institute, head of security.
Postscript below: The act was drawn up in my presence and I certify the signatures of those who signed.
Guardsman.
Ensign PARVOV

Three months after Rasputin's death, his grave was desecrated. Two inscriptions were inscribed at the place of burning, one of which is in German: “ Hier ist der Hund begraben"(" A dog is buried here ") and further "The corpse of Rasputin Grigory was burned here on the night of March 10-11, 1917."

The fate of the Rasputin family

Rasputin's daughter Matryona emigrated to France after the revolution, and later moved to the United States. In 1920, the house and the entire peasant economy of Dmitry Grigorievich was nationalized. In 1922, his widow Praskovya Fedorovna, son Dmitry and daughter Varvara were disenfranchised as "malicious elements." In the 1930s, all three were arrested by the NKVD, and their trace was lost in the special settlements of the Tyumen North.

Allegations of immorality

Rasputin and his admirers (St. Petersburg, 1914).
Top row (left to right): A. A. Pistolkors (in profile), A. E. Pistolkors, L. A. Molchanov, N. D. Zhevakhov, E. Kh. Gil, unknown, N. D. Yakhimovich, O. V. Loman, N. D. Loman, A. I. Reshetnikova.
In the second row: S. L. Volynskaya, A. A. Vyrubova, A. G. Gushchina, Yu. A. Den, E. Ya. Rasputin.
On the last row: Z. Timofeeva, M. E. Golovina, M. S. Gil, G. E. Rasputin, O. Kleist, A. N. Laptinskaya (on the floor).

In 1914, Rasputin settled in an apartment at 64 Gorokhovaya Street in St. Petersburg. Various gloomy rumors quickly began to spread around St. Petersburg about this apartment, for example, that Rasputin turned it into a brothel. Some said that Rasputin kept a permanent "harem" there, while others - collected from time to time. There was a rumor that the apartment on Gorokhovaya was used for witchcraft.

From the memories of witnesses

…Once Aunt Agn. Fed. Hartmann (my mother's sister) asked me if I would like to see Rasputin closer. …….. Having received the address on Pushkinskaya St., on the appointed day and hour, I appeared at the apartment of Maria Alexandrovna Nikitina, my aunt's friend. Entering the small dining room, I found everyone already assembled. At the oval table served for tea, there were 6-7 young interesting ladies. I knew two of them by sight (we met in the halls of the Winter Palace, where Alexandra Fedorovna organized the sewing of linen for the wounded). They were all in the same circle and were talking animatedly among themselves in an undertone. After making a general bow in English, I sat next to the hostess at the samovar and talked to her.

Suddenly, there was a general sigh - Ah! I looked up and saw in the door, located on the opposite side from where I entered, a powerful figure - the first impression - a gypsy. A tall, powerful figure was clad in a white Russian shirt with embroidery on the collar and clasp, a twisted belt with tassels, black loose-fitting trousers and Russian boots. But there was nothing Russian in it. Thick black hair, a large black beard, a swarthy face with predatory nostrils of the nose and some kind of ironically mocking smile on the lips - the face, of course, is spectacular, but somehow unpleasant. The first thing that attracted attention was his eyes: black, red-hot, they burned, piercing through, and his gaze at you was felt simply physically, it was impossible to remain calm. It seems to me that he really had a hypnotic power that subjugated himself when he wanted it. …

Here everyone was familiar to him, vied with each other trying to please, to attract attention. He cheekily sat down at the table, addressed each by name and “you”, spoke catchy, sometimes vulgarly and rudely, called to him, sat him on his knees, felt, stroked, patted on soft places and all the “happy” ones were thrilled with pleasure. ! It was disgusting and insulting to look at this for women who were humiliated, who had lost both their feminine dignity and family honor. I felt the blood rush to my face, I wanted to scream, bang my fist, do something. I sat almost opposite the “distinguished guest”, he perfectly felt my condition and, mockingly laughing, each time after the next attack he stubbornly stuck his eyes into me. I was a new, unknown object to him. …

Brashly addressing one of those present, he said: “Do you see? Who made the shirt? Sasha! (meaning Empress Alexandra Feodorovna). No decent man would ever betray the secrets of a woman's feelings. My eyes grew dark from tension, and Rasputin's gaze unbearably drilled and drilled. I moved closer to the hostess, trying to hide behind the samovar. Maria Alexandrovna looked at me anxiously. …

“Mashenka,” a voice rang out, “do you want some jam? Come to me." Masha hastily jumps up and hurries to the place of conscription. Rasputin crosses his legs, takes a spoonful of jam and knocks it over on the toe of his boot. “Lick” - an imperative voice sounds, she kneels down and, bowing her head, licks off the jam ... I could not stand it anymore. Squeezing the mistress's hand, she jumped up and ran out into the hallway. I don’t remember how I put on my hat, how I ran along the Nevsky. I came to my senses at the Admiralty, I had to go home to Petrogradskaya. Half the night she roared and asked me never to ask me about what I saw, and I myself neither with my mother nor with my aunt remembered this hour, I did not see Maria Alexandrovna Nikitina either. Since then, I could not calmly hear the name of Rasputin and lost all respect for our "secular" ladies. Somehow, while visiting De Lazari, I came up to a phone call and heard the voice of this scoundrel. But she immediately said that I know who is speaking, and therefore I don’t want to talk ...

Grigorova-Rudykovskaya, Tatyana Leonidovna

The Provisional Government conducted a special investigation into the Rasputin case. According to the materials of the investigation by V. M. Rudnev, who was seconded by order of Kerensky to the “Extraordinary Investigative Commission to Investigate the Abuses of Former Ministers, Chief Executives and Other High Officials” and who was then a Deputy Prosecutor of the Yekaterinoslav District Court:

... it turned out that Rasputin's amorous adventures do not go beyond the framework of nightly orgies with girls of easy virtue and chansonnet singers, and sometimes with some of his petitioners. As for the proximity to the ladies of high society, in this respect, no positive observational materials were obtained by the investigation.
... In general, Rasputin by nature was a man of wide scope; the doors of his house were always open; the most diverse audience always crowded there, feeding at his expense; in order to create an aura of a benefactor around himself according to the word of the Gospel: “the hand of the giver will not be impoverished”, Rasputin, constantly receiving money from petitioners for satisfying their petitions, widely distributed this money to the needy and, in general, people of the poor classes who also turned to him with any requests even non-material ones.

Matryon's daughter in her book Rasputin. Why?" wrote:

...that, for all his impregnation with life, the father never abused his power and ability to influence women in the carnal sense. However, one must understand that this part of the relationship was of particular interest to the ill-wishers of the father. I note that they received some real food for their stories.

From the testimony of Prince M. M. Andronikov to the Extraordinary Commission of Inquiry:

…Then he would go to the phone and call all kinds of ladies. I had to do bonne mine mauvais jeu - because all these ladies were of an extremely dubious quality ...

