What Role Did Grigori Rasputin Play In Russia
Michael Sommers
Professor McFarland
D410
8 October 2014
Grigori Rasputin Grigori Rasputin played a major role in Russia from 1906 to 1916, but who was this man? Why was he was worshiped by the peasants, loved by the Tsar and Tsarina, and hated by other nobles. This man is such a controversial figure in Russian history. He is seen to some as man of God, a healer, and a profit. To many others he is seen as a drunk who lived a life of debauchery, and put fear into the people of Russia by threatening them with his power. It is most commonly agreed that Grigori Rasputin was born in 1869 in the village of Pokrovskoe in Siberia. However, Rasputin was born into a peasant family, so reliable records were not kept, and Rasputin’s exact year of …show more content…
He became known for both his terrible behavior, and his prophetic abilities. By the age of fifteen, Rasputin began to drink, and have sexual contact with women. There are many stories of him walking up to a woman and unbuttoning her shirt out in public. Rasputin also enjoyed going to parties in villages close by and doing the same to those women. It was at one of these parties where he met his wife, Praskovaya Dubrovina. He was nineteen years old at the time, and Praskovaya was four years older than he. Grigori is said to have fallen in love with her because she was unlike any of the other women he had met, and refused his advances. After six months of dating, the two were married. Rasputin’s parents were very happy that their son was married. They knew of his behavior, and that the people of the village called him a “sniveller” and a …show more content…
Upon his return from one of his journeys in 1902, Father Peter, the village priest reported Rasputin to the authorities. He accused Rasputin of being a khlyst. The police came to Rasputin’s house hoping to find signs of the Flagellants, but the first time they appear, Praskovaya was so furious that she scared the police away. They returned not much later and this time searched the whole house and cellar. The police tore apart the cellar and are said to have emerged covered in flour from tearing the bags open to search them. After the search was over, Rasputin knew they would still try to come after him. Rasputin did not go into hiding, or wait for them to build their case. Instead, he decided to begin counter attack by growing more powerful, and set off to Kazan.7 After arriving in Kazan, Rasputin met a furrier by the name of Katkov, who allowed Rasputin to stay with him at his home. Katlov introduced Rasputin to many church leaders in Kazan. On one of these occasions, Rasputin was introduced to Bishop Andrew, who insisted that Rasputin visit church leaders in St. Petersburg. Bishop Andrew took Rasputin to St. Petersburg in 1903 and met with Feofan, the Inspector of the St. Petersburg Seminary. This first visit to the capital only lasted five months before Rasputin returned to
Professor McFarland
D410
8 October 2014
Grigori Rasputin Grigori Rasputin played a major role in Russia from 1906 to 1916, but who was this man? Why was he was worshiped by the peasants, loved by the Tsar and Tsarina, and hated by other nobles. This man is such a controversial figure in Russian history. He is seen to some as man of God, a healer, and a profit. To many others he is seen as a drunk who lived a life of debauchery, and put fear into the people of Russia by threatening them with his power. It is most commonly agreed that Grigori Rasputin was born in 1869 in the village of Pokrovskoe in Siberia. However, Rasputin was born into a peasant family, so reliable records were not kept, and Rasputin’s exact year of …show more content…
He became known for both his terrible behavior, and his prophetic abilities. By the age of fifteen, Rasputin began to drink, and have sexual contact with women. There are many stories of him walking up to a woman and unbuttoning her shirt out in public. Rasputin also enjoyed going to parties in villages close by and doing the same to those women. It was at one of these parties where he met his wife, Praskovaya Dubrovina. He was nineteen years old at the time, and Praskovaya was four years older than he. Grigori is said to have fallen in love with her because she was unlike any of the other women he had met, and refused his advances. After six months of dating, the two were married. Rasputin’s parents were very happy that their son was married. They knew of his behavior, and that the people of the village called him a “sniveller” and a …show more content…
Upon his return from one of his journeys in 1902, Father Peter, the village priest reported Rasputin to the authorities. He accused Rasputin of being a khlyst. The police came to Rasputin’s house hoping to find signs of the Flagellants, but the first time they appear, Praskovaya was so furious that she scared the police away. They returned not much later and this time searched the whole house and cellar. The police tore apart the cellar and are said to have emerged covered in flour from tearing the bags open to search them. After the search was over, Rasputin knew they would still try to come after him. Rasputin did not go into hiding, or wait for them to build their case. Instead, he decided to begin counter attack by growing more powerful, and set off to Kazan.7 After arriving in Kazan, Rasputin met a furrier by the name of Katkov, who allowed Rasputin to stay with him at his home. Katlov introduced Rasputin to many church leaders in Kazan. On one of these occasions, Rasputin was introduced to Bishop Andrew, who insisted that Rasputin visit church leaders in St. Petersburg. Bishop Andrew took Rasputin to St. Petersburg in 1903 and met with Feofan, the Inspector of the St. Petersburg Seminary. This first visit to the capital only lasted five months before Rasputin returned to