MYSTICAL RUSSIA: RASPUTIN

Alexandra and Nicholas II consulted holy men who were not ordained or sanctioned by the church.

Usually peasants, odd characters, odd behavior, developed small but very loyal followings.

Viewed by many to be con men- usually out for their own gain. They claimed to have mystical powers of healing and prophecy.

THE ROYAL COUPLE… The Royal couple invited certain mystics to the palace on a frequent basics.

Alexandra became growing obsessed with such mystics. Nicholas indulged her but did not get directly involved with them.

1. 1901 PHILIPPE NIZIER VACHOD- FRENCHHe frequently visited the palace.His prophecies were seldomly corrected.He convinced Alexandra that she was pregnant for many months, and she wasn’t!He was finally deported to France!

2. SERAPHIM Before the birth of the heir (she had 4 daughters) Alexandra prayed for a son.

She consulted the ghost of a holy man named Seraphim. She even arranged the cannonziation (granted sainthood by the Church).

She acted against all usual procedures despite his lack of official qualifications- St Seraphim.

3. GRIGORY RASPUTIN, PEASANT FROM SIBERIA He wore a long priest’s flock, was filthy, and very bad smelling. He was uneducated in the tradition sense. He was initially endorsed by the Church but not trained by them. He had a horrible reputation which included a lot of partying. He used nontraditional and mysteriously successful methods of healing.

Alexandra was introduced to him after the diagnosis of her son’s hemophilia diagnosis.

The remarkable ability to calm and heal Aleksei (Alexandra’s son) endeared him to Alexandra.

Her obsession with her son’s health led to increasing dependence on Rasputin.

He developed his own cult-like following among St. Peterburg nobility; the “in” person to know.

His nicknames included: “Holy Devil” “Mad Monk of Russia.”

RASPUTIN AND THE REVOLUTION Rasputin grew increasingly close to Alexandra, and his influence grew tremendously in royal court.

Alexandra refuse to hear anything against Rasputin; she attributed it to jealously.

The Russian war effort bogged down by inadequate supply and tremendous losses.

Rasputin and Alexandra convinced Nicholas (with no military background) to take over army.

Replaced a very competent military strategist (Nicholas’s uncle). He was one of Rasputin’s strongest critics.

Alexandra “in charge” with Czar away at headquarters. Rasputin manipulated appointments to high government jobs, and appointed poorly qualified men who were his friends to these jobs.

Rasputin also directed the dismissal of competent governmental leaders who were his enemies.

As he grew more confident, he gave advice on military tactics. The public was aware of Rasputin’s influence. They were also suspicious of Alexandra’s German birth. As a result, they lost confidence in government.

Revolutionary rumblings grew louder and were fueled by Rasputin. Alexandra was completely out of touch with Russia and people were starving.

Rasputin almost single-handedly sidetracked the monarchy; his presence did more than almost any other factor (after 1914) in fueling the Revolution. His presence and influence in the court of Nicholas II and Alexandra was a direct consequence of the religious culture in this time period.