The French Slavic philologist Pierre Pascal wrote in his memoirs that Alexander Protopopov denied Rasputin's influence on the minister's career. However, Protopopov spoke about an act of pederasty, in which Metropolitan Pitirim, Prince Andronikov and Rasputin participated.

Rasputin in 1914. Author E. N. Klokacheva

Estimates of Rasputin's influence

Mikhail Taube, who was Deputy Minister of Public Education in 1911-1915, cites the following episode in his memoirs. Once a man came to the ministry with a letter from Rasputin and a request to appoint him an inspector of public schools in his native province. The minister (Lev Kasso) ordered this petitioner to be lowered down the stairs. According to Taube, this case proved how exaggerated were all the rumors and gossip about the behind-the-scenes influence of Rasputin.

According to the memoirs of the courtiers, Rasputin was not close to the royal family and generally rarely visited the royal palace. So, according to the memoirs of the palace commandant Vladimir Voeikov, the head of the palace police, Colonel Gherardi, when asked how often Rasputin visits the palace, answered: “once a month, and sometimes once every two months.” In the memoirs of the maid of honor Anna Vyrubova, it is said that Rasputin visited the royal palace no more than 2-3 times a year, and the tsar received him even less often. Another lady-in-waiting, Sophia Buxhowden, recalled:

“I lived in the Alexander Palace from 1913 to 1917, and my room was connected by a corridor with the chambers of the Imperial children. I never saw Rasputin during all this time, although I was constantly in the company of the Grand Duchesses. Monsieur Gilliard, who also lived there for several years, also never saw him.”

Gilliard, for all the time he spent at court, recalls the only meeting with Rasputin: “Once, when I was about to leave, I met him in the hall. I had time to examine him while he took off his fur coat. He was a tall man with an emaciated face, with a very sharp gray-blue eyes from under the disheveled eyebrows. He had long hair and a big peasant beard.” Nicholas II himself in 1911 told V. N. Kokovtsov about Rasputin that:

... personally almost does not know "this peasant" and saw him briefly, it seems, no more than two or three times, and, moreover, at very long distances of time.

From the memoirs of the Director of the Police Department A. T. Vasiliev (he served in the "Okhranka" of St. Petersburg since 1906 and headed the police in 1916-1917, later he led the investigation into the murder of Rasputin):

Many times I had the opportunity to meet with Rasputin and talk with him on various topics.<…>Mind and natural ingenuity gave him the opportunity to soberly and penetratingly judge a person who had only once met him. This was also known to the queen, so she sometimes asked his opinion about this or that candidate for a high position in the government. But from such harmless questions to the appointment of ministers by Rasputin is a very big step, and neither the tsar nor the tsarina, no doubt, never took this step.<…>Nevertheless, people believed that everything depended on a piece of paper with a few words written by Rasputin's hand ... I never believed in this, and although I sometimes investigated these rumors, I never found convincing evidence of their veracity. The cases I relate are not, as one might think, my sentimental inventions; they are evidenced by the reports of agents who worked for years as servants in Rasputin's house and, therefore, knew his daily life in the smallest detail.<…>Rasputin did not climb into the front ranks of the political arena, he was pushed there by other people seeking to shake the foundation of the Russian throne and empire ... These harbingers of the revolution sought to make a scarecrow out of Rasputin in order to carry out their plans. Therefore, they spread the most ridiculous rumors, which created the impression that only through the mediation of the Siberian peasant can one achieve a high position and influence.

A. Ya. Avrekh believed that in 1915 the tsarina and Rasputin, having blessed the departure of Nicholas II to Headquarters as the supreme commander, carried out something like a “coup d'état” and appropriated a significant part of the power: as an example, A. Ya. Avrekh cites their intervention in the affairs of the southwestern front during the offensive organized by A. A. Brusilov. A. Ya. Avrekh believed that the queen significantly influenced the king, and Rasputin influenced the queen.

A. N. Bokhanov, on the contrary, believes that the entire “rasputiniad” is the fruit of political manipulations, “black PR”. However, as Bokhanov says, it is well known that information pressure works only when not only there are intentions and opportunities for certain groups to establish a desirable stereotype in the public mind, but society itself is prepared to accept and assimilate it. Therefore, just to say, as is sometimes done, that the replicated stories about Rasputin are a complete lie, even if this is true, does not clarify the essence: why were fabrications about him taken for granted? This basic question remains unanswered to this day.

At the same time, the image of Rasputin was widely used in revolutionary and German propaganda. In the last years of the reign of Nicholas II, many rumors circulated in Petersburg society about Rasputin and his influence on power. It was said that he himself absolutely subjugated the tsar and tsarina and rules the country, either Alexandra Feodorovna seized power with the help of Rasputin, or the country was ruled by a “triumvirate” of Rasputin, Anna Vyrubova and the tsarina.

The publication of reports about Rasputin in the press could be limited only partially. According to the law, articles about the imperial family were subject to preliminary censorship by the head of the office of the Ministry of the Court. Any articles in which Rasputin's name was mentioned in combination with the names of members of the royal family were banned, but articles in which only Rasputin appeared could not be banned.

On November 1, 1916, at a meeting of the State Duma, P. N. Milyukov made a speech critical of the government and the "court party", in which Rasputin's name was also mentioned. Milyukov took the information he gave about Rasputin from articles in the German newspapers Berliner Tageblatt of October 16, 1916 and Neue Freye Press of June 25, regarding which he himself admitted that some of the information reported there was erroneous. On November 19, 1916, V. M. Purishkevich delivered a speech at a meeting of the Duma, in which great importance was attached to Rasputin. The image of Rasputin was also used by German propaganda. In March 1916, German zeppelins scattered over the Russian trenches a caricature depicting Wilhelm leaning on the German people, and Nikolai Romanov leaning on Rasputin's genitals.

According to the memoirs of A. A. Golovin, during the First World War, rumors that the Empress was Rasputin's mistress were spread among the officers of the Russian army by employees of the opposition Zemstvo-City Union. After the overthrow of Nicholas II, the chairman of Zemgor, Prince Lvov, became chairman of the Provisional Government.

After the overthrow of Nicholas II, the Provisional Government organized an emergency investigative commission, which was supposed to search for the crimes of tsarist officials, including investigating the activities of Rasputin. The commission made 88 surveys and interrogated 59 persons, prepared "shorthand reports", the editor-in-chief of which was the poet A. A. Blok, who published his observations and notes in the form of a book called "The Last Days of Imperial Power."

The commission has not finished its work. Some of the protocols of interrogations of senior officials were published in the USSR by 1927. From the testimony of A. D. Protopopov to the Extraordinary Commission of Inquiry on March 21, 1917:

CHAIRMAN. Do you know the significance of Rasputin in the affairs of Tsarskoye Selo under the Emperor? - Protopopov. Rasputin was a close person, and, as with a close person, he was consulted.

Opinions of contemporaries about Rasputin

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Russia in 1911-1914 Vladimir Kokovtsov wrote in his memoirs with surprise:

... oddly enough, the question of Rasputin involuntarily became the central issue of the near future and did not leave the scene for almost the entire time of my chairmanship in the Council of Ministers, bringing me to resignation with a little over two years.

