Rasputin

The Role of Rasputin
The growing unpopularity and hatred of the tsarist system came to be focused upon Rasputin whilst Nicholas II was at war. The way in which he came to be significant outlines the problems in the government. Rasputin was a holy man of the Orthodox Church, known for his sexual depravity, and women threw themselves at him. Many women in St.Petersburg, such as the wives of courtiers had boasted about sleeping with him, with his dirty clothes and reluctance to wash as adding to the ‘bit of rough’ appearance. This made him hated in the Russian courts as outraged husbands and officials detested the fact that he was invited to the royal court. But he had royal favor, as he had met with Tsarina Alexandra, who was desperate to cure her son of haemophilia. Rasputin was known for his ‘healing powers’ and he was actually able to help Alexander by simple psychological techniques rather than other doctors.

Alexandra was very grateful, and made Rasputin her confidant, which was scandalous. Her German nationality made her unpopular during the war. Nicholas who was away at military headquarters for long periods, effectively put Alexandra in charge of the entire country and this also meant Rasputin had imput as her confidant. Even the most loyal of Tsarist supported detested that a possible german ‘spy’ and a monk of the orthodox could run the country in such times of crisis.Rodzianko of the Duma warned the Tsar of Rasputin’s presence as it threatened disaster ‘ Rasputin’s presence undermines the confidence in the supreme power and turn the hearts away from their emperor. Rasputin was allowed to interfere with direct policy and could sack people at will but the tsar ignored and the government in disrepute began to think about action.

Dec 1916, aristocratic conspirators murdered Rasputin, poisoned, then shot at point black range, battered over the head with a steel bar, then wrapped in a curtain and thrown into the River Neva. He does however deserve credit for his reorganization of the Russian medical supplies system, and shown administrative skills Russia needed, which the aristocratic in the government lacked. Rasputin’s death could never of stopped the downfall of the Tsar

SUMMARY
Rasputin known for his womanizing made him very unpopular in the Russian royal court.
In the royal court he was hated, by officials. Alexandra made him his confidant because of his help towards her son.
Rodzianko warned that is made tsarism look awful, ‘german spy and mad monk’ Rasputin shown administrative skills which most lacked, reformed the medical supplies system
Was the focal point of hatred up to this point especially with the war.