Naija Blog — Grigori Rasputin, the mysterious Siberian peasant who rose from obscurity to wield influence over the Russian royal family, remains one of history’s most controversial and enigmatic figures — revered by some, despised by others, and endlessly mythologized for his bizarre charisma and scandalous personal life.

Born in 1869 in the remote village of Pokrovskoye, Rasputin grew up illiterate and poor, working on his family’s small farm. Even as a child, locals claimed he possessed an unsettling ability to “see through” people — a quality that would later propel him to power.

At 18, Rasputin joined the Khlysty, a fringe religious sect that believed sin could bring one closer to God. Embracing the group’s radical practices, he began calling himself a starets (holy man) and roamed the countryside barefoot, preaching and living on charity. He married Proskovya Dubrovina at 19 and fathered four children, but spent much of his time traveling to religious sites, cultivating his image as an eccentric wanderer.

By the early 1900s, Rasputin’s reputation as a healer and mystic drew him to St. Petersburg. In 1905, he was introduced to Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra, whose son Alexei suffered from hemophilia. When Rasputin seemingly halted one of Alexei’s bleeding episodes through prayer, the Tsarina considered it a miracle, granting him extraordinary access to the royal family.

Rasputin’s presence in the imperial court sparked fascination — and scandal. Women from all walks of life, from nobles to nuns, sought his company, drawn by his intense stare, unorthodox teachings, and audacious claim that sinning with him could “purify the soul.” Despite persistent allegations of sexual misconduct and drunken debauchery, his influence over Alexandra grew, particularly during World War I when the Tsar was away at the front.

His sway over political appointments angered the nobility, fueling a plot to assassinate him. In December 1916, a group of conspirators invited him to a gathering, poisoned his food and wine, shot him twice, and ultimately dumped him into the frozen Neva River. An autopsy later revealed water in his lungs, suggesting he was still alive when thrown into the icy current.

Rasputin’s death did little to diminish his legend. His life — marked by mysticism, controversy, and a string of improbable survivals — cemented his place in Russian history as the “Mad Monk” who defied social norms, seduced the powerful, and met an end as dramatic as his rise.