In my opinion, Rasputin is a typical Siberian varnak, a vagabond, smart and trained himself in a certain way of a simpleton and holy fool, and plays his role according to a learned recipe.

In appearance, he lacked only a prisoner's coat and an ace of diamonds on his back.

By manners - this is a man capable of anything. Of course, he does not believe in his antics, but he has developed for himself firmly learned methods by which he deceives both those who sincerely believe in all his eccentricities, and those who deceive themselves with their admiration for him, meaning in fact only to achieve through it of those benefits that are not given in any other way.

Rasputin's secretary Aron Simanovich writes in his book:

How did contemporaries imagine Rasputin? Like a drunken, dirty peasant who penetrated the royal family, appointed and dismissed ministers, bishops and generals, and for a whole decade was the hero of the Petersburg scandalous chronicle. In addition, there are wild orgies in Villa Rode, lustful dances among aristocratic admirers, high-ranking henchmen and drunken gypsies, and at the same time incomprehensible power over the king and his family, hypnotic power and faith in one's special purpose. That was it.

Confessor of the royal family, Archpriest Alexander Vasiliev:

Rasputin is "a completely God-fearing and believing person, harmless and even rather useful for the Royal Family ... He talks with Them about God, about faith."

Doctor, life physician of the family of Nicholas II Evgeny Botkin:

If there had been no Rasputin, then the opponents of the royal family and the organizers of the revolution would have created him with their conversations from Vyrubova, not for Vyrubova, from me, from whoever you want.

Nikolai Alekseevich Sokolov, the investigator in the case of the murder of the royal family, writes in his book-forensic investigation:

The head of the Main Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs, Pokhvisnev, who held this position in 1913-1917, shows: “According to the established procedure, all telegrams addressed to the Sovereign and Empress were presented to me in copies. Therefore, all the telegrams that went to the name of Their Majesties from Rasputin were known to me at one time. There were a lot of them. It is, of course, impossible to recall their contents in sequence. In all conscience, I can say that Rasputin’s enormous influence with the Sovereign and the Empress was established with complete obviousness by the content of the telegrams.

Hieromartyr Archpriest Philosopher Ornatsky, rector of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, describes in 1914 the meeting of John of Kronstadt with Rasputin as follows:

Father John asked the elder: “What is your last name?” And when the latter answered: "Rasputin", he said: "Look, by your last name it will be for you."

Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel (Zyryanov), an elder of the Sedmiezernaya Hermitage, spoke very sharply about Rasputin: "Kill him like a spider: forty sins will be forgiven ...".

Attempts to canonize Rasputin

Religious veneration of Grigory Rasputin began around 1990 and went from the so-called. The Mother of God Center (which changed its name over the next years).

Some extremely radical-monarchist Orthodox circles have also, since the 1990s, expressed thoughts about the canonization of Rasputin as a holy martyr.

Famous supporters of these ideas were: the editor of the Orthodox newspaper Blagovest Anton Zhogolev, the writer of the Orthodox-patriotic, historical genre Oleg Platonov, the singer Zhanna Bichevskaya, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Rus Pravoslavnaya Konstantin Dushenov, the Church of St. John the Theologian, and others.

The ideas were rejected by the Synodal Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church for the canonization of saints and criticized by Patriarch Alexy II: “There is no reason to raise the question of the canonization of Grigory Rasputin, whose dubious morality and promiscuity cast a shadow on the August surname of the future royal martyrs of Tsar Nicholas II and his family.”

According to a member of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints, Archpriest Georgy Mitrofanov:

Of course, Rasputin was used by the opposition, fanning the myth of his omnipotence and omnipotence. He was portrayed as worse than he was. Many hated him with all their hearts. For Tsesarevna Olga Nikolaevna, for example, he was one of the most hated people, because he destroyed her marriage with Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, which prompted the latter to participate in the murder of Rasputin.

Rasputin in culture and art

According to S. Fomin's research, during March-November 1917 the theaters were filled with "doubtful" performances, and more than ten "libelous" films about Grigory Rasputin were released. The first such film was a two-part "sensational drama""Dark forces - Grigory Rasputin and his associates"(production of the joint-stock company G. Liebken). In the same row is the widely demonstrated play by A. Tolstoy "The Conspiracy of the Empress."

Grigory Rasputin became the central character in the play Grishka Rasputin by playwright Konstantin Skvortsov.

Rasputin and his historical significance had a great influence on both Russian and Western culture. Germans and Americans are to some extent attracted to his figure as a kind of "Russian bear", or "Russian peasant".
In with. Pokrovskoye (now - Yarkovsky district of the Tyumen region) operates a private museum of G.E. Rasputin.

Documentaries about Rasputin

• Historical chronicles. 1915. Grigory Rasputin
• The Last of the Kings: The Shadow of Rasputin (Last of the Czars. The Shadow of Rasputin), dir. Teresa Cherf; Mark Anderson, 1996, Discovery Communications, 51 min. (released on DVD in 2007)
• Who killed Rasputin? (Who Killed Rasputin?), dir. Michael Wadding, 2004, BBC, 50 min. (released on DVD in 2006)

Rasputin in theater and cinema

It is not known for certain whether there were any newsreel footage of Rasputin. Not a single tape has survived to this day, on which Rasputin himself would be captured.

The very first silent feature short films about Grigory Rasputin began to appear in March 1917. All of them, without exception, demonized the personality of Rasputin, exposing him and the Imperial Family in the most unsightly light. O. Drankov, who simply made a film montage of his 1916 film “Washed in Blood”, based on the short story “Konovalov” by M. Gorky. In total, more than a dozen of them were released, and there is no need to talk about any of their artistic value, since even then they caused protests in the press because of their "pornographic and wild eroticism":

• Dark forces - Grigory Rasputin and his associates (2 episodes), dir. S. Veselovsky; in the role of Rasputin - S. Gladkov
• Holy devil (Rasputin in hell)
• People of sin and blood (Tsarskoye Selo sinners)
• The love affairs of Grishka Rasputin
• Funeral of Rasputin
• Mysterious murder in Petrograd on December 16
• Trading House Romanov, Rasputin, Sukhomlinov, Myasoedov, Protopopov & Co.
• Royal guardsmen

etc. (Fomin S. V. Grigory Rasputin: investigation. vol. I. Punishment with the truth; M., Forum publishing house, 2007, pp. 16-19)

Nevertheless, already in 1917, the image of Rasputin continued to appear on the movie screen. According to IMDB, the first person to embody the image of an old man on the screen was actor Edward Connelly (in the film The Fall of the Romanovs). In the same year, the film "Rasputin, the Black Monk" was released, where Montagu Love played Rasputin. In 1926, another film about Rasputin was released - “Brandstifter Europas, Die” (in the role of Rasputin - Max Newfield), and in 1928 - three at once: “Red Dance” (in the role of Rasputin - Dimitrius Alexis), “Rasputin is a saint sinner" and "Rasputin" - the first two films where Rasputin was played by Russian actors - Nikolai Malikov and Grigory Khmara, respectively.

In 1925, A. N. Tolstoy's play The Empress's Conspiracy was written and immediately staged in Moscow (published in Berlin in 1925), which shows in detail the murder of Rasputin. In the future, the play was staged by some Soviet theaters. At the Moscow theater N. V. Gogol in the role of Rasputin was Boris Chirkov. And on Belarusian television in the mid-60s, based on Tolstoy's play, a television play "The Collapse" was filmed, in which Roman Filippov (Rasputin) and Rostislav Yankovsky (Prince Felix Yusupov) played.

In 1932, the German "Rasputin - a demon with a woman" (in the role of Rasputin - the famous German actor Conrad Veidt) and the Oscar-nominated "Rasputin and the Empress", in which the title role went to Lionel Barrymore, were released. Rasputin was released in 1938, starring Harry Baur.

Once again cinema returned to Rasputin in the 1950s, which was marked by productions with the same name Rasputin, released in 1954 and 1958 (for television) with Pierre Brasseur and Nartsms Ibanes Menta in the roles of Rasputin, respectively. In 1967, the cult horror film "Rasputin the Mad Monk" was released with the famous actor Christopher Lee as Grigory Rasputin. Despite many errors from a historical point of view, the image he created in the film is considered one of the best film incarnations of Rasputin.

The 1960s also saw the release of Rasputin's Night (1960, with Edmund Pardom as Rasputin), Rasputin (1966 TV show starring Herbert Stass) and I Killed Rasputin (1967), where the role was played by Gert Fröbe, known for his role as Goldfinger, the villain from the James Bond film of the same name.

In the 70s, Rasputin appeared in the following films: Why the Russians Revolutionized (1970, Rasputin - Wes Carter), the television show Rasputin as part of the Play of the Month cycle (1971, Rasputin - Robert Stevens), Nikolai and Alexandra (1971, Rasputin - Tom Baker), TV series "Fall of Eagles" (1974, Rasputin - Michael Aldridge) and TV show "A Cárné összeesküvése" (1977, Rasputin - Nandor Tomanek)

In 1981, the most famous Russian film about Rasputin was released - "Agony" Elema Klimov, where the image was successfully embodied by Alexei Petrenko. In 1984, Rasputin - Orgien am Zarenhof was released with Alexander Conte as Rasputin.

In 1992, stage director Gennady Yegorov staged the play "Grishka Rasputin" based on the play of the same name by Konstantin Skvortsov at the St. Petersburg Patriot Drama Theater ROSTO in the genre of political farce.

In the 90s, the image of Rasputin, like many others, began to deform. In the parody sketch of the Red Dwarf show - Melting, released in 1991, Rasputin was played by Stephen Micalef, and in 1996 two films about Rasputin were released - The Successor (1996) with Igor Solovyov as Rasputin and "Rasputin", where he was played by Alan Rickman (and young Rasputin by Tamas Toth). In 1997, the cartoon "Anastasia" was released, where Rasputin was voiced by the famous actor Christopher Lloyd and Jim Cummings (singing).

The films "Rasputin: The Devil in the Flesh" (2002, for television, Rasputin - Oleg Fedorov and "Killing Rasputin" (2003, Rasputin - Ruben Thomas), as well as "Hellboy: Hero from Hell", where the main villain is the resurrected Rasputin, have already been released, played by Karel Roden.In 2007, the film "CONSPIRACY", directed by Stanislav Libin, where the role of Rasputin is played by Ivan Okhlobystin.

In 2011, the Franco-Russian film Rasputin was filmed, in which the role of Gregory was played by Gerard Depardieu. According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, it was this work that gave the actor the right to receive Russian citizenship.

In 2014, the Mars Media studio filmed an 8-episode TV movie "Grigory R." (dir. Andrey Malyukov), in which the role of Rasputin was played by Vladimir Mashkov.

In music

• Disco group Boney M. in 1978 released the album "Nightflight to Venus", one of the hits of which was the song "Rasputin". The lyrics of the song were written by Frank Farian and contain Western clichés about Rasputin - "the greatest Russian love machine" (eng. Russia "s greatest love machine), "lover of the Russian queen" (eng. lover of the Russian queen). The motives of the popular Turku were used in the music "Kyatibim", the song mimics Erta Kitt's performance of Turku (Kitt's exclamation "Oh! those Turks" Boney M copied as "Oh! those Russians"). On the road Boney M in the USSR, this song was not performed at the insistence of the host, although later it was nevertheless included in the release of the group's Soviet record. The death of one of the members of the group, Bobby Farrell, occurred exactly on the 94th anniversary on the night of the murder of Grigory Rasputin, in St. Petersburg.
• Alexander Malinin's song "Grigory Rasputin" (1992).
• The song of Zhanna Bichevskaya and Gennady Ponomarev “The Spiritual Wanderer” (“Elder Grigory”) (c. 2000) from the music album “We are Russians” is aimed at exalting “holiness” and canonizing Rasputin, where there are lines “ Russian elder with a staff in his hand, miracle worker with a staff in his hand».
• The thrash band Corrosion of Metal in the album "Sadism", released in 1993, has the song "Dead Rasputin".
• The German power metal band Metalium in 2002 recorded their own song "Rasputin" (album "Hero Nation - Chapter Three"), presenting their view of the events around Grigory Rasputin, without the clichés prevailing in pop culture
• Finnish folk/viking metal band Turisas released the single "Rasputin" in 2007 with a cover version of the group's song "Boney M". A music video was also filmed for the song "Rasputin".
• In 2002, Valery Leontiev performed the Russian version of Boney M Rasputin's song "New Year" ("Ras, Let's open the doors wide open, let all of Russia go to a round dance...")

Rasputin in poetry

Nikolai Klyuev compared himself with him more than once, and in his poems there are frequent references to Grigory Efimovich. “They follow me,” Klyuev wrote, “millions of charming Grishkas.” According to the memoirs of the poet Rurik Ivnev, the poet Sergei Yesenin performed the then fashionable ditties “Grishka Rasputin and the Tsaritsa.”

The poetess Zinaida Gippius wrote in her diary dated November 24, 1915: “Grisha himself rules, drinks and the maid of honor eats. And Fedorovna, out of habit. Z. Gippius was not included in the inner circle of the imperial family, she simply passed on rumors. There was a proverb among the people: “The Tsar-father is with Yegori, and the queen-mother is with Gregory.”

Commercial use of Rasputin's name

Commercial use of the name Grigory Rasputin in some trademarks began in the West in the 1980s. Currently known:

• Vodka Rasputin. Produced in various types by Dethleffen in Flexburg (Germany).
• Beer "Old Rasputin". Produced by North Coast Brewing Co. (California, USA) (from 21-04-2017 )
• Rasputin beer. Produced by Brouwerij de Moler (Netherlands)
• Rasputin black and Rasputin white cigarettes (USA)
• In Brooklyn (New York) there is a restaurant and a nightclub "Rasputin" (from 21-04-2017 )
• In Ensio, California, there is a grocery store "Rasputin International Food"
• In San Francisco (USA) there is a music store "Rasputin"
• In Toronto (Canada) there is a famous vodka bar Rasputin http://rasputinvodkabar.com/ (from 21-04-2017 )
• In Rostock (Germany) there is a Rasputin supermarket
• In Andernach (Germany) there is a Rasputin club
• In Dusseldorf (Germany) there is a large Russian-language disco "Rasputin".
• In Pattaya (Thailand) there is a restaurant of Russian cuisine Rasputin.
• In Moscow there is a men's club "Rasputin"
• Men's erotic magazine "Rasputin" is published in Moscow

In St. Petersburg:

• Since the mid-2000s, the interactive show "The Horrors of Petersburg" has been operating, the main character of which is Grigory Rasputin.
• Beauty salon "Rasputin's House" and the hairdressing school of the same name
• Hostel Rasputin

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the figure Grigory Rasputin received the most publicity. Moreover, the perception of the "old man" is striking in its inconsistency. In the novel by the famous writer Valentin Pikul "Agony", we see a "fiend of hell". Rasputin marks the collapse of tsarist Russia, personifies the depravity and corruption of the top, makes appointments, gives prophetic advice on key political problems. However, times are changing, and now it is not averse to demonstrate it in a different light. From the TV screens we are presented with the image of a true saint, who lives exclusively on higher matters, thoughts about Russia. Let's try to figure out how things really were.

Grigory Rasputin did not immediately attract the attention of wide circles. He was more known as one of the characters who made their way in court circles and specialized in the church field. In this, he practically did not differ from persons of a similar plan. The only difference, perhaps, was one: Rasputin showed no interest in the monarchist "Union of the Russian People." If the same Bishop Hermogenes or monk Iliodor relentlessly denounced ministers, including P.A. Stolypin, and called them traitors to Russia and the monarchy, then Rasputin did not follow this path. As soon as he appeared in St. Petersburg, he began to shower influential officials not with curses, but with all sorts of requests for a variety of reasons (to receive someone, arrange something, allow something, etc.). The Siberian "old man" managed to establish a real conveyor of petitions and notes to all significant departments. Of course, this required a demonstration of communicative resources, based on the favor of the imperial couple for him.

It should be noted that Rasputin masterfully used every opportunity to demonstrate his own influence, and most importantly, to spread rumors about it. In the meantime, he could say that he was commanded by the highest to think about what to do with the State Duma. Or, in the presence of strangers, declare that he has now called Grand Duchess Olga- daughter NicholasII(later, however, it turned out that some strange lady actually came.) After the assassination attempt in June 1914, he complained that if it were not for this unfortunate incident, he “would have delayed this war for another year.” When visiting (with another request) the governor of Kyiv, he casually pointed to his belt: “And the belt was embroidered by the mother queen herself with her own hands,” thereby plunging the official into confusion. At the entrance to the old man's apartment on Gorokhovaya Street, in a conspicuous place, there was a book with an open page, where the phones of the Chief Prosecutor of the Synod and other high-ranking persons flaunted. In short, Rasputin's whole way of life was subordinated to a specific goal: to extract the maximum benefit from his position. By the way, in his homeland, in the province of Tobolsk (even before he established himself in St. Petersburg), Rasputin was doing about the same thing: according to the governor, he constantly went to local officials, begged for something, sent all kinds of petitions to the capital for which the provincial administration had to unsubscribe.

The activity of Rasputin, who flaunted his closeness to the imperial family and connections in high society, could not but attract attention. Naturally, the appearance of such a character was also noticed by the opposition-minded public. His indefatigable activity gave an excellent reason to think about how matters of national importance are resolved. Therefore, when in the fall of 1915 a crisis broke out in relations between the authorities and the opposition, the latter perfectly understood what weapon it should take into service. As a result, the glory of the Siberian "righteous man" reaches its climax: simultaneously with talk about the influence of dark forces and dirty gossip about the royal family. All the key appointments of that time began to be associated with the "old man"; in the so-called ministerial leapfrog of 1915-1916, they saw evidence of the influence of a "friend" of the imperial family. Many believed that Rasputin's scribbles were as valid as the highest rescripts. Rasputin is the gravedigger of the dynasty. This opinion, which later became a textbook, captured the minds of contemporaries of those dramatic events (and later future historians).

At the same time, the worldview of the “old man” was absolutely free from political predilections. He did not favor not only liberal figures, but also right-wing organizations. In particular, he remained indifferent to the leaders of the monarchists, who asked to support this or that undertaking, and they hated him no less than the liberals. One of the police officials who “guarded” Rasputin noted: “His political views, as far as he had them at all, were quite simple ... The subtleties of the so-called high politics were far from the circle of his interests, and he could not understand at all what was the end result. Various parties, groupings in the Duma are striving for a score, which the newspapers are arguing about. In other words, he showed his sympathies or antipathies, guided not by ideological considerations, but by personal and household preferences.

Head of Police Department A.T. Vasiliev testifies: “Rasputin did not climb into the front ranks of the political arena, he was pushed there by other people who were trying to shake the foundation of the Russian throne and empire ... they spread the most ridiculous rumors that created the impression that only through the mediation of a Siberian peasant could one achieve a high position and influence.” A similar idea is expressed by the adjutant wing of the king A.A. Mordvinov: “I could not imagine that an educated, deeply cultured, historically well-read person ... what, without any doubt, the Sovereign was, could fall under the influence and be led, not only in private life, but in public administration, by some kind of illiterate man." The following remark by Mordvinov is also very curious: if not a single statesman of different years could assert his exclusive influence on Nicholas II, then what can we say about Rasputin ?!

First of all, the following circumstance attracts attention: people who actively spread the version about the power of dark forces could not rely on real facts, received, as they say, first-hand. It is well known that Nicholas II and his household led a rather secluded life; even with the families of the imperial family, they spoke infrequently, avoiding the entertainments and balls that were so usual at that time. Palace commandant V.N. Voeikov noted: all those who competently discussed the Rasputin topic did not know and could not know the ins and outs of the royal family, but stories about this were taken at face value. Rasputin really became a part of the life of the Tsar's family. As you know, this was facilitated by its beneficial effect on the heir, who suffered from a serious illness, as well as the disposition of the monarch and his wife to the representatives of the people. Nicholas II said about Rasputin: “This is just a simple Russian man, very religious and faithful. The Empress likes him for his people's sincerity... she believes in his devotion and in the power of his prayers for our family and Alexei... but this is our completely private matter... it's amazing how people like to interfere in everything that doesn't concern them at all. Who can he interfere with?!”

In fact, Rasputin's behavior in Tsarskoye Selo was impeccable and gave no reason to doubt his moral purity. Most likely, the "old man" did not dare to go beyond the established framework of communication with the family of Nicholas II. Another thing is that when he returned to the capital after another visit to the court, he played a completely different role - the highest adviser on key issues of state life, and most importantly, personnel policy. Sometimes through the mask of the "arbiter of fate" he broke through regret about his insignificant influence. police officer P.G. Kurlov who met with Rasputin at the doctor's Badmaeva, recalled: “I will never forget the characteristic expression that escaped Rasputin’s lips:“ sometimes you have to beg the king and queen for a whole year until you interrogate them for something. By the way, during the war, for a long time he could not get permission to arrange his own recruit son Dmitry in a safer place. In the end, Rasputin's offspring was assigned to the Empress' ambulance train, which delivered the wounded to hospitals. The only successful personnel cases that the “old man” really lobbied for include the appointment of Tobolsk governor ON THE. Ordovsky-Tanaevsky. Rasputin fussed about this official of the Perm Treasury, with whom he often stopped on his way to Tobolsk, motivating the request with the safety of his own person during his stay in his homeland (after all, it was there that an attempt was made on his life in 1914). In this case, they went to meet him.

As for the influence of Alexandra Feodorovna on her husband, it, apparently, is greatly exaggerated. One of the leaders of the opposition, Chairman of the State Duma M.V. Rodzianko, assured that after the departure of Nicholas II to the headquarters, the empress, who turned into a kind of regent, began to dispose of all affairs. However, people close to him expressed great doubts about this opinion. For example, the finance minister P.L. Barque argued that the sovereign "very rarely followed the advice of the empress, which she gave him in her letters to headquarters." The well-informed palace commandant V.N. Voeikov. In the end, the episode with the appointment of Comrade Chief Procurator of the Synod of Prince N.D. Zhevakhova, who was a creature of the queen: for a whole year she begged her husband to make this appointment. So it's not very much like controlling the emperor. And the following fact speaks eloquently about the influence of Rasputin: it is estimated that during the war the empress in her letters to her husband mentioned the name of the “old man” 228 times, while he only eight.

Let's summarize. We are not dealing with the real personality of Rasputin, but with the product of a liberal PR project designed to crush the imperial power. The “elder”, of course, could not be any arbiter of the fate of Russia due to his obvious intellectual state. At the same time, Rasputin was the organizer of fate - only not of Russia, but of his own, moreover, since he was aware of this. Therefore, the enthusiastic mythologization of his personality, certainly not devoid of natural talent, is hardly acceptable. If his natural data were at least to a small extent guided by intelligence (which was completely absent), then he understood that the relationship that had begun with the imperial couple was a very responsible matter. This should not be treated as contacts with the Tobolsk officials, squeezing what they can out of them. Alas, Rasputin was never able to realize that the style of his behavior, having come into contact with the life of the family of Nicholas II, was of detrimental significance, giving chances to the enemies of Russia, in love with which he so loved to swear.

Biography
For a long time, historical information about Rasputin was not available to the general public. One could learn about him only from the Encyclopedic Dictionary: I Rasputin (New) Grigory Efimovich (1872-1916), a favorite of Nikolai2 and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna. A native of the peasants of the Tobolsk province, in his youth a horse thief. Posing as a Seer and Healer, he penetrated the court environment and gained great influence on state affairs. Killed in December 1916. monarchists. The curious contented themselves with this laconic characterization. Now we know much more
Rasputin's biography can be divided into two periods: life before coming to St. Petersburg and after. Little is known about the first stage of life in Siberia. He was born in the village of Pokrovsky, Tobolsk province, the youngest son in a prosperous, at that time, peasant family, a big house, a lot of land, cattle, horses. Rasputins is a village nickname that has been assigned to them almost officially. Its exact origin is unknown. Maybe from the words "debauchery", "crossroads", or maybe "unravel". The character of the father confirms this - he is not averse to drinking, and lives on a grand scale, and is country-savvy. He didn’t particularly deal with children, he didn’t force him to comprehend science, since he saw more sense in the school of life. The brothers Mikhail and Gregory live in freedom, their universities are a village, boundless expanses of fields and forests. They have something animal, wild, closely intertwined with an almost fanatical Orthodox faith. But they were not together for long. Once they played on the banks of the Tura River, but they finished playing that both of them flew into the water. The river is stormy, the current is strong, the water is cold, illness cannot be avoided. Mikhail was not saved, but Grigory was "prayed". Having recovered, he tells that the Mother of God herself appeared to him and ordered him to recover. This shocked the entire village. There, far from civilization, true, unshakable faith flourishes. The simplicity of morals does not prevent us from earnestly praying, observing all rituals, and tremblingly appealing to the healing power of nature. Rough carnal reality coexists with the most exalted spiritual feelings. After his recovery, Gregory often reflects on his healing. He is sure that he was blessed by the powers of heaven. This is how his spiritual development begins.
Having matured, he is more and more drawn to wanderings, to those who are called "old men", God's people. Perhaps this is the result of the exciting stories of wanderers who found shelter in the Rasputin house, or perhaps a true vocation. Gregory listens to the messengers not of this world, opening his eyes wide. His dream is to become just like them. He annoys his parents with talk that God calls him to wander the wide world and his father, agreeing, finally blesses him. Gregory begins with the surrounding villages, marveling at all the hardships and humiliations that fall to the lot of God's people.
At nineteen, he marries the beautiful Praskovya Dubrovina, whom he meets at a church festival. At first, their family life proceeds peacefully, but Gregory's reputation is not so clean, besides, he is deeply worried about the death of his first child. In 1892 he was accused of stealing stakes from the monastery fence and expelled from the village for a year. He spends this time wandering, making pilgrimages to holy places, where he learns the Holy Scriptures and literacy from the elders. He goes without a definite goal, from monastery to monastery, sleeps with monks and peasants, feeds on the occasion from other people's tables, thanks the owners with prayers and predictions. In 1893 goes to Greece, and upon returning to Russia to Valaam, Solovki, to Optina Hermitage and other shrines of the Orthodox Church. During brief visits to his native home, he diligently takes care of the household and at the same time restores his strength to go on new wanderings. His visits were marked by the birth of three children: Dmitry in 1895, Matrena (Maria) in 1898 and Varvara in 1900.
Rasputin's life is full of black and white stripes. Either he is pure, like an angel, or he rushes to extremes, gives free rein to his broad nature. For some, he is a clairvoyant and healer, for others he is a penitent sinner, for others, just like him, a spiritual teacher. Bad fame, intertwined with the glory of the ascetic and the elder, reaches the capital. He is accused of belonging to a sect of whippers, but not finding sufficient evidence, the case is closed.
What brought "Elder Gregory" to Petersburg? Perhaps a wider field of activity. It is not the brilliance of the capital that attracts him, but the presence of higher clergy. Next to them, he could improve the talent of a healer, a true believer. He is sure that he is acting according to the will of the Lord.
The second stage begins. In the spring of 1903 34-year-old Rasputin arrives in St. Petersburg. Here are some of the main dates of this period.
November 1, 1905 Grand Duchess Milica and Anastasia, daughters of Prince Nikolai Chernogorsky, arrange an informal meeting between Rasputin and the Emperor and Empress at their Znamensky estate.
November 15, 1906 Rasputin's first official meeting with the Sovereign. The king notes that he "makes an impression."
October 1907 the first healing of the prince.
Early 1911 trip to the Holy Land. Rasputin described her impressions in his notes entitled "My thoughts and reflections."
Summer 1911 return to St. Petersburg.
On September 1, 1912, the imperial family leaves for Poland, to Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
On October 2, a sharp deterioration in the health of the Tsarevich.
October 12, noon The Empress telegraphs Rasputin about this, who prayerfully helps. Answer: "The disease is not so terrible. Don't let the doctors get pissed off!"
In 1914 Rasputin settles in his own apartment on the street. Gorohova, 64.
June 29, 1914 assassination attempt on Rasputin.
January 2, 1915 an accident with A. Vyrubova, her healing by Rasputin.
November 22, 1916 conspiracy against Rasputin.
Night from 16 to 17 December 1916. the murder of G.E. Rasputin in the palace of Prince Yusupov.
It should be noted that Rasputin alternated his life in St. Petersburg with regular visits to Pokrovsky, at least once a year he was at home. There he took refuge as soon as his position in society became unfavorable.
Arrival to Petersburg.
The glory of Rasputin outstripped him, the rumor about his ascetic life reached the capital and became known to the highest spiritual ranks. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, thanks to a letter of recommendation, he is received by His Holiness Feofan, inspector of the Theological Academy, who sees in him a true son of the Russian land, an original Christian, not a church man, but a man of God. Rasputin impresses not only with his spirituality, but also with his appearance. A. Troyat describes it most vividly:
"A man of tall stature, thin, with long and straight hair, a shaggy beard, a scar on his forehead. A face cut with wrinkles, a wide nose with flaring nostrils. Most of all, his eyes attract attention. does not cover the hips. Wide trousers are tucked into boots with high tops. Despite the rustic style, he feels comfortable and at ease in any society "Of course, such a person could not go unnoticed in the capital. Under the auspices of the episcopal mantle of Vladyka Theophan, he was given access first to the St. Petersburg high society spiritual circles, then through their influential representatives to the palace of Prince Nikolai Nikolaevich. His reputation was confirmed by the meeting with John of Kronstadt and the fact that Bishop Feofan was the confessor of the Empress.
Undoubtedly, Rasputin would not have been able to break through to the "top" so quickly if there had not been appropriate circumstances for this. In a word, he was lucky. These are the circumstances.
Firstly, the spirituality of the Empress, deep faith and trust in her confessor, who in her eyes had not only personal, but also church authority. The Empress did not doubt Rasputin also because he constituted precisely that phenomenon of Russian life, which especially attracted the Empress, who saw in him the embodiment of the images with which she first became acquainted in Russian spiritual literature.
Secondly, the character of the Emperor, his trust in his wife and religiosity.
Thirdly, church authorities were looking for a way to shake the minds of believers, corrupted by Western influence. In their eyes, Rasputin was that good genius, able to connect believers with heaven, and the people with the king.
However, for most people Rasputin was not an "old man". This was confirmed by his way of life, which allowed him to live in the capital, visit his many acquaintances, while real elders live in monasteries, secluded in their cells. People did not know what to think of him, since many of his actions were inexplicable to them: healing the sick, mysterious predictions, influence on the illness of the Tsarevich.
That is why Petersburg at first took a middle position with regard to Rasputin, not having a complete understanding of him and preferring to treat him with confidence, so as not to "sin" before God, than to openly condemn him. Many were simply afraid of Rasputin and did not deny his influence on others, but for lack of explanation they were afraid to condemn him.
Rasputin's relationship with the royal family.
The decisive factor in the attitude of the Royal family towards Rasputin was that he healed the prince. As you know, the heir Tsarevich Alexei Nikolayevich suffered from hemophilia. This disease was transmitted through the maternal line and was expressed in poor blood clotting. Each bruise could lead to internal hemorrhage, each wound could become life-threatening. Naturally, like any mother, this torments the empress, she feels guilty about this and seeks to redeem her. When it turned out that Rasputin, through suggestion, coped better with the manifestations of this disease than all the specialist doctors, which created a completely special position for Elder Grigory. The Empress sees in him a person on whom, in the truest sense of the word, the life of her beloved son depends.
In addition, for Their Majesties, Rasputin was a living representative of the people, the embodiment of the peasantry, a small person. They were struck by his manner of carrying himself, which in relation to another person would be considered indecent. His rustic accent, unceremoniousness, clumsiness - all this turned in his favor. His behavior was directly opposite to the manner of court circles, imbued with the sole purpose of making a favorable impression on the Sovereign. Against the background of their pretense, his sincerity and innocence were striking in their naturalness and were undeniable. They were not "made", this is explained by Rasputin's simple ideas about the Tsar, typical of the Russian peasant. For him He is the source of mercy and truth. Here is what Prince N.D. writes about this. Zhevakhov: "Rasputin's love for the Tsar, bordering on adoration, was really unfeigned, and there is no contradiction in recognizing this fact. The Tsar could not help but feel this love, which he appreciated doubly, because it came from someone who appeared in His eyes not only the embodiment of the peasantry, but also its spiritual power "He did not deceive the trust of the emperor and gradually" a connection arose between the Sovereign and Rasputin on purely religious grounds: the Sovereign saw in him only an "old man" and, like many sincerely religious people, was afraid to break this connection with the slightest distrust to Rasputin, so as not to anger God. This connection grew stronger and was supported as much by the conviction of Rasputin's undoubted devotion, as, subsequently, by bad rumors about his behavior, which the sovereign did not believe, because they came from unbelieving people ... ".
After the first meeting with Rasputin, the Sovereign only noted that he "makes a great impression." Subsequently, he was of the opinion that Gregory was a man of "pure faith." Nevertheless, not trusting the "old man" as much as Alexandra Feodorovna, Nicholas II instructs General V.N. Dedulin, commandant of the palace, and his assistant to subject Rasputin to a biased but courteous interrogation. In their opinion, he is a cunning and false man; further reports from secret agents report an impostor, a false preacher, revealing who he is in real life. Members of the royal family are also trying to open the sovereign's eyes to what is happening. He patiently listens to everything, but at the same time does not take any action against Rasputin. As for the Empress, she did not believe the rumors that were spreading more and more around Rasputin, since she considered them slander and because of this she refused to lose a person who knew how to overcome her son’s illness with a few words. Despite further revelations, for the Royal Family (i.e. for the Emperor, the Empress and their children) Rasputin forever remained a saint, and nothing could force them to change this belief.
Rasputin's influence on politics.
There are many versions regarding this controversial issue. It is probably impossible to list everything. Let us dwell only on the main and most famous.
Initially, Rasputin used his proximity to the court only to interfere in church affairs, in which he was helped by close relations with Feofan and Hermogenes. But as word of its influence spreads, various clever people decide to use it to achieve their goals. This leads to the fact that Rasputin organizes official receptions. He settles in an apartment on the street. Gorokhovaya, where he accepts both those who come with material offerings and those in need of financial assistance. Gradually, Rasputin himself, as he ascended, began to develop ambition. Playing a prominent role, being revered for an omnipotent power, being on the same height with people who are much higher in social position - all this reinforced his pride, and he even took on such cases, the arrangement of which did not bring him personal benefit. This continued until the beginning of 1915, when the "little people" began to use Rasputin for personal purposes to advance in the service, promising him "great blessings" for leading them to the top of power. One of the first was Prince Shakhovskoy, who achieved through Rasputin the appointment of Minister of Trade and Industry. Naturally, such activities of Rasputin could not but cause indignation in a revolutionary-minded society, given that his personality was perceived mostly negatively.
However, the question remains whether Rasputin was used by people only for personal purposes, or did he fall into the hands of agents of Russia's enemies? There is a version that he was an agent of Germany and was at one with the Empress on the issue of a separate peace. But it is unlikely that such a simple man as Rasputin was capable of any political actions - it would be too "abstruse" for him, would be contrary to his nature.
In fact, Rasputin had no direct influence on Russian policy. It was expressed, firstly, in a detrimental, in the opinion of most contemporaries, effect on the empress, and through her on the Sovereign. Rodzianko explains the strength of Rasputin's influence by his hypnotizing abilities: "By the power of his hypnotism, he inspired the queen with an unshakable, invincible faith in himself and that he was God's chosen one, sent down to save Russia." Other political figures adhere to the same opinion: M. Paleolog, Zhevakhov, hieromonk Iliodor and others. Secondly, this influence was manifested in letters where he gave advice or simply supported the Tsar. His sayings and predictions are also known, later confirmed: "I will be, there will be both the Tsar and Russia, and if I don't exist, neither the Tsar nor Russia will be"; On August 29, 1911, standing in the crowd, past which Stolypin was passing, Rasputin suddenly exclaimed: "Death has come for him, here she is, here!"; he also predicted his own death: "They will kill me, they will kill me, and in three months the Tsar's Throne will also collapse."
Rasputin never tried to refute the words about his strength among the kings, but rather was proud of this and confirmed his deeds: for example, during his orgies he boasted that the queen embroidered shirts for him and thus gave rise to gossip. He acted naively and did not foresee the consequences of his actions. Rasputin did not need Tsarist power, but his position under the Tsar alone was enviable and became the reason for his own murder.
Most likely, the words of Professor S. S. Oldenburg are the most objective: "Rasputin himself did not claim any political influence, but for the enemies of the Emperor he turned out to be the point of application of a skillful slanderous campaign that completely distorted the true state of things" Interestingly, the opponents of the monarchy were also opponents Rasputin. Most of the attacks came from the monarchists, who saw in him "an inextinguishable lamp in the royal chambers" and the cause of all the troubles of Russia, both in foreign and domestic policy.
It would probably be fair to slightly change the well-known aphorism and say: how many people, so many judgments about Rasputin.
The Empress refused to submit to fate. She kept talking about the ignorance of the doctors. She turned to religion, and her prayers were filled with despair, The stage was set for the appearance of Rasputin.
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich.
Truly, there is nothing more talented than a talented Russian peasant. What a peculiar, what an original type! Rasputin is an absolutely honest and kind person who always wants to do good and willingly distributes money to those in need.
Count S.Yu.Witte
If the Sovereign had obeyed Rasputin and concluded that same Brest-Litovsk peace, then there would have been no revolution in Russia.
Zinaida Shakhovskaya.
The first revolution and the counter-revolutionary epoch that followed it revealed the whole essence of the tsarist monarchy, brought it to the "last line", revealed all its rottenness, all the cynicism and debauchery of the tsar's gang with the monstrous Rasputin at its head, all the atrocities of the Romanov family - these pogromists who flooded Russia blood.
V.I.Lenin.
Without Rasputin, there would be no Lenin.
A.F. Kerensky.
He is all fictional, he lived in a legend, he died in a legend, and in memory he will be clothed in a legend. A semi-literate man, a royal adviser, a sinner and a prayer book, a werewolf with the name of God on his lips.
N.A. Taffy.
Conclusion
There are at least three myths about Rasputin.
"A fiend of hell, a selfish man who brought Russia to collapse with his entourage" - this is how Rasputin appears in the first myth.
"The Demon", "the second Cardinal Richelieu", an eternally drunk and lecherous man with a mysterious Russian soul - this is a favorite myth of foreign authors.
"A talented Russian peasant who saved Russia and the royal throne and was killed by Masons" is a modern myth.
Who was Rasputin really? Cunning and innocence, suspiciousness and childish gullibility, severe feats of asceticism and reckless revelry, and above all this, fanatical devotion to the Tsar and contempt for his fellow peasant all coexisted in his nature, and, really, either intent or thoughtlessness is needed to to attribute crimes to Rasputin where only the manifestation of his muzhik nature was affected" - these are, in my opinion, the words that most accurately characterize Rasputin's personality.
Rasputin was not a saint, and this was the tragedy of the Royal Family and Russia. For those who were healed by him, he remained a saint forever. So he was in the eyes of A. A. Vyrubova, predicting her an unhappy marriage, and then healing her; he was like that in the eyes of Their Majesties, who reckoned with his beneficial effect on the illness of the heir to the crown prince. The witnesses of his drunken orgies, who once saw him in a tavern, dancing "Kamarinskaya", had a completely opposite impression. What did those who saw both think? There were almost no such people, because both sides ruled out the possibility of the presence of both extremes in Rasputin. And only we, who evaluate this person after more than 80 years, can take a fair position of the "golden mean" regarding her, taking into account both views. On the one hand, Rasputin was a simple man. For him, there is no difference between St. Petersburg and the countryside - everywhere he behaves the same way, ignoring the laws of society and the elementary rules of decency. On the other hand, there is something intriguing, mysterious in his personality. His strange religiosity, which combines a thirst for pleasure with unyielding faith, his physical strength, and finally, "indestructibility" of any poison - all this involuntarily inspires awe. Is there something native in these features, close to every Russian soul? Probably, in any corner of Russia there is a similar "Rasputin", and every Russian has inherited some of his features. Perhaps because of these qualities, Russians remain misunderstood, "wild" for other nations, and this sets our country apart in the world community.
Rasputin is accused of influencing politics and the tsar. If he really possessed such, then his death should have changed the situation, but this did not happen, and passions escalated even more and "splashed" into the revolution. If the name of Rasputin is so significant in history, why then are the current new “rassputins” not noticed, the influence of which is a thousand times more pernicious and significant? It is they who are the destroyers, and not a simple Russian peasant, for whom political intrigues have always been in the first place, but delicious food and women.
The personality of Rasputin, born of time, mysteriously came, mysteriously disappeared, closing another page in the history of Russia.